About Establishing Associations in Turkey

Process of Establishing an Association
1. *Define the Purpose*: Individuals wishing to establish an association must first clearly define its purpose. This purpose can be broad, encompassing social, cultural, sports, or human rights objectives.
2. *Determining Founding Members*: A minimum of seven founding members is required to set up an association in Turkey. These members will actively participate in the founding process and must be Turkish citizens.
3. *Preparation of the Association's Charter*: A charter stating the objectives and operational methods of the association must be prepared. This charter outlines the operational framework and the rules to be applied.
4. *Collecting Necessary Documents*: Required documents for establishing an association include:
   - Photocopies of the identification documents of the founding members
   - The association's charter
   - The founding letter addressed to the association
   - A document specifying the address of the association's headquarters
5. *Application for Association Registration*: After completing all the documents, the application for association establishment should be submitted to the competent court along with the necessary paperwork. The court will evaluate the application and register the association.
6. *Registration Process*: Once the court has registered the association, it attains legal entity status. At this stage, the association can commence its activities.
 Legal Framework
In Turkey, the establishment of associations is regulated by the Law on Associations No. 5253 and the Turkish Civil Code No. 4721. These laws include important provisions governing the establishment, operation, and supervision of associations. Associations are typically structured with a general assembly, board of directors, and audit committee, and they have financial reporting obligations.