Turkey proposes 5 million TL permit for foreign digital accommodation platforms
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
AK Party lawmakers submitted a bill to the Turkish Grand National Assembly on August 11 requiring foreign digital accommodation platforms to obtain a permit from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The proposed law sets the permit fee at 5 million Turkish lira, with annual increases based on the revaluation rate. The bill also mandates exclusive application of Turkish law in disputes arising from these platforms' activities.
The Bill
The bill, signed by AK Party lawmakers, was submitted to the Turkish parliament on August 11, 2026. It aims to regulate foreign digital accommodation platforms operating in Turkey's electronic commerce space, defining them as 'foreign digital accommodation platforms,' 'intermediary service providers,' and 'service providers.' The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is designated as the regulatory authority to issue permits.
Permit Requirements
Platforms must obtain a permit from the ministry to operate, which will be valid for two years and non-transferable. To qualify, they must be registered for digital services tax, have no tax debts, designate a contact address and responsible Turkish citizen or legal entity in Turkey, and provide a National Electronic Notification System (UETS) address. The permit fee is set at 5 million TL, payable to the ministry's revolving fund, and the president may increase or decrease this by up to 50%.
Dispute Resolution
All disputes arising from activities under the permit will be exclusively governed by Turkish law and fall under the jurisdiction of Turkish courts. This provision applies regardless of the platform's domicile.
What's Next
The bill will now be reviewed by parliamentary committees before a full assembly vote. It remains unclear when the legislation might be enacted and how major international platforms will respond to the new requirements.
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Turkey proposes 5 million TL permit for foreign digital accommodation platforms
