Routes open in Turkey
| Route | Max credits | Who qualifies | How to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Activate Founders | $1,000 | Self-funded, no institutional funding, live website | Apply online in the Activate console |
| Activate via a Provider | Up to $100,000 | Backed by an accelerator, VC or incubator in the Activate network | Get an organization ID from your provider |
| İş Bankası startup credit card | AWS credits (amount not stated) | Announced December 2023. Lead. | Through AWS's local team |
| AWS Startup Loft Accelerator (EMEA, virtual) | Up to $25,000 + $5,000 Business Support | Early-stage startups, no equity. Launched 2021; likely closed. | Through AWS's local team |
| Local accelerator or VC | Varies | Accepted into a local program | Apply to the program; credits follow |
| Our partner match | Same as AWS | Any stage; we suggest the best route | Use the credit check on this page |
Amounts are the maximums AWS advertises; approval is never guaranteed. Source: AWS Activate terms
Who qualifies from Turkey
- Your company is usually under 10 years old and hasn't had Activate credits before.
- You have a live company website, and you sign up with an email on that domain.
- For the $100,000 tier, you're backed by an Activate Provider and haven't raised a Series B yet.
- Company in Turkey: apply with it directly. Company abroad (for example a US Delaware company): apply with whichever entity owns the AWS account. No company yet: start with Founders once your website is live.
Region, latency and data rules
Closer option: Istanbul Local Zone
- Data protection law
- KVKK (Law 6698)
- Must data stay in-country?
- Transfers abroad are restricted
- Regulator
- KVKK Board
What your credits buy here
A typical early-stage stack (a few small servers, a managed database, storage and traffic) costs about $600/month in me-central-1, or about $720 with 20% VAT paid in cash.
$1,000
1.7
months
$5,000
8.3
months
$25,000
42
months
$100,000
99
months
Estimates. Credits usually expire after 12 to 24 months, so large amounts rarely last their full length.
Startups like you
Local accelerators
Accelerators, incubators and startup programs in Turkey worth asking about AWS credits.
ITU Çekirdek
Istanbul · Incubator
Ask the provider
Workup (İş Bankası)
Istanbul · Bank program
Ask the provider
Check with each program that it's a current Activate Provider before you rely on it.
Notable local investors and funds
Investors, accelerators and government funds active in Turkey. If one backs you, ask whether they can give you an Activate Provider code.
Grants, non-dilutive funding and R&D tax credits
Money you can stack on top of AWS credits in Turkey.
- Equity
TÜBİTAK BiGG Yatırım (1812)
TÜBİTAK's BiGG Fund invests TL 1.35M for 3% equity, with possible follow-on investment. This is equity, not a grant [1].
- Program
Teknopark (Technology Development Zone) exemptions on R&D and software income and staff income tax under Law 4691. Check the end date [2]. KOSGEB SME support [3].
Setting up a local company
- Common startup entity
- Ltd. Şti. or A.Ş.
- Minimum share capital
- Paid-in minimum capital required for a domestic LLC: Yes; for a foreign-owned LLC: Yes (World Bank B-READY 2025)
- Time and cost to register
- Domestic LLC: 7 days, TRY 25,000; foreign-owned LLC: 8 days, TRY 25,000 (B-READY 2025, expert median)
- Online registration
- Fully electronic registration: No / partly (B-READY 2025)
Capital and registration figures are from the World Bank (Doing Business 2020 / B-READY 2025). Check the registry for current rules.
What's different in Turkey
- Billing entity
- AWS Turkey Pazarlama... Ltd. Şti.
- Currency
- TRY, USD
- Tax AWS adds
- 20% KDV. Not covered by credits.
- Payments and verification
- Most international Visa and Mastercard cards work. Make sure foreign and online payments are switched on before you sign up.
Credits don't cover taxes. Source: AWS Promotional Credit terms
Paying the AWS bill from Turkey
- Some Turkish cards block foreign recurring payments; enable online international use with the bank.
Startup scene
2
unicorns
Insider ($2B), HubX ($1.3B)
Startup sectors
Main economic sectors
Unicorn data: CB Insights, as of 2 October 2026. Sectors: CIA World Factbook.
Startup visa
Turquoise Card
Key requirements: Discretionary points-based card for qualified investors and entrepreneurs (investment, jobs, exports, strategic contribution)
AWS events and community in Turkey
Sources for Turkey (13)
- 1. https://tubitak.gov.tr/tr/destekler/sanayi/ulusal-destek-programlari/1812-yatirim-tabanli-girisimcilik-destek-programi-bigg-yatirim
- 2. https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuatmetin/1.5.4691.pdf
- 3. https://www.kosgeb.gov.tr/
- 4. https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/global-infrastructure/localzones/locations/
- 5. https://aws.amazon.com/tax-help/turkey/
- 6. https://repost.aws/knowledge-center/accepted-payment-methods
- 7. https://repost.aws/knowledge-center/supported-aws-currencies
- 8. https://aws.amazon.com/tax-help/emea-vat-tables/
- 9. https://aws.amazon.com/awscredits/
- 10. https://www.kvkk.gov.tr/Icerik/7938/Standart-Sozlesmeler-ve-Baglayici-Sirket-Kurallarina-Iliskin-Dokumanlar-Hakkinda-Kamuoyu-Duyurusu
- 11. https://verbis.kvkk.gov.tr/
- 12. https://aws.amazon.com/events/cloud-days/
- 13. https://aws.amazon.com/events/community-day/
Research current as of 2 October 2026. Not legal or tax advice.
Questions
Is AWS Activate available in Turkey?
Yes. AWS takes sign-ups from Turkey, and the AWS Activate terms don't exclude it.
How much in AWS credits can a startup in Turkey get?
Self-funded teams usually start with $1,000 from Activate Founders. Teams backed by an Activate Provider can get up to $200,000.
Do I need a company registered in Turkey?
No. You can apply with a Turkey company, a company registered abroad (for example a US Delaware company), or as an early team with a live website. Use the entity that owns the AWS account.
Do AWS credits cover VAT in Turkey?
No. Credits don't cover taxes, so any VAT (20%) is charged to your card.
What's the closest AWS region to Turkey?
me-central-1 in UAE. Typical latency is about 20–80 ms.
Can I apply without an accelerator or VC?
Yes. Activate Founders is open to self-funded startups. A partner can also point you to other routes.
Will using a partner change how much I get?
No. The credits come from AWS on the same terms. A partner just helps you find the right route and prepare the application.
Find your best route from Turkey
Answer four questions and we'll match you with a partner who knows Turkey. Free, and the credits are the same as going direct.
Cloud Credits is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Amazon Web Services. AWS and AWS Activate are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Data last checked 2 October 2026; check AWS for current terms.