Insurance companies may engage in either life insurance or non-life insurance lines. In terms of operating in Turkey, within one year following their establishment, all insurers and reinsurers must obtain a license from the Treasury for each insurance line they would like to operate.

Pursuant to Circular No. 2007/5 on Resolution No. 2007/12467 of International Practices in Insurance Sector foreign reinsurer cannot directly solicit Turkish insurers and in any way market their products without obtaining a license in Turkey. Nonetheless it is not prohibited to conclude a reinsurance contract where a Turkish insurer directly or indirectly through a reinsurance broker requests reinsurance from the foreign reinsurers.