Receiving a deportation (or “removal”) notice in Turkey is a serious and stressful legal event. It signifies the start of a formal process that could result in you being banned from the country. However, it is crucial to understand that this is an administrative action, not an irreversible final judgment. Turkish law provides clear pathways to challenge this decision, but success depends on swift, expert legal action. When faced with this situation, the guidance of an experienced deportation lawyer in Turkey is your most critical asset. This guide will walk you through the legal framework, your rights, and the strategic steps required to protect your future in Turkey.

Therefore Deportation of foreigners in Turkey requires to take careful steps by Turkish immigration lawyer. Under Turkish legal framework, foreigners may be subject to a removal decision to his/her country of origin or a third country.

Table of Contents

Introduction

This article, mainly, is designed for introducing deportation of foreigners in Turkey. It is important to note at the outset that there are criminal and administrative sanctions upon the violation of Turkish residency norms. Significantly, immigrant lawyers and practitioners must be aware of all key parameters of removal or return orders and legal actions against them.

Understanding the Legal Grounds for Deportation in Turkey

The process of removal is not arbitrary; it is strictly regulated by the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (No. 6458). A deportation decision is issued by the Presidency of Migration Management or local governorates based on specific immigration violations in Turkey. While every case is unique, the most common legal grounds include:

Violation of Visa or Residence Permit Terms: This is the most frequent reason, typically involving overstaying a visa or permit by more than 10 days without a valid reason.
Unauthorized Employment: Working in Turkey without a valid, government-issued work permit.
Fraudulent Information: Using false documents or untrue information during any official application process.
Threat to Public Order, Security, or Health: Being determined by authorities to pose a risk to the public. This can be a broad category and is often subject to legal challenge.
Breach of Entry/Exit Rules: Entering Turkey through illegal means or violating the terms of a pre-existing entry ban.

The Deportation Process and Your Legal Timeline

Knowing what is the process of deportation of a foreigner can reduce uncertainty. The typical procedure involves:

Official Notification: You are served with a formal Removal Decision. This document must state the legal reason for your deportation. This is when your legal timeline begins.
The 7-Day Deadline to Appeal: This is the most critical point in the entire process. From the moment you are notified, you have only 7 days to file a lawsuit to challenge the decision. Contacting a deportation lawyer in Turkey immediately is vital to meet this deadline.
Administrative Detention: In certain circumstances (e.g., if you are deemed a flight risk), authorities may issue an administrative detention order, and you may be held in a removal center. This is a separate legal decision that can also be appealed in court.
Stay of Deportation: A crucial legal protection: the moment your lawyer files the appeal lawsuit within the 7-day window, your deportation is automatically stopped until the court case is concluded.

Regarding our articles and papers on emerging legal challenges for dispute resolution consultancy together with their fully fledged solutions are here: Dispute Resolution and Litigation

Consequences of Deportation: Entry Bans and Restriction Codes

So, what happens if you are deported from Turkey? The consequences go beyond simply leaving the country.

Entry Ban : A ban prohibiting you from re-entering Turkey will be issued, typically for a period ranging from 3 months to 5 years.
Restriction Codes : A specific code is placed on your immigration file. To achieve a permanent removal of deportation in Turkey, this code must be legally cancelled. Understanding the restriction codes for foreigners in Turkey is key to building a successful legal strategy, as each code (e.g., Ç-114 for legal violations, G-87 for security threats) requires a different approach.

Your Ultimate Legal Remedy: Cancelling the Deportation Order

The primary and most effective way to fight a removal decision is through legal action.

Filing a Cancellation Lawsuit: Your lawyer files a case at the Administrative Court, arguing that the deportation order is unlawful. The case will examine both the procedural correctness of the decision and its legal basis.
Removing the Restriction Code: The same lawsuit can demand the cancellation of the restriction code and the lifting of the entry ban. This is the only way to fully clear your record.
Can you go back to Turkey after being deported? Yes, but only if the entry ban is lifted by a court decision or after the ban period has expired. A successful lawsuit is the fastest way to achieve this.

Why You Need an Expert Deportation Lawyer in Turkey

The tight deadlines and legal complexities make self-representation extremely risky. A professional deportation lawyer in Turkey provides indispensable services:

Immediate Action: Filing the lawsuit within the 7-day deadline to immediately stop the deportation.
Strategic Case Building: Analyzing the reason for your deportation and building a strong legal argument against it.
Challenging Detention: Filing a separate appeal to the Criminal Court of Peace to challenge an unlawful administrative detention.
Navigating the System: Handling all communications with the immigration authorities, courts, and other government bodies on your behalf.

If you have received a deportation notice, every moment counts. Your first step should be to contact a legal expert to understand your rights and protect your future.

Deportation Lawyer in Turkey

The legal team handling deportation and foreigners’ law cases at Pi Legal Consultancy is led by Attorney Büşra Dereli.

Büşra has extensive experience in successfully appealing removal decisions, challenging administrative detentions, and managing the complex lawsuits required to lift entry bans and remove restriction codes (tahdit kodları). She is dedicated to providing clear, direct, and immediate legal support to foreign nationals facing stressful immigration challenges. Her primary goal is to protect your rights and find the most effective legal pathway to secure your future in Turkey.

If you have received a deportation notice or require urgent legal assistance regarding an entry ban, you can reach out to our team directly for a confidential evaluation of your case.

Email: info@pilc.law
Phone / WhatsApp: +90 536 038 02 22
Headquarters (Ankara Office) : İvedikköy Mah. Melih Gökçek Bulvarı No : 152 A Yenimahalle/ANKARA
İstanbul Office : Çobançeşme Mah. Sanayi Cad. No:44 B Nish İstanbul Residence B Blok D:97 Bahçelievler Istanbul Turkey

What is the meaning of a residence permit?

Generally speaking, “residence permit” is accepted to mean an official document allowing relevant individuals to live in a country that they are not born in. It is significant to observe that the term “residence permit” does not imply permanent residence. Hence, residence permit covers a “temporary residence permit”, granted to a foreigner for a specified period of time. From that sense, residence permits are subject to a regular renewal.

With regard to the acquisition of Turkish citizenship and|or residence permit take a look at our articles:

What are key legal norms applicable to the deportation of foreigners in Turkey?

It is remarkable to underline that the Law on Foreigners and International Protection Law (No:6458) is the cornerstone texts for deportation of foreigners in Turkey. Indeed, the Law aims at stipulating ‘the principles and procedures with regard to foreigners’ entry into, stay in and exit from Turkey’. Therefore, the said Law is of utmost importance in regulating main standards and types for residence permit and required sanctions upon any infringement of such rules.

Need guidance on Turkish citizenship? Our Turkish citizenship lawyer is here to help you navigate the process seamlessly.

Which Types of Residence Permit Is Possible in Turkey?

It is important to note that Article 29 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection Law (No:6458) provides the following six types of residence permits:

Firstly, short-term residence permit,
Secondly, family residence permit,
Thirdly, student residence permit,
Fourthly, long-term residence permit,
Fifthly, humanitarian residence permit,
and lastly, victim of human trafficking residence permit.

Can a foreigner be deported or when the deportation of foreigners in Turkey can be possible?

It is essential to understand that a removal decision can be made either upon instructions of the Directorate General (the Presidency of Migration Management) or ex officio by the governorates. This decision shall be issued in respect of those foreigners listed below who/whose:

are deemed to be removed pursuant to Article 559 of the Turkish Penal Code № 5237;
are leaders, members or supporters of a terrorist organization or a benefit oriented criminal organization;
submit untrue information and false documents during the entry, visa and residence permit actions;
made their living from illegitimate means during their stay in Turkey;
pose a public order or public security or public health threat;
has overstayed their visa or the visa exemption period for more than ten days or, whose visas are cancelled;
residence permits are cancelled;
overstayed the expiry date of the duration of their residence permit for more ten days without an acceptable reason;
are determined to be working without a work permit;
breach the terms and conditions for legal entry into or exit from Turkey; ı) are determined to have entered into Turkey despite an entry ban to Turkey;
international protection claim has been refused; are excluded from international protection; application is considered inadmissible; has withdrawn the application or the application is considered withdrawn; international protection status has ended or has been cancelled, provided that pursuant to the other provisions set out in this Law they no longer have the right of stay in Turkey after the final decision.
fail to leave Turkey within ten days in cases where their residence permit renewal application has been refused.
(Annex: 3/10/2016-KHK-676/36 article) are evaluated as being associated with terrorist organizations which have been defined by international institutions and organizations.

What is the process for the deportation of foreigners in Turkey?

In accordance with Article 52, foreigners may be removed to their country of origin or a transit country or a third country by virtue of a removal decision.

Which authorities are regarded as competent for the deportation of foreigners in Turkey?

To sum up, the Presidency of Migration Management under the umbrella of the Ministry of Interior and Migration Management under the relevant Governorship are primary Turkish national competent authorities engaging in residence permits and the violation of relevant rules.

What should be the key legal step about the deportation of foreigners in Turkey?

Second, the acquisition of an annotated visa for work, education, research purposes or marriage or treatment reasons, the foreigner involved is allowed to re-entry to Turkey even before the expiration of entry ban.

There are very limited ways of getting rid of unintended consequences of a removal decision including entry ban. First: litigation application and second administrative application. With regard to the first method, undoubtedly a removal decision is a type of administrative action. The concerned foreigner, legal representative or lawyer has a right to lodge a case before the administrative court within 7 days as of the date of notification under Article 53. The judgment of the court shall be delivered within 15 days.

Regarding our articles and papers on emerging legal challenges for dispute resolution consultancy together with their fully fledged solutions are here: Dispute Resolution and Litigation

Is there any administrative detention after the deportation of foreigners in Turkey?

According to Article 57, those for whom a removal decision have been issued, the governorate shall issue an administrative detention decision for those who;

bear the risk of absconding or disappearing,
breached the rules of entry into and exit from to Turkey,
have used false or fabricated documents,
have not left Turkey after the expiry of the period granted to them to leave, without an acceptable excuse,
pose a threat to public order, public security or public health.

They are taken to removal centers by the [same] law enforcement unit that apprehended them. This decision can be appealed before the judge of the criminal court of peace.

For our work and all legal services on the matter of corporate governance, please click our “Practice Areas”, titled Citizenship.

Conclusion

International protection of foreigners has been a matter of concern over the years across the globe.

See our article on International Protection of Foreigners for more information.

In the final analysis, the violation of residence permit is subjected to severe penalties in Turkey. Particularly orders on return or deportation and decisions on administrative detention may present several challenges to foreigners. Therefore, without comprehensive guidance and legal representation by Turkish immigration lawyer, it is quite hard to avoid negative results including severe sanctions on the grounds of residence norms breaches.

Take a look at our article on Turkish Immigration Lawyer about the meaning and particular role of Turkish Immigration Lawyer

Updated at 15.07.2025

Deportation of Foreigners in Turkey