Question 1

Within how many days can a deportation (removal) decision be appealed?

Accepted Answer

A case against a removal decision must be filed in the administrative court within 7 days of service of the decision. If the case is filed in time, removal cannot be carried out until the proceedings end, unless the foreign national consents. The court decides within 15 days once the file is complete, and that decision is final; there is no appeal (istinaf) or appeal on points of law (temyiz). The petition therefore needs to be complete the first time.

Question 2

How long can administrative detention in a removal centre last?

Accepted Answer

Administrative detention can last at most 6 months. If the foreign national does not cooperate or does not give accurate information about their country, it can be extended by at most 6 more months. The governorship must review every month whether detention is still necessary. An application against the decision can be made to the criminal judgeship of peace; the judgeship gives a final decision within 5 days, and a new application is possible if circumstances change.

Question 3

How do I find out about a restriction code and have it lifted?

Accepted Answer

The reason for the restriction code and the entry ban is obtained by a written application to the Presidency of Migration Management or the provincial directorate of migration management, through a lawyer if necessary. An application to lift it is then made with documents such as family ties, fines paid and favourable decisions. The Presidency may lift the ban or allow entry for a specified period. If the application is rejected, an annulment action can be filed in the administrative court within 60 days.

Question 4

How much must a property be worth to obtain Turkish citizenship by buying a home?

Accepted Answer

Real estate worth at least USD 400,000 must be purchased, and an annotation that it will not be sold for 3 years must be entered in the land register. Since 12 December 2023, the property must be under condominium ownership or construction servitude, or be land with a building on it; empty plots and fields are not accepted. The foreign currency must be sold to a bank before the transaction. The spouse and minor children can also be included in the application.

Question 5

When can a foreign national married to a Turkish citizen apply for citizenship?

Accepted Answer

Marriage does not confer citizenship directly. A foreign national who has been married to a Turkish citizen for at least 3 years, with the marriage still continuing, may apply. Living together as a family, not engaging in any activity incompatible with the marriage and having no security obstacle are required. There is no residence period requirement in Turkey. The spouses are interviewed separately and together; if it emerges that the marriage was entered into solely for citizenship, the application is refused.

Question 6

I have overstayed my residence permit. What happens?

Accepted Answer

A removal decision may be issued and an entry ban imposed on a foreign national who overstays a visa or residence period by more than 10 days. A person who, before this is detected, applies to the governorship to leave and pays the administrative fine, and whose overstay does not exceed the set limit, may not be given an entry ban. If you intend to stay in Turkey, a legal assessment of the appropriate residence permit type should be made before the overstay grows longer.

Question 7

My residence permit was refused. What can I do?

Accepted Answer

An annulment action against the refusal can be filed in the administrative court within 60 days of service, and a stay of execution can be requested. If the refusal is based on missing documents, applying again under the appropriate residence type may be faster. Because a removal decision may be issued against a foreign national who does not leave the country within 10 days after an extension application is refused, the time limit for the case and the departure period must be tracked together.

Question 8

Is a divorce I obtained abroad valid in Turkey?

Accepted Answer

A foreign court’s divorce judgment does not automatically take effect in Turkey. If the spouses apply together and the conditions in the law are met, the judgment can be entered in the civil register through the civil registry directorate or the consulate without going to court. If these conditions are not met, a recognition action is filed in the family court; the judgment must be final, must not be manifestly contrary to public policy, and the defendant’s right of defence must have been respected; reciprocity is not required for recognition.

Question 9

Does a foreign national with a work permit also need a residence permit?

Accepted Answer

No. A valid work permit replaces a residence permit; there is no need to obtain a separate residence permit. The first work permit is granted for up to 1 year, the first extension with the same employer for up to 2 years, and later extensions for up to 3 years. An extension application may be filed from 60 days before the permit expires and must be filed before it expires; an application filed after expiry is rejected.

Foreigners — frequently asked questions

Foreigners

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