Types of Residence Permits in Turkey

Foreigners who will stay in Turkey for more than the period allowed by the visa or visa exemption or for more than ninety days are required to obtain a residence permit. Visa durations and maximum stay periods for each country are different. For these periods, you can check the official website.

If your residence permit application is rejected and you do not file a legal challenge, you may become unlawfully present in Turkey.

In that case, police checks may result in administrative fines, an entry ban, or transfer to an immigration deportation center where removal proceedings can begin. You may also be transferred to another city if local centers are full.

For guidance, see:
Residence Permit for EU and US Citizens in Turkey
Turkey Residence Permit – Required Documents Guide

What needs to be done for people sent to the immigration deportation center is to contact an immigration lawyer and ensure that the legal status of the person in the deportation center is clarified. Keeping in mind that it may vary depending on the situation in the case, with the help of a lawyer, a legal process can be initiated to cancel the deportation decision and to help the person remain out of detention during the process, where possible.

In violation of the right to stay legally in Turkey (visa, visa waiver, residence permit, work permit, or work permit exemption under the Law on Foreigners and International Protection No. 6458), entry bans to Turkey may be imposed.

If you are currently facing such measures:
Detained in a Deportation or Immigration Center in Turkey?
Arrested or Detained in Turkey?
US Citizen Deported from Turkey?

• If the legal stay period is violated for up to 3 months and you leave Turkey without being identified by the competent authorities and pay an administrative fine, or if a deportation decision has been issued, leaving the country within the period given for deportation and paying the fine will prevent the imposition of a ban on re-entering the country.
• If the violation of the legal right to stay exceeds 3 months, you may face entry bans, even if you leave the country without being identified by the competent authorities and pay a fine.
  • 3 months – 6 months violation: 1 month entry ban.
  • 6 months – 1 year violation: 3-month entry ban.
  • 1 year – 2 years violation: 1-year entry ban.
  • 2 years – 3 years violation: 2-year entry ban.
  • Violation over 3 years of illegal stay: automatic 5-year ban on entry to Turkey.
• If the legal stay is violated for the reasons listed below, an entry ban will be imposed for a period of 3 months to 5 years.
  • Those who violated their legal right to stay and left the country without being detected by the competent authorities but did not pay the fine.
  • Those who did not leave the country within the prescribed period despite a deportation decision being issued, or those who left within the prescribed period but did not pay the administrative fine.
  • Those who do not leave the country within the given period despite their residence or work permit being rejected or canceled, even if they have paid the administrative fine.
  Notice: foreigners departing Turkish borders with visa overstay violation and who do not pay the overstay fine before leaving may (depending on the case) pay the fine within 10 days at the Turkish embassy abroad to help lift the entry ban.