“I Received a Deportation Order in Turkey – What Should I Do?”
Information for Foreigners under Law No. 6458
Receiving a deportation (removal) order in Turkey is serious, but it is not the end of the road. Turkish law gives you very strict deadlines and important protections. Understanding the 7-day appeal period, the rules on administrative detention, and the consequences of an entry ban (restriction codes) is critical.
1. What does a deportation order mean?
Under Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection, the Presidency of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı) or the provincial directorates can issue a deportation order if, for example, you:
- overstay your visa or residence permit,
- enter or exit Turkey illegally,
- work without a permit,
- are considered a threat to public order, security or public health.
The written decision must be notified to you (often in Turkish, sometimes with a short explanation in another language). From the moment of notification, the legal “clock” starts to run.
2. The 7-day deadline: appeal to the administrative court
You, your legal representative or your lawyer have 7 days from notification of the deportation order to file a lawsuit before the competent administrative court.This is not a simple complaint to the migration office – it is a formal judicial case.
Key points:
- The appeal is filed directly with the administrative court named in the decision.
- The court typically must decide within around 15 days, and its ruling is usually final in deportation cases.
- Very important: once you file within 7 days, the deportation order cannot be executed until the court decides, except for a narrow group of national-security/public-order cases.
If the court cancels the deportation order, the removal cannot lawfully be carried out. If it upholds the order, deportation and an entry ban will normally be implemented, but you may still have the option to apply to the Constitutional Court or the European Court of Human Rights in high-risk cases.
3. Administrative detention: 6 + 6 months and alternatives
After a deportation order, the governorate may decide to place you in administrative detention in a removal centre (geri gönderme merkezi) if, for example, there is a risk you may abscond or you violated entry/exit rules.
- The maximum duration is 6 months, which can be extended by another 6 months (total 12) if removal cannot be completed because you do not cooperate or provide correct information.
- The decision is reviewed monthly, and you or your lawyer can appeal to the Criminal Judgeship of Peace, which must decide within 5 days (though the appeal does not automatically end detention).
Instead of detention, authorities can impose alternative obligations, such as living at a specified address, regular reporting, financial collateral, family-based return planning, counselling or electronic monitoring, often for up to 24 months.
Conditions and rights in removal centres (visits, contact with consulates and lawyers, healthcare, legal aid) are described by the Presidency of Migration Management and international monitoring organisations.
4. Entry bans and “restriction codes”
A deportation order is usually accompanied by an entry ban to Turkey, recorded with a restriction code (Ç- or V- codes).
- For most immigration violations, entry bans range from a few months up to 5 years, and for some security-related cases they can be extended up to 15 years.
- Common examples include codes for overstays, illegal work, unpaid fines or security concerns.
You can usually challenge both the deportation decision and the entry ban via:
- Lawsuit before the administrative court, seeking annulment of the decision or code; and/or
- Application to the Presidency or Provincial Migration Directorates for lifting or shortening the ban based on family ties, humanitarian reasons or corrected violations (e.g. after paying fines).
There is also a special solution called an “annotated visa” (özel meşruhatlı vize): a visa granted by Turkish consulates that allows temporary entry despite an active ban, usually for purposes such as family reunification, work, education or medical treatment.
5. Practical timeline after notification
- Day 0: You receive the deportation decision. Ask for a copy and keep it.
- Days 0–7: Contact a Turkish immigration lawyer and file a lawsuit at the administrative court. If you are detained, ask the removal centre administration to forward your petition.
- Up to Day 15 (approx.): The court usually issues its decision on your case.
- Within 6 + 6 months: If you are under administrative detention, the governorate must review the need for detention and consider alternatives; your lawyer can challenge detention separately.
6. Common mistakes to avoid
- Signing a “voluntary return” form without understanding it. Such forms may be used to show that you agreed to go back and may limit later protection claims. NGOs and reports raise concerns about foreigners being pressured to sign them.
- Missing the 7-day deadline. If you do not file in time, the deportation order becomes final and much harder to challenge.
- Using only one channel. An e-mail complaint to the migration office or consulate is not the same as a court case. You generally need:
- an administrative court lawsuit against the deport decision, and
- if detained, a separate appeal against administrative detention.
- Not keeping documents. Always keep copies of the deportation decision, passport, residence card, notifications and anything you sign.
This overview is for information only and does not replace personalised legal advice. If you receive a deportation order in Turkey, contact a qualified Turkish immigration lawyer as quickly as possible and, if needed, call the YİMER 157 helpline of the Presidency of Migration Management for basic information and language support.
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