How long can I stay in Turkey with my VISA?
Depending on the country you come from, you can legally stay in Turkey 30 to 90 days with your visa or e-visa. However, most European citizens do not need a visa before traveling to Turkey and can stay in Turkey for 90 days within each 180 days. For more information please visit the page of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding visa requirements for foreigners.
Can I extend or renew my visa for Turkey?
The length of stay provided by visa or visa exemption cannot exceed 90 days within each 180 days. This rule is binding for all foreigners that will travel to Turkey. When you are willing to stay in Turkey longer than your visa or e-visa permits, you must apply at the nearest Provincial Directorate of Migration Management for a residence permit. Furthermore, if you have reached the 90 day limit on your 180 day visa and you leave Turkey, you will be granted entry on the condition that you pledge in writing to apply for a residence permit within 10 days of your arrival.
What are the consequences of overstaying the visa in Turkey?
Depending on the length of the overstay you will be subject to a fine and/or a ban from re-entering Turkey.
How much is the visa overstay fine in Turkey and where can I pay this fine?
The visa overstay fine is calculated based on the number of days you have overstayed. The amount of the fine for visa violations varies depending on the country of citizenship of the foreigner and the duration of his/her stay in Turkey. You must pay the fines for visa violation at the visa violation office located at the airports.
When will the entry ban to Turkey apply in case of visa overstay?
Article 9 of the Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection states that a ban on entry to Turkey is imposed in case of a violation of the legal period of stay (residence permit, work permit, visa period or exceeding the visa exemption period). According to the publication of the Directorate of Migration Management the entry ban to Turkey will be applied as follows
Visa violation duration | Duration of Entry ban to Turkey |
3 – 6 months | 1 month |
6 months – 1 year | 3 months |
1- 2 years | 1 year |
2- 3 years | 2 years |
3 years or more | 5 years |
As you can see above, if the duration of the visa violation is less than 3 months, no entry ban to Turkey will be applied when the foreigner voluntarily visits the border gate and pays the visa violation fine, before this violation is detected by the competent authorities.
Furthermore, in case a deportation decision is taken against the foreigner and the foreigner comes to the border gate and pays the visa violation fine within the period of leaving the country granted to the foreigner, the entry ban will also not be applied. However, if the foreigner refuses to pay or cannot at that time, he or she will be banned from entering Turkey for a period up to 5 years.
How can I check if I have an entry ban to Turkey?
An entry ban is enforced by assigning a restriction code in the foreigner’s registry. A restriction code indicates the grounds for the entry ban or deportation of the foreigner. Some of these codes are as follows.
V-157 – Rejection of a residence permit.
C-101 – Entry ban for 3 months for a violation of visa, visa exemption, residence and work permit etc.
C-120 – Failure to pay the fine for a violation regarding residence or visa).
You can consult our experienced Immigration Lawyer at Turkish Legal Office, if you have concerns about your immigration status or potential entry bans.
Can my entry ban due to visa overstay be revoked?
The entry ban imposed due to visa overstay will automatically be lifted upon the expiration of its period. Furthermore, foreigners who are banned from entering the country due to visa overstay do not have to wait the entry ban period, if they apply at the Turkish Consulate for an annotated visa issued for a specific purpose. Examples would be in regards to family unification, work, study, treatment and commercial activity.
An annotated visa ensures that a foreigner who is banned from entering Turkey can legally enter Turkey. This process is usually concluded within 1 month.
How can my entry ban to Turkey be lifted?
Not all entry bans can be easily revoked by getting an annotated visa, if the reason of the entry ban is related to restriction codes, including but not limited to, G-26 (Activities of an illegal organisation), G-34 (Forgery), G-42 (Drug offense), G-64 (Threat), G-67 (Fraud) or G-87 (Posing danger to the public security) a lawsuit against the entry ban in an administrative court is required.
It might be the case that the state unlawfully decided to impose an entry ban, to successfully lift an entry ban to Turkey, the foreigner must demonstrate that the administrative action was unlawful. Here it is important to file the case within the legal time of 60 days from the date of notification of the decision to the foreigner and to work with a competent immigration lawyer who prepares for each restriction code a specific defense.
Are you facing challenges related to visa overstay, unlawful presence, deportation, entry ban or other immigration matters in Turkey? Please do not hesitate to contact Turkish Legal Office. Our experienced legal team of Turkish Immigration Lawyers are here to offer reliable guidance and expert solutions to all your legal requests.