Deportation Turkey

Deportation decisions are made by the Directorate General of Migration Management (DGMM) office responsible for the province where a person facing deportation is living.

You can be deported from Turkey if you:

1. Are convicted of a crime resulting in imprisonment.
2. Are found to be a member or supporter of a terrorist or criminal organization.
3. Use forged or fake documents to enter Turkey, or get a visa or a residence permit using forged or fake documents.
4. Work in Turkey without a work permit, or make a living in Turkey through illegal means.
5. Pose a threat to public order, safety, or health.
6. Stay in Turkey for more than ten days beyond the validity period of your visa or visa exemption, or if your visa or visa exemption is canceled.
7. Apply for a residence permit more than ten days after your previous residence permit has expired and don't provide a valid reason for your overstay.
8. Remain in Turkey after your residence permit has been canceled.
9. Enter or exit Turkey illegally, without going through the proper procedures.
10. Enter Turkey while banned from doing so.
11. Remain in Turkey for more than ten days after your application for a residence permit has been rejected. However, if you go to a border gate to leave Turkey voluntarily, you may not be deported.

Administrative Detention

You can be physically detained and placed in a detention facility if you:

1. Are an escape risk.
2. Have violated the laws concerning the entry and exit procedures of Turkey.
3. Have used forged documents
4. Didn't leave Turkey by a date when you were ordered to leave without a valid reason.
5. Pose a threat to public order, safety, or health.

Maximum Detention Period

The maximum amount of time you can be detained is six months. However, this can be extended for another six months if you are uncooperative, causing the courts to be unable to make a decision. It can also be extended if you have no documents showing your country of origin, or if such documents are fake or have been forged.

Deportation Decision Reviews and Release from Administrative Detention

The provincial government typically reviews the cases of those in administrative detention every month. If it is found that your detention is no longer necessary, you may be released, but required to remain at a certain address and periodically report to government officials.

Countries You Can Be Deported To

1. Your country of origin.
2. The country you were in before arriving in Turkey.
3. A third country as decided by immigration officials.

Travel Expenses

If you are deported, you are responsible for paying the travel expenses. If you are unable to pay the expenses, the DGMM will pay them. If the DGMM pays any part of your travel expenses, then after you are out of the country for the duration of your re-entry ban, you can only return to Turkey after you have paid back whatever money the DGMM has paid.

What Should I Do if I Have a Long Overstay in Turkey?

If you meet any of the criteria above for deportation (usually it is because of a significant overstay), contact your country's embassy or consulate. They should be able to assist you in turning yourself in, so you can leave Turkey voluntarily. Do NOT wait until you are caught staying in Turkey illegally. "Administrative detention" is another word for going to jail, and is a very unpleasant experience. And it only takes a policeman asking you to identify yourself, or someone making a call to the authorities, for you to be caught.

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External Links

Fines and Bans for Overstaying Your Visa or Residence Permit: Overstays are more likely to result in a fine or a re-entry ban. Learn about those here.
Calculator of travel days remaining under a Schengen short-stay visa: You can use this calculator by entering your visa validity period and how many days you have been in Turkey, to determine how many days remain before you oversta