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Immigration and Citizenship Law

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As Türkiye has become more internationally connected in economic, social and commercial terms, the law on foreigners has become an important field of practice. For foreigners who want to live, work, invest or acquire citizenship in Türkiye, it is very important that the legal procedures are handled correctly.

Immigration and citizenship law is a broad area of law that governs foreigners’ rights of residence in Türkiye, the procedures for working and living here, citizenship applications, deportation procedures and their legal dealings with the administrative authorities.

Applications made by foreigners are not simply a matter of preparing official documents. Each application should be assessed individually, according to the person’s particular situation, the purpose of their stay in Türkiye and the requirements set out in the legislation.

The rights and obligations of foreigners in Türkiye are determined by the relevant legislation, above all the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (YUKK).

Whether a foreigner is lawfully present in Türkiye may depend on the visa, residence permit, work permit or other legal status they hold.

Foreigners who want to stay in Türkiye for a long time need to complete the permit procedures that fit their situation correctly. Foreigners who will stay in Türkiye longer than the period allowed by their visa or visa exemption must complete the residence permit procedure.

Residence Permit Procedures

A residence permit (ikamet izni) is the official permit that allows a foreigner to stay lawfully in Türkiye for a certain period.

In Türkiye there are short-term, family, student and long-term residence permits, as well as permits linked to other special situations. Which type of residence permit to apply for is determined by the foreigner’s purpose in coming to Türkiye and their personal situation.

Simply submitting an application is not enough. The right type of permit must be chosen, the necessary documents must be prepared and the application must be handled in accordance with the legislation.

For more information, see the Residence Permits page.

Turkish Citizenship Applications

Acquiring Turkish citizenship is a process with important legal consequences for foreigners. Depending on the person’s situation, citizenship applications may be subject to different legal requirements.

There are different routes, such as citizenship by birth, acquisition of citizenship at a later stage, citizenship through marriage or citizenship by investment.

In citizenship applications, the applicant’s personal details, legal situation and documents, and whether they meet the requirements set out in the legislation, are assessed in detail.

For more information, see the Turkish Citizenship page.

Deportation and Removal Procedures

One of the most important legal procedures for foreigners is removal from the country, commonly called deportation (sınır dışı etme, often referred to in Türkiye as “deport”).

If certain legal grounds arise, a deportation order may be issued against a foreigner in Türkiye. However, the order must be lawful and the person’s rights under the law must be protected.

Deportation orders can have serious consequences that directly affect the foreigner’s legal situation in Türkiye. For this reason, the reasons given for the order, the way it was served and the legal remedies available should be examined carefully.

For more information, see the Deportation Procedures page.

Administrative Procedures for Foreigners

Most of the legal procedures foreigners go through in Türkiye are carried out with the administrative authorities.

In residence permit applications, citizenship procedures, deportation orders and other matters concerning foreigners, it is important that the acts of the administration are lawful.

Against decisions of the administrative authorities, foreigners can exercise their rights to object and to bring a court action within the time limits set by law.

Time limits play a very important role in the law on foreigners. Missing an application deadline, failing to submit the necessary documents on time or exercising legal rights too late can have serious consequences.

Acting on time is particularly important to avoid losing rights where a residence permit has been refused, a deportation order has been issued or a citizenship application is under way.

Foreigners who plan to live or invest in Türkiye need to plan the legal procedures correctly from the very start.

Buying property, working, family reunification, residence and citizenship can all have legal consequences that are connected with one another.

For this reason, it is important for foreigners to act on the basis of an assessment of their overall legal situation in Türkiye, and not just a single transaction.

The law on foreigners is a technical field that requires several pieces of legislation to be considered together. Each person’s nationality, purpose in coming to Türkiye, current legal situation and goals may be different.

For this reason, in residence, citizenship or deportation matters, a legal assessment suited to the person’s particular situation is needed rather than standard solutions.

Properly handled legal procedures help to protect foreigners’ rights in Türkiye, keep applications moving forward smoothly and prevent possible problems before they arise.

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