A refused visa or an entry ban for Turkey is an administrative decision — and it can be reviewed. This guide shows what Turkish law provides, which deadlines apply and how the matter can be handled from Germany.
- Visa, refusal at the border, entry ban: which measure exists — and what is it based on?
- 60 days to sue, only 7 days against deportation: which deadline applies to you
- Application to lift the measure or action before the administrative court: which route fits when
Av. Hasan Doğru · Turkish administrative law · Mannheim & Ankara
Legal notice: This article addresses Turkish law exclusively and is for general information only; it does not replace advice in an individual case. Doğru Kanzlei advises under § 207 BRAO exclusively in Turkish law and public international law.
The important point is this: these are decisions of Turkish administrative authorities, and they can be reviewed — by applying to the authority and, where necessary, by suing before a Turkish administrative court. This guide explains what Turkish law provides, which deadlines apply, and how the matter can be handled from Germany.
Who this affects
The governing statute is Turkish Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection (Yabancılar ve Uluslararası Koruma Kanunu, YUKK). It applies to anyone who is not a Turkish citizen, including:
Holders of a Mavi Kart (Blue Card) are exempt from the visa requirement under Art. 12(1)(ç) of Law No. 6458 in conjunction with Art. 28 of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901.
Turkish visas: the ground rules
If you are a third-country national living in Germany, the first question is usually where to apply. Under Art. 11(1), a foreigner who will stay up to ninety days obtains the visa from the Turkish consulate in the country of their citizenship or in the country where they are lawfully present. If you hold a residence title in Germany, that means the Turkish consulates in Germany.
Three rules in the statute matter most:
Under Turkey's current visa regime, German citizens are in principle exempt from the visa requirement for short stays; the current position published by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is always decisive. But exemption does not protect against being turned back at the border, as explained below.
Why visas are refused
Art. 15(1) lists the foreigners to whom no visa is issued:
| Ground of refusal under Art. 15(1) | What it means |
|---|---|
| Passport not valid long enough (a) | The passport must be valid at least 60 days beyond the visa period requested |
| Existing entry ban (b) | While the ban stands, applications will fail |
| Public order or public security (c) | Based on the authorities' assessment |
| Public health (ç) | Diseases classed as a threat to public health |
| Extraditable offences (d) | Persons accused or convicted under extradition treaties |
| No health insurance (e) | No valid cover for the whole stay |
| Purpose not justified (f) | Purpose of entry, transit or stay not credibly documented |
| Insufficient means (g) | No adequate and regular means for the stay |
| Unpaid debts (ğ) | Fines from earlier visa or residence violations and other public debts |
Several of these can be cured: a missing insurance certificate, a poorly documented purpose of travel, an unpaid fine. Others — (b) and (c) in particular — can only be resolved by addressing the underlying measure itself.
Under Art. 15(2), a visa may still be granted with the Minister's approval where this is considered beneficial. Refusal of a visa and cancellation of a visa must be notified to the person concerned (Art. 17).
When an issued visa is cancelled
Under Art. 16, a visa is cancelled in cases including:
If a deportation decision is issued during the validity of the visa, the visa is also cancelled (Art. 16(2)).
Turned back at the border
The situation German citizens meet most often is governed by Art. 7. Foreigners are classed as "inadmissible passengers" and turned back if they
That is why visa-free travel is no protection: if there is an entry ban against you, you are turned back even though you need no visa.
Under Art. 7(2) the measure must be notified to the person turned back, and the notice must explain how they can effectively exercise their right to object. Until the process is completed, they wait in the designated area at the border gate (Art. 7(3)).
⚠️ Important: Keep every document you are handed at the border and note the date and time. Deadlines start to run on notification.
The entry ban
The entry ban is regulated in Art. 9:
The ban is notified under Art. 10: in Art. 9(1) cases by the authority at the border gate when the person arrives to enter Turkey, and after a deportation by the governorate. This is why so many people learn of it only at the airport.
What is a "tahdit kodu"?
In practice the ban is recorded in the authorities' system under a short code known as a tahdit kodu (restriction code). These codes are not set out in the statute; they are internal administrative designations. Codes met in practice include the "Ç" series for visa and residence violations, "G-87" in connection with general security, and "N-82" for entry subject to prior permission. Which code has been recorded generally determines the route: a record for an overstay is not handled in the same way as one based on public security.
What remedies exist
1. Applying to the authority
Under Art. 9(6) the migration authority may lift the entry ban, or allow entry for a specified period while the ban remains in place. For bans based on an overstay and unpaid fines, this is often the first step.
A foreigner whose visa or residence permit has expired and who applies to the governorate to leave before the authorities detect the violation may, under Art. 9(4), be spared an entry ban — provided the administrative fine is paid and the periods set by the Ministry are not exceeded.
2. Annulment action before the administrative court
An entry ban, a visa refusal and a visa cancellation are administrative acts. They can be challenged by an annulment action (iptal davası) under the Turkish Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577 (İYUK):
The court examines whether the measure rests on a sound factual basis and is proportionate. How the case is likely to go depends on the reason for the measure and can only be assessed once the documents have been reviewed.
3. Challenging a deportation decision
Deportation has its own rule. Under Art. 53(3), the foreigner, their legal representative or their lawyer may apply to the administrative court within seven days of notification. The court decides, as a rule, within fifteen days of the file being complete, and its decision is final. During the period for bringing the action and until the proceedings are concluded, the foreigner is not deported, unless they consent.
The deadlines at a glance
| Measure | Legal basis | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Entry ban | Art. 9 YUKK, Art. 7 İYUK | 60 days |
| Visa refusal or cancellation | Arts. 15–17 YUKK, Art. 7 İYUK | 60 days |
| Refusal of entry at the border | Art. 7 YUKK, Art. 7 İYUK | 60 days |
| Deportation decision | Art. 53(3) YUKK | 7 days |
⚠️ These are strict time limits. If they are missed, the route to court against that decision is generally closed. Have the date of notification, or the date you learned of the measure, established straight away.
How it works from Germany
As a rule you do not need to travel to Turkey — which, with an entry ban, would not be possible anyway.
If Turkish criminal proceedings lie behind the entry problem, that has to be clarified first. See Will I be arrested when I enter Turkey?
Common mistakes
How we help
Avukat Hasan Doğru is admitted to the Ankara Bar and registered with the Karlsruhe Bar under § 207 BRAO. Doğru Kanzlei, with offices in Mannheim and Ankara, manages visa processes, files applications with the Turkish authorities and conducts actions before the Turkish administrative courts — in English, German or Turkish.
Describe your case on WhatsApp →%20and%20would%20like%20an%20assessment.)
Related pages
This article is also available in German and Turkish: Einreiseverbot oder Visum für die Türkei abgelehnt? · Türkiye'ye Giriş Yasağı ve Vize Reddi
Legal notice: This article is for general information and does not replace advice in an individual case. Every file must be assessed separately. Avukat Hasan Doğru advises and represents exclusively in Turkish law and public international law (§ 207 BRAO).
Done-for-you entry clearance
We resolve your Turkish entry problem — from Germany
Use the short WhatsApp intake form to describe what happened. Hasan Doğru establishes the reason and the deadline with the Turkish authorities, applies to have the measure lifted and, where necessary, conducts the action before the Turkish administrative court personally.
What we handle
- Establishing the reason, the restriction code and the running deadline with the Turkish authorities
- Application to lift the ban or for time-limited entry under Art. 9(6) of Law No. 6458
- Annulment action and request to suspend enforcement before the administrative court
Av. Hasan Doğru · Turkish administrative law · Mannheim & Ankara
