Overstay in Turkey

Turkey remains one of the most attractive destinations for foreign nationals. The rules governing stay in the country are strictly regulated by law, and failure to comply may lead to serious legal consequences.

One of the most common violations of migration legislation is overstay. According to the Directorate of Migration Management of the Republic of Turkey, thousands of foreigners face administrative sanctions every year for breaching visa rules. In this article, we examine the current legal framework surrounding overstay in Turkey, methods of calculating fines, possible consequences, and ways to protect your rights.

What is overstay in Turkey

Overstay is a term used to describe a situation where a foreign national remains in Turkey beyond the period permitted by their visa or residence documents. Under Turkish migration law, this violation is classified as a “breach of the lawful period of stay” (yasal kalış hakkının ihlali).

To fully understand the concept of overstay, it is important to distinguish between the main legal grounds for staying in Turkey:

1. Visa-free stay

Citizens of certain countries may enter Turkey without a visa under international agreements. Most foreigners benefiting from visa-free entry are allowed to stay in the country for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

2. Visa

An electronic visa (e-Visa) or a visa obtained through a consulate grants the right to stay for the period specified in the visa document. Typical durations are 30, 60, or 90 days. The validity period depends on the applicant’s nationality and the purpose of the visit.

3. Residence permit

A residence permit is an official authorization allowing a foreigner to legally reside in Turkey for a defined period, ranging from 6 months to 2 years depending on the type. Grounds for residence permits include family reunification, property ownership, employment, education, and tourism.

Overstay occurs when a foreigner loses their lawful status of stay in Turkey (visa-free stay, visa, or residence permit) and is classified as an “irregular migrant.” Exceeding the permitted period of stay entails legal consequences that may significantly affect future entry into the country.

How overstay is calculated

Under Article 54 of Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection, a 10-day “grace period” is provided during which a foreigner may:

• leave the country without penalties for overstay;
• apply for an extension or for a residence permit, provided there are valid grounds.

If no action is taken within this grace period, the overstay period begins, along with all resulting consequences. Therefore, to calculate an overstay, it is sufficient to rely on the permitted duration of stay under your visa or visa-free regime based on your nationality. In addition, a dedicated calculation system is available on the e-ikamet website.

Consequences of overstay

In recent years, Turkish authorities have significantly tightened their approach to migration violations, and overstay is treated as a serious offense affecting national security and migration control.

Overstay fines

Fines for exceeding the permitted period of stay are the first and most immediate sanction.

To correctly calculate an overstay fine, several factors must be considered: nationality, length of the overstay, whether the individual previously held a residence permit, and the method of entry (with a visa or visa-free).

An overstay fine may potentially include the following components:

1. Base fine — a daily charge for exceeding the permitted period of stay. As a rule, this is equivalent to double the residence permit fee set for each nationality.
2. Residence permit card fee (for foreigners who never obtained an ikamet) — as of 2026, 964 TRY.
3. Visa fee (for foreigners who entered without a visa).
4. Administrative fine — imposed at the discretion of law enforcement authorities.

The amounts are adjusted annually by the Ministry of Interior. However, the length of the violation directly affects the potential entry ban to Turkey.

For an approximate calculation, online calculators available on various websites may be used. The fine can also be calculated independently by taking into account the daily overstay charge and fixed fees.

Examples of fine calculations for different nationalities

Example 1: Citizen of Russia

Entry to Turkey under the visa-free regime. Permitted stay — 90 days. Overstay — 5 months.

Fine calculation:

• Base fine: USD 14 for the first month of overstay and USD 3 for each subsequent month. Total — USD 26.
• Ikamet card fee: 964 TRY.
• Administrative fine — determined by the migration officer.

Example 2: Citizen of the United Kingdom

Visa validity — 90 days. Overstay — 2 months.

Fine calculation:

• Base fine: USD 50 for the first month of overstay and USD 10 for each subsequent month. Total — USD 60.
• Ikamet card fee: 964 TRY.
• Administrative fine — determined by the migration officer.

Example 3: Citizen of the United States

Permitted stay under the visa — 90 days. Overstay — 1 year.

Fine calculation:

• Base fine: USD 50 for the first month of overstay and USD 10 for each subsequent month. Total — USD 160.
• Ikamet card fee: 964 TRY.
• Administrative fine — determined by the migration officer.

Deportation and entry bans

In addition to fines, overstay may lead to administrative measures that significantly restrict future entry into Turkey:

Deportation — the forced removal of a foreign national from Turkey under escort by law enforcement authorities. Deportation is applied when:

• the foreigner is detained by the police or Migration Service before attempting voluntary departure;
• there are aggravating circumstances (unauthorized employment, use of forged documents, commission of offenses);
• the foreigner refuses to leave the country voluntarily.

After a deportation decision is issued, the foreigner is granted between 15 and 30 days to leave Turkey voluntarily.

Entry ban — an administrative measure prohibiting a foreigner from entering Turkey for a specified period.

The duration of the entry ban depends on the length of the overstay and the circumstances under which the foreigner departed the country.

If a foreigner with an overstay presents themselves at the border voluntarily, pays the fine, and leaves without coercive measures, the following entry ban periods apply:

Under paragraph 4 of Article 9 of Law No. 6458, an entry ban may not be imposed if:

• the overstay was less than 3 months;
• the foreigner voluntarily contacted the migration authorities before the violation was detected;
• the fine was paid in full.

However, this exemption is applied at the discretion of the migration officer, and there is no guarantee that an entry ban will be waived.

Legal ways to extend your stay

For foreigners seeking to avoid overstay and legally extend their stay in Turkey, Turkish law provides several lawful mechanisms.

Visa run

A visa run in Turkey is a common practice involving a short departure from the country followed by immediate re-entry in order to “reset” the stay counter.

In theory, a foreigner staying in Turkey under a visa-free regime or a visa (typically 60 days consecutively and 30 days) may leave the country even for a few hours and then re-enter to use the remaining 30 days. Popular visa run destinations include Greece, Bulgaria, and Georgia.

Visa extension or residence permit

Obtaining a residence permit (İkamet İzni) is the most reliable and legally secure way to remain in Turkey long term.

Turkish law provides several categories of residence permits, each with its own grounds and advantages. The most common types are short-term residence permits based on property ownership or tourism, as well as family and work residence permits.

What to do if you have an overstay

It is essential to act quickly and correctly to minimize legal consequences and financial losses. Panic or ignoring the problem will only worsen the situation and may lead to more severe sanctions.

If the overstay has not yet been detected by the migration authorities, the best strategy is voluntary departure from the country with payment of the fine at the border. Overstay fines are paid at specialized Visa Violation Offices (Vize İhlali Bürosu) located at international airports and major border crossings. Payment may be made in cash or by bank card. An official receipt is issued and must be retained, as it may be required for future entry into Turkey or when applying for the removal of an entry ban.

Professional legal assistance in overstay cases can significantly reduce negative consequences and, in some cases, fully prevent an entry ban or deportation.

Legal remedies and protection tools:

1. Overstay and application for a residence permit. If you have valid grounds to continue staying in Turkey, an experienced lawyer may submit a residence permit application. A positive decision automatically terminates the overstay and legalizes your stay.

2. Appeal of a deportation decision. Under Article 53 of Law No. 6458, a foreigner has the right to appeal a deportation decision in an administrative court within 7 days of receiving the notice. Filing an appeal automatically suspends enforcement of the deportation decision until a court ruling is issued.

3. Request for deferred departure.In certain situations (medical reasons, inability to immediately purchase tickets, force majeure), a lawyer may request a departure postponement from the Migration Service.

4. Reduction or cancellation of an entry ban.Even if an entry ban has been imposed, it may be reduced or lifted in some cases. Grounds include:

• valid reasons for the overstay (illness, force majeure);
• significant family or economic ties to Turkey;
• absence of other legal violations;
• full payment of all fines and outstanding amounts.

FAQ

Is it possible to cancel an overstay fine?

Complete cancellation of an overstay fine is possible only in exceptional cases, where there are documented force majeure circumstances that objectively prevented timely departure from the country.

What should I do if an entry ban has been imposed?

An entry ban to Turkey is a serious administrative restriction, but it is not a dead end. You may wait until the ban expires, file an appeal through a lawyer, or apply for an annotated visa if there are compelling grounds for entry.

Is overstay counted after applying for a residence permit?

If a residence permit application is submitted before the expiry of the lawful stay period, overstay is not counted. If it is submitted after the lawful stay period has expired, overstay applies. In such cases, the application will be automatically rejected without substantive review as “submitted out of time.”

Can a decision of the Migration Service be challenged?

Yes, Turkish law grants foreigners the right to challenge decisions of migration authorities in court, including deportation orders and entry bans, provided there are valid legal grounds.

Tuncay & Barcin Law Office in Alanya is ready to provide qualified legal assistance on all matters related to Turkish migration law. We offer services in Russian, English, and Turkish and have extensive experience in successfully resolving even the most complex migration cases.

Contact us for a professional consultation — timely assistance from specialists can save your time, money, and your right to stay in Turkey.