Unofficial English translation for information only. In case of discrepancy, the Turkish text prevails. This translation is not legal advice.
Turkish source: Law No. 6458, Official Gazette 11/04/2013, No. 28615. Turkish text as published on mevzuat.gov.tr, checked on 26 October 2026: mevzuat.gov.tr
PART TWO – Foreigners
CHAPTER THREE – Stateless Persons
Article 50 – Determination of statelessness
(1) Statelessness shall be determined by the Directorate General. Stateless persons shall be issued a Stateless Person Identity Document granting them the right to reside legally in Türkiye. Persons treated as stateless by other countries shall not benefit from this right.
(2) Stateless persons are required to obtain a Stateless Person Identity Document, which shall be issued by the governorships with the favourable opinion of the Directorate General. This document, which is not subject to any fee, replaces a residence permit and shall be renewed by the governorships every two years. The foreign national identification number shall also appear on the Stateless Person Identity Document.
(3) Periods spent in Türkiye as a holder of a Stateless Person Identity Document shall be counted when calculating periods of residence.
(4) The Stateless Person Identity Document shall cease to be valid when the person acquires the citizenship of any country.
(5) The procedures and principles concerning the determination of cases of statelessness and the Stateless Person Identity Document shall be determined by regulation.
Article 51 – Rights and safeguards granted to stateless persons
(1) Persons holding a Stateless Person Identity Document:
a) May apply to obtain one of the residence permits under this Law,
b) Shall not be deported unless they constitute a serious threat to public policy or public security,
c) Shall be exempt from the reciprocity requirement applicable to procedures concerning foreign nationals,
ç) Shall be subject to the provisions of Law No. 4817 in work permit-related matters and procedures,
d) May benefit from the provisions of Article 18 of Law No. 5682.
CHAPTER FOUR – Deportation
Article 52 – Deportation
(1) Foreign nationals may be deported pursuant to a deportation decision to their country of origin, a country of transit or a third country.
Article 53 – Deportation decision
(1) A deportation decision shall be issued by the governorships upon the instruction of the Directorate General or ex officio.
(2) The decision, together with its reasons, shall be served on the foreign national against whom the deportation decision has been issued, or their legal representative or lawyer. If the foreign national against whom a deportation decision has been issued is not represented by a lawyer, they or their legal representative shall be informed of the consequences of the decision, the procedures for objecting and the time limits.
(3) (Amended:21/11/2024-7533/36 art.) The foreign national or their legal representative or lawyer may apply to the administrative court against the deportation decision within seven days of service of the decision. The person applying to the court shall also notify the authority that issued the deportation decision of their application. In applications to the court, the file shall be deemed complete upon submission of the defence or expiry of the period for submitting the defence. If service cannot be effected at the address indicated by the claimant, the period provided for in paragraph three of Article 26 of Law No. 2577 shall apply as two months. Whether a hearing is held shall be at the court’s discretion. Applications shall be concluded within fifteen days from completion of the file or, where an interim decision or hearing is required, from completion thereof. The court’s decision on this matter shall be final. Without prejudice to the foreign national’s consent, the foreign national shall not be deported during the period for bringing an action or, if legal remedies are sought, until the proceedings are concluded.
Article 54 – Foreign nationals subject to a deportation decision
(1) A deportation decision shall be issued in respect of the following foreign nationals:
a) Those considered to be required to be deported within the scope of Article 59 of Law No. 5237
b) Those who are leaders, members or supporters of a terrorist organisation, or leaders, members or supporters of a criminal organisation established for profit
c) Those who use false information and forged documents in procedures for entry into Türkiye, visas or residence permits
ç) Those who support themselves by illegitimate means while in Türkiye
d) Those who constitute a threat to public policy (ordre public), public security or public health
e) Those who exceed the period of a visa or visa exemption by more than ten days, or whose visa has been cancelled
f) Those whose residence permits have been cancelled
g) Those who hold a residence permit but violate its duration by more than ten days after it expires without an acceptable reason
ğ) Those found to be working without a work permit
h) Those who violate or attempt to violate the provisions on lawful entry into or lawful exit from Türkiye[20]
ı) Those found to have come to Türkiye despite being subject to an entry ban for Türkiye
i) Among those whose international protection application has been rejected, who have been excluded from international protection, whose application has been deemed inadmissible, who have withdrawn their application, whose application has been deemed withdrawn, whose international protection status has ended or been cancelled, those who have no right to stay in Türkiye under other provisions of this Law after the final decision issued in their case
j) Among those whose applications to extend their residence permits have been rejected, those who do not leave Türkiye within ten days
k) (Added: 3/10/2016-Decree-Law No. 676/36 art.; Adopted verbatim: 1/2/2018-7070/31 art.) Those considered to be affiliated with terrorist organisations defined by international institutions and organisations.
(2) (Amended: 3/10/2016-Decree-Law No. 676/36 art.; Adopted verbatim: 1/2/2018-7070/31 art.) A deportation decision may be issued at any stage of international protection proceedings in respect of persons who have applied for international protection or hold international protection status and are considered to fall within subparagraphs (b), (d) and (k) of paragraph one of this Article.
Article 55 – Foreign nationals not subject to a deportation decision
(1) Even if they fall within the scope of Article 54, no deportation decision shall be issued in respect of the following foreign nationals:
a) Those for whom there are serious indications that they would be subjected to the death penalty, torture, or inhuman or degrading punishment or treatment in the country to which they would be deported
b) Those for whom travel is considered risky because of serious health problems, age or pregnancy
c) Those who are undergoing treatment for life-threatening illnesses and for whom treatment would not be available in the country to which they would be deported
ç) Victims of human trafficking who are benefiting from the victim support process
d) Victims of psychological, physical or sexual violence until their treatment is completed
(2) The assessments within the scope of paragraph one shall be made separately for each person. Such persons may be required to reside at a specified address and to report in the prescribed manner and at the prescribed intervals.
Article 56 – Invitation to leave Türkiye
(1) Persons subject to a deportation decision shall be granted a period of no less than fifteen days and up to thirty days to leave Türkiye, provided that this is stated in the deportation decision. However, this period shall not be granted to persons at risk of absconding or disappearing, those who violate the rules on lawful entry or lawful exit, those who use forged documents, those who attempt to obtain residence permits with false documents or are found to have obtained them with such documents, or those who constitute a threat to public policy (ordre public), public security or public health.
(2) Persons granted a period to leave Türkiye shall be issued a Permit to Leave. This document shall not be subject to any fee. Obligations relating to visa and residence permit fees and penalties for those fees are reserved.
Article 57 – Administrative detention for deportation and its duration
(1) If foreign nationals within the scope of Article 54 are apprehended by law enforcement, they shall immediately be reported to the governorship for a decision to be issued in their case. A deportation decision shall be issued by the governorship in respect of those among them who are considered to be subject to a deportation decision. The assessment and decision period may not exceed forty-eight hours.
(2) (Amended:6/12/2019-7196/77 art.) Among those in respect of whom a deportation decision has been issued, persons at risk of absconding or disappearing, those who violate the rules on entry into or exit from Türkiye, those who use forged or false documents, those who do not leave Türkiye within the period granted for departure without an acceptable excuse, and those who constitute a threat to public policy, public security or public health shall be placed in administrative detention by the governorship or made subject to alternative obligations to administrative detention pursuant to Article 57/A. Foreign nationals placed in administrative detention shall be taken to removal centres by the law enforcement unit that apprehended them within forty-eight hours.
(3) The period of administrative detention in removal centres may not exceed six months. However, this period may be extended by no more than a further six months if deportation proceedings cannot be completed because the foreign national fails to cooperate or provide accurate information or documents concerning their country.
(4) (Amended:6/12/2019-7196/77 art.) The governorship shall regularly assess every month whether continued administrative detention is necessary. Where deemed necessary, the assessment shall be conducted without waiting for the thirty-day period to expire. Administrative detention shall be terminated immediately for foreign nationals for whom continued detention is not considered necessary. These foreign nationals shall be made subject to alternative obligations to administrative detention pursuant to Article 57/A.
(5) The administrative detention decision, any extension of the administrative detention period, and the results of the regular monthly assessments shall be served, together with the reasons, on the foreign national or their legal representative or lawyer. At the same time, if the person placed in administrative detention is not represented by a lawyer, they or their legal representative shall be informed of the consequences of the decision, the procedures for objecting and the time limits.
(6) The person placed in administrative detention or their legal representative or lawyer may apply to the criminal judge of peace against the administrative detention decision. The application shall not suspend administrative detention. If the petition is submitted to the administration, it shall be immediately forwarded to the competent criminal judge of peace. The criminal judge of peace shall conclude the examination within five days. The decision of the criminal judge of peace shall be final. The person placed in administrative detention or their legal representative or lawyer may apply again to the criminal judge of peace on the grounds that the conditions for administrative detention have ceased to exist or have changed.
(7) Persons who seek judicial review of administrative detention and are unable to afford lawyers’ fees shall, upon request, be provided with the services of a lawyer in accordance with the provisions of the Attorneyship Law dated 19/3/1969 and numbered 1136.
(8) (Added:6/12/2019-7196/77 art.) The electronic and communication devices of foreign nationals placed in administrative detention may be examined for the purpose of determining their nationality. Data obtained as a result of the examination shall not be used for any other purpose.
Article 57/A – Obligations Alternative to Administrative Detention
(Added:6/12/2019-7196/78 art.)
(1) The following obligations alternative to administrative detention may be imposed on the foreign nationals listed in the second paragraph of Article 57 or on foreign nationals whose administrative detention has been terminated:
a) Residing at a specified address
b) Reporting
c) Family-based return
ç) Return counselling
d) Volunteering in services for the public benefit
e) Security
f) Electronic monitoring
(2) Where one or more of the obligations set out in the first paragraph are imposed on a foreign national, the period may not exceed twenty-four months.
(3) It is mandatory to impose one or more of the obligations set out in the first paragraph of this Article on foreign nationals who fall within the scope of the second paragraph of Article 57 but are not placed under administrative detention.
(4) The foreign national, or their legal representative or lawyer, shall be notified that they are subject to obligations alternative to administrative detention, together with the reasons. If the foreign national on whom obligations alternative to administrative detention are imposed is not represented by a lawyer, the foreign national or their legal representative shall be informed of the consequences of the decision and the procedures and time limits for objection.
(5) A foreign national subject to the obligation of electronic monitoring, or their legal representative or lawyer, may apply to the criminal judge of peace against this decision. The application does not suspend the administrative obligation imposed on the foreign national. The criminal judge of peace shall conclude the examination within five days. The decision of the criminal judge of peace is final.
(6) Foreign nationals who fail to comply with obligations alternative to administrative detention may be placed under administrative detention.
(7) If a security obligation is imposed on a foreign national and the foreign national does not leave Türkiye within the security period, the security shall be recorded as revenue to the Treasury, except in cases of force majeure and where court proceedings have not concluded.
(8) The procedures and principles regarding the implementation of this Article shall be regulated by the Ministry.
Article 58 – Removal Centres
(1) Foreign nationals placed under administrative detention shall be held in removal centres.
(2) Removal centres shall be operated by the Ministry. The Ministry may have these centres operated by public institutions and organisations, the Turkish Red Crescent Society, or associations working for the public benefit that have expertise in the field of migration, by concluding protocols with them.
(3) The procedures and principles concerning the establishment, management, operation, transfer and inspection of removal centres, and the transfer of foreign nationals held under administrative detention for the purpose of deportation to removal centres, shall be regulated by a regulation.
Article 59 – Services to Be Provided at Removal Centres
(1) At removal centres;
a) Emergency and basic healthcare services that the foreign national cannot afford shall be provided free of charge,
b) The foreign national shall be provided with the opportunity to access and meet with relatives, a notary, a legal representative and a lawyer, and also to access telephone services,
c) The foreign national shall be provided with the opportunity to meet with visitors, consular officials of the country of which they are a national, and officials of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,
ç) The best interests of children shall be taken into consideration, and families shall be accommodated in separate places,[21]
d) The Ministry of National Education shall take the necessary measures to ensure that children benefit from education and instruction.
(2) Representatives of relevant non-governmental organisations with expertise in the field of migration may visit removal centres with the permission of the Directorate General.
Article 60 – Implementation of the Deportation Decision
(1) Foreign nationals in removal centres shall be taken to border gates by law enforcement units.
(2) Foreign nationals to be deported without the need to be transferred to removal centres shall be taken to border gates by law enforcement units, coordinated by the provincial organisation of the Directorate General.
(3) (Amended:6/12/2019-7196/80 art.) Travel expenses of foreign nationals to be deported shall be borne by them. The following provisions shall apply with regard to payment of travel expenses:
a) If the foreign national’s available money is sufficient to cover all deportation travel expenses, the expenses shall be paid from that money and the remaining amount shall be left to the foreign national.
b) If the foreign national has no money, all travel expenses shall be covered by the Directorate General.
c) If the foreign national’s available money is insufficient to cover all travel expenses;
1) The travel expenses shall be covered by the Directorate General, and an amount from the foreign national’s available money sufficient to meet the basic needs of foreign nationals to be deported, as determined by the Directorate General at the beginning of each fiscal year, shall be left to the foreign national, while the remaining amount shall be recorded as revenue to the Treasury towards the travel expenses.
2) If the foreign national’s available money is less than the amount sufficient to meet their basic needs, all travel expenses shall be covered by the Directorate General and the available money shall be left to the foreign national.
ç) Foreign nationals may be denied entry into Türkiye until the expenses are reimbursed.
(4) The Directorate General may cooperate with international organisations, the authorities of the relevant countries and non-governmental organisations in relation to deportation procedures.
(5) Foreign nationals’ passports or other documents may be retained until deportation, and their tickets may be converted into money for use in deportation procedures.
(6) Natural or legal persons shall be liable to pay the deportation expenses of foreign nationals whose stay or return they guarantee. The provision of the third paragraph of Article 21 of Law No. 4817 shall apply with regard to the obligations of employers or employers’ representatives who employ foreign nationals without authorisation concerning the deportation procedures of the foreign national.
Article 60/A – Voluntary Return
(Added:6/12/2019-7196/81 art.)
(1) In-kind or cash support may be provided to irregular migrants who are subject to a deportation decision and wish to return voluntarily to their country of origin, where the Directorate General deems them eligible.
(2) Activities relating to the voluntary return of irregular migrants may be carried out in cooperation with international organisations, public institutions and organisations, and non-governmental organisations.