Are you planning a trip to Turkey? If so, you may want to pay close attention to the topic of the Turkish Visa Entry Ban. Although it is important to obtain a relevant visa first, you should know that visitors who are on the Visa Ban List will not be allowed entry to Turkey.
If you wish to find more information on the Turkish Entry Ban, its general rules, and requirements to cancel the overstaying penalty, this article is for you!
Traveling to Turkey with a visa
Planning a trip abroad is very exciting – you focus on packing all the necessities, checking must-see monuments nearby, and booking the dream accommodation. However, the most important thing is to check if you need a suitable visa to enter Turkey.
Standard Visa
The standard visa is issued in person at the closest Embassy or Consulate. The application procedure may take a lot of time due to the queues of passengers waiting for visa processing. Moreover, nationals of some countries are accepted to Turkey only with a standard visa.
Online Visa
The online visa, also known as e-Visa, is available in digital form. To proceed with the registration, you must ensure a working electronic device with an Internet connection. This method is considered the most convenient but is not available for everyone.
Visa Exemption
Some countries, including the nations of the European Union, are allowed to enter Turkey without a visa if traveling for purposes including business and leisure. The only required document is a valid passport. However, it is available only for visits lasting up to 90 days.
How to enter Turkey
Both the entry as well as the exit from Turkey shall be conducted through the border gates with relevant documents. During the passport control:
- foreign visitors will be asked to present all the required documentation, along with a valid passport and travel documents
- foreign visitors that plan on using transit areas at airports may be subject to additional checks by the competent authorities
- foreign visitors will be asked to undergo a control to determine whether they fall within the scope of the Turkish Entry Ban
You will be allowed entry to Turkey if you meet all the necessary requirements.
Remember that overstaying is illegal and will result in a fine, deportation, and entry ban for up to 5 years.
Turkey Visa Ban
The Turkish Entry Ban may be imposed on foreign visitors whose travel was considered objectionable for public order, public security, or public health reasons. The decision is issued by the Directorate General upon consultation with the relevant Turkish authorities.
You may be given the Turkish Entry Ban when you decide to overstay your visit to the country. In this situation, you will be given a fine. If you do not pay the fine, you will be given a 5-year ban on entering Turkey. However, as long as the fine is paid within 10 days from the date of being given the penalty, you will avoid the ban.
The Turkish entry ban is also imposed on foreign travelers who violate the rules of the legal stay in Turkey (residence permit, work permit, visa period, exceeding visa exemption period).
In general, the ban is issued for up to 5 years. Nevertheless, in some situations, the validity period of the ban may be exceeded for additional 10 years. Moreover, if you have been asked to leave Turkey according to Article 56 of Law No 6458 and comply with the order, the ban may not be imposed.
How is the Turkey Visa Ban imposed?
Accordingly to the decision of competent authorities, the Turkish Entry Ban will be imposed on the following:
- visitors who did not leave Turkey within the specified time and did not pay a fine
- visitors who did not pay a fine when leaving the border crossing after exceeding their legal stay in Turkey
- visitors who are subject to different obligations by terminating the decision of the administrative supervision
- visitors who were taken to the country with the requirement to apply for a residence permit within 10 days from the arrival but failed to do that
- visitors deported in company of on-duty personnel (regardless if the fine was paid or not)
- visitors who have exceeded the legally recognized period of their stay in Turkey (regardless if the fine was paid or not)
- visitors who did not leave Turkey within the specified time, even if their residence permits have been refused (regardless if the fine was paid or not)
How is the Turkey Visa Ban canceled?
Your Turkish Entry Ban may be canceled if you manage to finalize the payment for a fine that was imposed on you with the ban within 10 days of the decision.
Moreover, once you have been given the ban, you may request an exception at the Directorate General. However, there is no guarantee that your request will be considered positively and the ban will be lifted.