penalty for overstaying in Turkey; What should you do to avoid getting caught?

The Turkish government has made traveling to this country easy for most foreign travelers, and foreign travelers with a valid passport can easily enter Turkey. But this facilitation of travel to Türkiye does not mean that travelers can stay in Turkey as long as they want. The duration of stay in Türkiye is limited, and if travelers stay in this country for more than that time limit, they will be subject to paying a fine.

There are different ways to pay the fine for overstaying in Türkiye. If the traveler does not pay this fine, he will face consequences such as being banned from traveling to Türkiye again. In this article, you will learn more about the amount of overstaying fine in Türkiye and the consequences of not paying it.

Information for extra stay fine in Türkiye:

Duration of stay in Türkiye with passport

The length of stay in Türkiye with a passport depends on the type of passport and the purpose of the trip:

Ordinary passport holders can stay in Türkiye between 30 and 90 days in a period of 180 days without a visa. This length of stay depends on the nationality of the passport holder. Iranians can enter Türkiye without paying a fee and without a visa and stay in that country as tourists for 90 days every 6 months.

United Nations Blue Card holders can stay in Türkiye for up to 90 days in a 180-day period for official visits. UN red card holders can stay in Türkiye for up to 90 days in a 180-day period for any purpose.

_{Photo Source: Visas Association, Photographer: Unknown}

In general, the rule of 90 days of stay in a period of 180 days is in place for most foreign travelers in Turkey. Travelers who want to stay in Turkey for more than 90 days must apply for a short-term residence permit at the Provincial Directorate of Migration Administration or go through the process of obtaining a Turkish tourist residence. Tourist residence in Türkiye is the same as obtaining a one-year residence in Türkiye by renting a house; In this way, the traveler can stay in Türkiye for up to one year by renting a house; However, it is not possible to extend the stay for more than one year, and the person must leave the country and can enter Türkiye again after one year.

Tourists who have two passports cannot stay separately for 90 days in each 180-day period. Citizens of some countries, especially European countries, are exempt from this law and can enter Turkey only with their national ID card.

_{Photo Source: Antalya Tourist Information, Photographer: Unknown}

Travelers who want to enter Turkey must have a passport with an expiration date of at least 60 days after their stay; For example, if a person intends to stay in Türkiye for 90 days, his passport must be valid for an additional 60 days, i.e. 150 days; Or if he intends to stay for 30 days, his passport must be valid for more than 90 days. In general, it is recommended that travelers have a passport with at least 6 months validity when traveling to Turkey.

Passengers who want to re-enter Turkey must have a stamp of departure from Türkiye in their passport; Otherwise, they will face problems to re-enter Turkey and have to pay a fine.

_{Photo Source: Reddit, Photographer: Unknown}

How much is the fine for overstaying in Türkiye 2024?

The fine for overstaying in Türkiye (in 2024) is $50 for the first month of overstaying and $10 for each month thereafter; For example, if a person stays in Türkiye for four extra months, he must pay a fine of $90 (that is, $50 for the first month and $10 for each additional month that remains); In other words, the fine for overstaying in Türkiye is 1.5 dollars per day.

However, the amount of the fine for overstaying in Türkiye can change according to the nationality of the passengers; For example, Canadians have to pay a fine of one dollar more per day than Chinese travelers. The amount of the fine is one of the things that constantly changes due to changes in the laws; Therefore, the amount of the approved fine should be checked every year.

_{Photo source: blog.pointproperty.com, photographer: unknown}

The amount of overstaying fine for passengers under 18 years old is also different from passengers over 18 years old; For passengers under 18 years old (in 2024), the first month, $25, and from the second month onwards, five dollars will be added to that $25; Also, 365 lira (approximately 11 dollars) must be paid for issuing a residence card.

After knowing that the traveler has overstayed in Turkey, he is given 15 to 30 days to leave Turkey. This time is usually given for the person to pay the overstay penalty and get a return ticket. If a person does not buy a ticket and pay the fine during this period, he will be sent to his home country with the first flight, and according to the length of his stay in Turkey, he will be banned from entering Turkey.

_{Photo Source: MGC Legal, Creator: Unknown}

How to pay the fine for overstaying in Türkiye

To pay the fine for overstaying in Turkey, you must first go to the Turkish Immigration Office and ask them to calculate the amount of the fine, and after paying the fine, leave Turkey immediately.

The overstay fine is calculated in cash at the airport and collected when leaving Turkey. After the agents calculate the amount of the fine, the passenger must go to the bank inside the airport and pay the fine and show the payment receipt to the agents. If a person fails to pay the fine at the immigration office and at the airport, he will not be allowed to re-enter Turkey; Unless he has paid that amount of fine in his country.

_{Photo Source: Istanbul Tourist Pass, Photographer: Unknown}

Consequences of not paying the fine for overstaying in Türkiye

Passengers must voluntarily pay the overstay fine at the airport when leaving Turkey; Otherwise, if the immigration police finds that the traveler has not paid the overstay fine, the traveler will be sent back to his country and will be banned from entering Turkey for one month to six years. The manner of these consequences is calculated as follows:

• If the person overstays between three and six months and does not pay the fine, then he will be banned from entering Turkey for one month.
• If the person overstays between 6 months and one year and does not pay the fine, then he will be banned from entering Turkey for three months.
• If the person stays between one and two years and does not pay the fine, then he will be banned from entering Turkey for one year.
• Overstaying for more than two years without paying a fine will result in a person being banned from entering Turkey for at least two years.

If you have been staying in Türkiye for a long time, that is, for several years, and the Turkish police arrest you, cooperate with the police and get a lawyer.

_{Photo source: Avukat Kubra Keles, author: unknown}

Some people who have stayed in Turkey for an extended period of time are legally detained so that the process of deporting them from the country can be carried out. In this situation, the person is kept in centers to prevent him from escaping to other cities in Türkiye. After paying the fine and getting the ticket, the person will be taken to the exit gate of the airport. The conditions of deportation from the country are not strict for everyone and only some people are subject to the law of detention. People with the following conditions are subject to arrest and deportation from Türkiye:

• People who are likely to flee or disappear.
• People who have violated the rules of entering Turkey.
• People who stayed in Türkiye with fake documents.
• People who do not leave Türkiye without any special reason.
• People who endanger the social health and security of Türkiye.
• People whose residence permits have been revoked.

_{Photo source: The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, photographer: Hakan Akinakgun}

Under certain circumstances, a person may receive a deportation order from Turkey; Of course, this does not mean that he is exempted from paying extra for staying in Türkiye; In any case, the person must pay this fine. Some special conditions can postpone the deportation order from Türkiye. Those conditions are as follows:

• People who are serving a punitive sentence such as imprisonment in Türkiye.
• Pregnant women and people whose physical condition and age do not allow immediate departure from Türkiye.
• People who need medical equipment and care.
• People who have been smuggled into Türkiye.
• People who suffered sexual or psychological violence during their stay.

France 24, photographer: Aris Messinis” loading=”lazy”/>

_{Photo source: France 24, photographer: Aris Messinis}

In such circumstances, the person must be observed in a specific place. Leaving that place will result in his immediate dismissal. People with the above conditions can stay in Türkiye until their conditions are favorable to leave. People who have been subject to deportation from Türkiye can change their visa to a study or work visa to get rid of the deportation order. In this case, one must go to the consulate and apply for one of these visas.

The important thing to cancel the deportation order from Türkiye is that the person does not repeat the crimes and does not stay in Türkiye any more time. If overstaying is repeated, there is even a possibility of permanent expulsion.

If a person is banned from entering Turkey; But if he wants to travel to Turkey, he must have an invitation letter from a citizen of Turkey or he must get admission from one of the Turkish universities in order for the Turkish government to allow him to enter.

_{Photo source: Euronews.com, photographer: unknown}

If you have ever been subject to paying a fine for overstaying in Türkiye, share your experience with us and other Kejaro companions.

_{Cover photo source: blog.pointproperty.com, photographer: unknown}