Foreigners law is a multifaceted branch of law that protects all legal rights of foreign individuals residing, working, investing, or applying for citizenship in Turkey.
Foreigners law and immigration law constitute the body of legal rules applied by a state or country to foreigners entering its territory. Generally, foreigners law is based on the principle of reciprocity, and the legal rules applicable to foreigners in Turkey may vary depending on the foreigner’s nationality.
In the last quarter century, Turkey has shifted from being a country of emigration to a country of immigration, and significant progress has been made in the field of foreigners law. According to recent data, there are more than 5 million foreigners in Turkey. Keleş Law & Consultancy Office primarily serves foreign nationals and differs from many other law firms in this respect.
Our firm, which mainly serves foreign individuals, provides legal consultancy and attorney services to foreign nationals who reside in Turkey or who, even if not physically in Turkey, encounter legal issues connected with Turkish law.
Our law firm provides consultancy services in multiple languages. To facilitate communication, we offer responses in clients’ native languages through email, WhatsApp, and various other communication platforms. Having multilingual capability is a major advantage in effectively communicating with clients and ensuring comprehensive service.
Keleş Law & Consultancy Office provides services primarily in English, Arabic, and Farsi with an expert team, as well as in Pashto, Dari, German, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, Turkmen, Azerbaijani, Kyrgyz, and Kazakh — totaling 13 languages.
Languages in which we provide services in the field of Foreigners Law:
We provide legal consultancy and attorney services in matters related to Real Estate, Corporate, Energy, Water and Natural Resources, Telecommunications, Infrastructure Projects, Investment, Banking, Commercial and Corporate Law concerning foreigners located in or outside Turkey. Where necessary, legal proceedings are initiated to protect clients’ rights and receivables. This process, depending on the foreign individual’s or multinational company’s request, may include everything from conducting due diligence in Turkey to the completion of the desired investment — covering a wide range of services.
Our head office is in Ankara; however, we serve foreign individuals in many cities across Turkey, including Istanbul, İzmir, Antalya, Edirne, and Hatay. Outside Turkey, our firm provides legal consultancy and attorney services in several countries, including Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom, Greece, and Georgia.
Foreigners law is a broad legal field. It encompasses many areas of legal consultancy concerning the rights and responsibilities of foreigners in Turkey.
Foreign nationals must obtain a residence permit to legally stay in Turkey.
Our services include:
Common Issues: Rejection decisions, missing documents, system errors, expired deadlines.
Legal Support: Application preparation, objection petitions, and judicial proceedings.
Turkey offers strategic opportunities through real estate investments that allow foreigners to obtain residence and citizenship.
Our services include:
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Foreigners may acquire Turkish citizenship through investment, marriage, descent, or exceptional means.
Keleş Law provides legal support throughout the entire process:
Legal Basis: Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 (TVK)
Deportation decisions taken by Turkish administrative authorities can have severe consequences. Our firm specializes in the annulment of such decisions, stay of execution requests, and human rights applications.
Legal References:
https://www.avkubrakeles.com/tahdit-kodlari-nedir-turkiyede-giris-yasagi-tahdit-kodlarinin-turleri-ve-kaldirma-yontemleri
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Our Services:
Objection petitions against deport decisions, court applications, humanitarian residence permits.
Foreigners must obtain permission from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security in order to work legally in Türkiye.
Our services include:
• Work Permit Application and Extension Procedures
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https://www.avkubrakeles.com/calisma-izni-red-iptal-itiraz-ve-hukuki-surec
• Legal Defense for Foreigners Working Without a Work Permit
https://www.avkubrakeles.com/kacak-calisan-yabancilarin-iscilik-alacaklari-turkiyede-yabanci-isci-haklari
• Work Accident and Compensation Lawsuits (Foreign Workers’ Rights)
https://www.avkubrakeles.com/is-kazasi-dava-haklar-ve-tazminatlar
https://www.avkubrakeles.com/turkiyede-yabanci-isci-is-kazasi-haklar-sgk-ve-tazminat
• Employer Obligations and SGK Notifications
https://www.avkubrakeles.com/yabanci-uyruklu-iscilerin-iscilik-alacaklari-turkiyede-yabanci-isci-haklari
Every administrative decision related to foreigners (deportation, rejection, restriction, citizenship cancellation) is subject to judicial review.
Our office handles litigation, defense preparation, and court proceedings in these processes.
• Appeal against residence permit rejection
https://www.avkubrakeles.com/ikamet-izni-uzatma-basvurusu-reddi-ve-iptal-davasi
• Lawsuit against deportation decision
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• Removal of restriction codes (G-82, V-70, etc.)
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• Lawsuit against citizenship revocation
https://www.avkubrakeles.com/turk-vatandasliginin-iptali-nedenleri-dava-sureci
• Appeal against work permit rejection
https://www.avkubrakeles.com/calisma-izni-red-iptal-itiraz-ve-hukuki-surec
• Appeal against family reunification rejection decisions
https://www.avkubrakeles.com/aile-ikamet-izni-basvurusunun-reddi-ve-iptali-kapsamli-rehber
For refugees, conditional refugees, and persons under subsidiary protection:
• International protection applications
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• Judicial process for rejection decisions
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• Prohibition of deportation (non-refoulement principle)
• Humanitarian residence permit consultancy
International legal basis: 1951 Geneva Convention, Law on Foreigners and International Protection (LFIP), European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
As Keleş Law & Consultancy Office, we provide legal consultancy services to our foreign clients in Turkish, English, Arabic, Russian, and Farsi in the following areas:
• Real estate, investment, company establishment, inheritance, taxation
• Residence and citizenship planning (roadmap)
• MASAK-compliant investment consultancy (AML & KYC)
• Foreign investor contracts and notary procedures
Related articles:
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• Providing legal services regarding international protection identity documents, identifying problems experienced by foreign nationals in this area, meeting with the Provincial Directorates of Migration Management, submitting petitions, and filing lawsuits when necessary.
• Providing legal services regarding temporary protection identity documents, identifying problems faced by foreign nationals in this area, holding meetings with the Migration Management Directorates, submitting petitions, and filing lawsuits when necessary.
• Applying for, following up on, and finalizing work permits and work permit extension applications for foreigners who are planned to be employed in Türkiye.
• Applying for, following up on, and finalizing family residence permits for the spouses and children of foreign nationals who hold valid work and residence permits in Türkiye.
• Applying for, following up on, and finalizing short-term or long-term residence permits, and residence permit extensions for foreigners wishing to live in Türkiye.
• Applying for and providing information regarding touristic residence permit applications for foreign nationals wishing to come to Türkiye.
• Applying for, following up on, and filing lawsuits when necessary for humanitarian residence permits, by assessing the eligibility of foreign nationals currently in Türkiye.
• Applying for, following up on, and finalizing student residence permits for foreign nationals and students wishing to study in Türkiye.
• Providing legal services and consultancy for students who wish to study at universities or high schools in Türkiye, assisting them in applications to relevant institutions, and informing them about exam locations and dates.
• Providing legal services regarding the issuance of valuation reports for foreign nationals who wish to purchase real estate in Türkiye, and informing them about possible legal processes.
• Applying for and following up on residence permits for victims of human trafficking.
• Providing legal consultancy services for foreign nationals who wish to apply for marriage in Türkiye.
• Filing divorce cases for foreign nationals who wish to terminate their marriage, drafting mutual divorce protocols, and conducting and finalizing mutual divorce cases.
• Collecting debts from individuals (Turkish or foreign) in Türkiye on behalf of foreign nationals who are not residing in Türkiye, conducting enforcement proceedings, filing lawsuits in case of objections, and finalizing such proceedings.
• Collecting debts from individuals (Turkish or foreign) in Türkiye on behalf of foreign nationals residing in Türkiye, conducting enforcement proceedings, filing lawsuits in case of objections, and finalizing them.
• Filing appeals, lawsuits, and following up on cases concerning foreign nationals detained in removal centers.
• Filing lawsuits and following up on cases to annul deportation (removal) decisions issued against foreign nationals.
• Filing and following up on lawsuits for the removal of restriction codes (such as G-82, V-70, etc.) imposed by the Directorates of Migration Management on foreign nationals.
• Filing objections and following up on cases concerning foreign nationals under administrative detention decisions.
• Following up and finalizing criminal cases related to offenses committed by foreign nationals in Türkiye.
• Applying and providing legal consultancy services for foreign nationals who wish to travel to a third country.
• Providing legal information, consultancy, and guidance for foreign nationals who wish to travel to Schengen countries, regarding their Schengen visa applications.
• Carrying out all necessary work and procedures for the collection of employment-related rights and receivables of foreign nationals working in Türkiye.
• Applying for, following up on, and finalizing VAT exemption applications under Article 13/i of the Value Added Tax Law No. 3065, for foreign nationals who are not residents of Türkiye when purchasing real estate in Türkiye.
• Filing applications to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
• Handling appeals and court proceedings against decisions of the Directorate of Migration Management and the Citizenship Department.
• Providing legal consultancy and attorney services regarding the purchase of real estate by foreign nationals in Türkiye, ensuring that they make the most rational investments within legal limits.
• Providing consultancy services regarding the marriage of foreigners in Türkiye within the framework of Turkish legislation.
• Annulment of deportation decisions.
• Lifting of entry bans to Türkiye.
• Within the scope of Foreigners Law, you may apply to Keleş Law & Consultancy Office for many different services such as opening a bank account for foreigners in Türkiye and more.
1. What is Foreigners Law?
Foreigners Law is the branch of law that regulates the rights, obligations, and legal status of persons who are not citizens of the Republic of Türkiye.
This field covers issues such as residence permits, work permits, citizenship, deportation, and international protection.
Legal Basis: Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection (LFIP) and Law No. 5901 on Turkish Citizenship (TCL).
2. What Are the Types of Residence Permits in Türkiye?
There are six main types of residence permits in Türkiye:
3. What Should Be Done If a Residence Permit Application Is Rejected?
If a residence permit application is rejected:
• An annulment lawsuit may be filed before the administrative court within 30 days of notification of the rejection.
• A new application may also be submitted with updated documents.
At Keleş Law, we prepare appeal petitions and manage the entire litigation process based on the reasoned rejection decision.
4. Can Foreigners Purchase Real Estate in Türkiye?
Yes.
Foreigners may purchase immovable property in Türkiye except in military restricted zones.
Legal Basis: Article 35 of the Land Registry Law.
For citizenship, a real estate purchase worth at least USD 400,000 is required, with a 3-year sale restriction.
Land registry transactions can be carried out through a power of attorney to a lawyer.
Keleş Law provides due diligence (legal examination) services prior to title deed transactions.
5. How Can One Obtain Turkish Citizenship Through Real Estate Investment?
Foreign nationals may apply for Turkish citizenship by:
• Purchasing real estate worth at least USD 400,000 and registering a 3-year no-sale annotation, or
• Depositing USD 500,000 in a Turkish bank, or
• Employing at least 50 people.
Legal Basis: Article 12 of the TCL / Presidential Decree No. 2018-106.
6. Is It Possible to Obtain Turkish Citizenship Through Marriage?
Yes.
A foreigner married to a Turkish citizen for at least 3 years may apply for citizenship.
However:
• The marriage must be genuine,
• The couple must live together, and
• There must be no threat to public order.
Legal Basis: Article 16 of the TCL.
7. What Is a Deportation (Removal) Decision?
A deportation decision is an administrative act ordering a foreigner’s removal from Türkiye and an entry ban.
According to Article 54 of the LFIP, reasons include:
• Visa / residence permit violations,
• Threats to public security or public health,
• Forged documents, illegal work,
• Acts against public order.
An annulment lawsuit may be filed within 15 days before the competent court.
Keleş Law consists of specialized lawyers handling deportation and removal center (GGM) cases.
8. What Legal Remedies Are Available Against a Deportation Decision?
• Annulment lawsuit with a request for stay of execution,
• Humanitarian residence permit application (Article 46 LFIP),
• Application to the Constitutional Court or the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) if a violation of rights exists.
The 15-day litigation period is strict and final.
9. What Is a Removal Center?
Removal Centers are administrative facilities where foreigners subject to deportation are temporarily detained.
The detention period is 6 months + 6 months (extension).
Through a lawyer, foreigners may:
• Request release,
• File an appeal before the court,
• Apply for a humanitarian residence permit.
Legal Basis: Article 57 LFIP.
10. What Do Restriction Codes (G-87, V-70, Ç-150 etc.) Mean?
Restriction codes are administrative entry-exit bans affecting a foreigner’s right to reside or enter Türkiye.
Examples include:
• G-87: Suspected terrorism link,
• Ç-150: Forged document,
• V-70: Deported foreigner,
• N-82: Entry with prior authorization.
Lawsuits may be filed to annul or remove these codes.
11. How to Obtain a Work Permit?
To work legally in Türkiye, a foreigner must have:
12. Is Working Without a Work Permit a Crime?
Yes.
Foreigners working without a permit and employers hiring them face administrative fines and deportation risks.
However, in cases of hardship, it may be possible to pay the fine and reapply.
13. What Are the Rights of a Foreign Worker in Case of a Work Accident?
Foreign workers are covered by the Social Security Institution (SGK) and Labor Law.
A foreign worker injured in a work accident may claim:
• Compensation,
• Temporary incapacity benefits (SGK),
• Moral damages.
In certain cases, undocumented workers may also be eligible for a humanitarian residence permit.
14. What Is an International Protection (Asylum) Application?
Türkiye is a party to the 1951 Geneva Convention.
Persons facing war, persecution, or risk of death may apply for international protection (asylum).
If rejected, an appeal may be filed within 15 days.
15. How to Apply for Family Reunification?
Foreigners who have a Turkish citizen or residence permit-holding spouse may apply for a family residence permit through:
• The Consulate or
• The Provincial Directorate of Migration Management.
The marriage must be genuine and factual.
Legal Basis: Articles 34–37 LFIP.
16. What If My Citizenship Application Is Rejected?
In case of rejection:
• An annulment lawsuit may be filed within 60 days before the competent court.
Keleş Law prepares the necessary petition and manages the entire litigation process against citizenship rejections.
17. Can a Deported Foreigner Return to Türkiye?
Yes, under certain conditions:
• Expiration of the entry ban period,
• Application for lifting the ban,
• Humanitarian or exceptional reasons such as marriage.
Special procedures apply to foreigners coded V-70 or Ç-135.
18. What Should Foreigners Do to Establish a Company in Türkiye?
Foreigners may establish companies under the same conditions as Turkish citizens.
Our services include:
• Drafting of company contracts,
• Trade registry transactions,
• Tax and SGK registrations,
• MASAK compliance for foreign partnership structures.
Legal Basis: Turkish Commercial Code (TCC), Foreign Direct Investment Law No. 4875.
19. What Is a Humanitarian Residence Permit?
This is a special residence permit granted to foreigners who cannot be deported or who face a human-rights risk.
Examples include: pregnant women, persons with disabilities, or those with serious illnesses.
Validity period: 1 year.
Legal Basis: Article 46 LFIP.
20. Is It Mandatory for Foreigners to Have a Lawyer?
No, but for administrative lawsuits, deportation decisions, and citizenship cancellations, working with a lawyer is critically important.
Keleş Law & Consultancy Office provides multilingual professional support (Turkish – English – Arabic – Russian – Farsi) in all these procedures.
