Visa violation penalty refers to the penalty imposed as a consequence of remaining in the destination country beyond the visa's validity term or behaving in an unauthorized manner. For instance, staying in the country for three months on a two-month visa is a visa violation. In another example, the employment of a person who entered on a student visa is also a violation.
Illegal entry into the country is likewise a type of visa violation. In recent years, a considerable number of individuals from various Asian, African, and Middle Eastern nations have unlawfully entered Turkey. When these individuals are identified, the following process is implemented and a visa violation penalty is imposed.
In addition to exceeding the period and purpose of the visa and unlawfully entering the country, residence permit and work permit violations may also constitute visa violations. If a work permit has expired, the employee has broken the visa, as have foreigners remaining in Turkey despite the expiration of their residence permits.
The punishment for visa violations and the procedure to be followed have changed compared to prior years. Substantial modifications have been made to the laws governing Turkey's entry prohibition, particularly in cases of visa infractions. Below we present the current version of the rules alongside the previous rule, and we advise you to read attentively. For a detailed worked example, see our guide on how to calculate the visa violation penalty in Turkey.
Visa Violation Penalty in Turkey
The foreigner who breaches the terms of his or her visa becomes a fugitive. In this instance, the foreign national who breaches the visa must pay a fine. This penalty is equal to two times the yearly price for a residence permit. If foreign nationals break this regulation, they must pay an additional visa charge on top of this amount.
Amnesty rulings may sometimes be made for deported immigrants; however, there is currently no amnesty in effect. Regarding the entry restriction for Turkey in the event of a visa violation, the new rule contains measures that are vastly different from the old one. The traditional punishment for visa violations, which had been enforced for decades, has undergone substantial modifications, and we receive a great deal of inquiries about it. We will review the specifics of each situation individually below. If you are weighing your options, our overview of what happens if you overstay your visa in Turkey explains the consequences and solutions in more depth.
Circumstances in Which the Entry Ban to Turkey Will Not Be Applied
In the event of a visa violation, the following apply to people who leave the country:
If the visa violation period is shorter than three months and the foreigner comes to the border gate on their own and pays the administrative fee (i.e., the visa violation penalty) without this breach being discovered by the competent authorities, an entry ban cannot be imposed.
If the visa violation period is less than three months, this violation is detected by the competent authorities, and a deportation decision is made against the foreigner; however, if the foreigner arrives at the border gate and pays the visa violation fine within the period allowed for departure, an entry ban into Turkey cannot be imposed.
Conditions for an Entry Ban to Turkey Between 1 Month and 5 Years
If the visa administration period is at least three months, and the foreigner comes to the border gate and pays the administrative fee without this being detected by the competent authorities, he or she will be subject to a one-month to five-year entry ban into Turkey.
So how is the length of the entry restriction to Turkey calculated between one month and five years? It depends on the length of the overstay. The length of an entry ban to Türkiye due to a visa violation depends on how long the individual overstayed their permitted period. If the overstay is between 3 to 6 months, the person may face a 1-month entry ban. For overstays between 6 months to 1 year, the ban may be 3 months. An overstay of 1 to 2 years can lead to a 1-year ban, while 2 to 3 years of overstay may result in a 2-year ban. If the visa violation exceeds 3 years, the individual may be banned from entering Türkiye for up to 5 years.
Requirements for Implementing an Indefinite Turkey Entry Ban
Even after the entry prohibition periods indicated above have ended, foreigners who fail to pay the visa violation penalty or other administrative fines and public receivables are denied entry into Turkey.
Visa Violation Fine Calculation
At the border gates and the visa violation office at the airport, you can get precise information on how to calculate the visa violation fine.
The amount of the fee for visa violations may vary based on the foreigner's country of citizenship and the length of time spent in the country illegally. Let's use a few examples to illustrate the amount of penalty that must be paid. These figures are also affected by the broader entry rules, including the 90 days in 180 days rule that governs visa-free stays.
Citizens of China are permitted a 30-day visa-free stay in Turkey. A Chinese national who has remained in Turkey for a total of eight months will have spent one month in compliance with their visa and the other seven months as a fugitive. In this situation, they must pay 50 USD (first month's cost) plus 60 USD (10 USD for each month after the first) and a card fee.
Citizens of Iran may remain in Turkey visa-free for up to 90 days. A citizen of Iran who has been in Turkey for a total of six months has stayed for an additional three months. It will be computed as follows: 50 USD (first-month charge) + 20 USD (10 USD for each month after the first) + card fee + visa cost.
If you believe an administrative fine has been applied incorrectly, you may have grounds for objection and cancellation of administrative fines in Turkey.
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