An immigration lawyer in Antalya can act for you when your right to stay in Turkey is at risk: an international protection claim, a removal decision, administrative detention at a removal centre, or a situation where no ordinary residence permit fits. We work in English, Arabic, Russian, German and Turkish, and use sworn interpreters for other languages when needed.
These cases move quickly and the consequences are serious. Some appeal periods are counted in days. If you or a family member has been detained or served with a removal decision, contact us immediately, even if you do not yet have all the papers.
How we can help
- Applications for international protection: refugee, conditional refugee and subsidiary protection status
- Preparing you for the protection interview and submitting evidence
- Objections and lawsuits against negative protection decisions
- Appeals against removal (deportation) decisions before the administrative court
- Objections to administrative detention before the criminal judgeship of peace
- Humanitarian residence permit applications
- Recognition of statelessness and related documents
- Applications concerning entry bans and restriction codes
The legal framework
The main law is the Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection. It sets out the three types of international protection status, the rules on removal and administrative detention, humanitarian residence and the protection of stateless persons. It also contains the principle of non-refoulement: no one may be sent to a place where they would face torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, or where their life or freedom would be threatened.
Law No. 6458 also lists groups who should not be removed even when a removal decision would otherwise be possible, for example where there are serious indications of such a risk in the country of return, or where travel is unsafe for serious health reasons. Temporary protection for people arriving in mass influx, such as Syrian nationals, is a separate regime under a regulation based on the same law.
| Situation | Where it is decided or challenged |
|---|---|
| International protection application | Provincial Directorate of Migration Management |
| Negative protection decision | Administrative review or administrative court |
| Removal decision | Administrative court |
| Administrative detention | Criminal judgeship of peace |
| Humanitarian residence, statelessness | Directorate of Migration Management, then administrative court |
Removal decisions and detention
A removal decision is usually served by the governorship through the Antalya Provincial Directorate of Migration Management. You can file a case against it at the administrative court, but only within a very short period after notification. Filing in time generally suspends the removal while the court decides, with some exceptions set out in the law.
A person may also be placed in administrative detention at a removal centre while removal is arranged. You, your lawyer or your legal representative can object to the detention before the criminal judgeship of peace. The detention must be reviewed regularly and has a maximum length under the law. We check whether the detention is still lawful and whether alternatives to detention, such as reporting duties or address requirements, could apply instead.
When all domestic remedies fail and there is a real risk to life or of ill-treatment, an individual application to the Constitutional Court, and in urgent cases a request for interim measures, may also be possible.
How the process works
- You, a relative or a friend contacts us with the person's name, nationality and where they are held, or with the decision received.
- We obtain a power of attorney, which can be signed at the removal centre or before a notary.
- We review the file and the notification date, and work out the time limit.
- We file the objection or lawsuit, with evidence on risks in the country of return or family ties in Turkey.
- We follow the case with the court and the migration authority and keep you or your family informed in your language.
Humanitarian residence and stateless persons
Where no other permit can be granted, Law No. 6458 allows a humanitarian residence permit in certain situations, for example where the best interests of a child require it, or where a person cannot be removed but also cannot obtain another permit. Stateless persons can be recognised as such and receive a stateless person identity document, which gives them a legal status in Turkey. These applications depend heavily on evidence, so we help you gather and translate the right documents. For standard permits such as short-term or family residence, see our residence permit page.
If a criminal case is behind the removal decision, our criminal law team can deal with both proceedings together.
Frequently asked questions
My relative was taken to a removal centre. What should we do first?
Contact us immediately with their full name, nationality and any decision they received. The time limits for a lawsuit against removal and for objecting to detention are short, so the first hours matter.
Does a lawsuit stop the deportation?
In general, filing a case against a removal decision within the time limit suspends the removal until the court decides. The law contains exceptions, so each file must be checked.
Can I apply for international protection after entering Turkey irregularly?
Yes, you can still apply. You should apply as soon as possible and explain the reasons for any delay. Irregular entry alone does not prevent an application from being examined.
What if I have no passport or nationality?
You may be able to apply for recognition as a stateless person. If granted, you receive a stateless person identity document and a legal status in Turkey.
How are your fees set?
Fees are agreed in writing before work starts and cannot be below the Union of Turkish Bar Associations' minimum fee tariff. Contact us by phone or WhatsApp on +90 532 335 54 48.
The information on this page is general and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney–client relationship. Every case is different; please consult a lawyer before taking any legal step. This page is published in accordance with the Professional Rules of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations and the advertising ban for attorneys.