Administrative cases for foreigners in Turkey
Administrative lawsuit deadline calculator
Choose the type of decision and enter the date it was served on you. You will see the last day to file.
If the last day falls on a weekend it moves to the next working day; public holidays and the judicial recess are not taken into account. If in doubt, have the deadline checked by a lawyer.
Administrative cases for foreigners in Turkey: deadlines, court and stay of execution
Administrative cases for foreigners in Turkey are the way to ask an administrative court to annul decisions of Turkish authorities, such as the refusal of a residence permit or a citizenship application, an entry ban, a deportation order or a tax assessment. Under the Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577, the deadline to sue is generally 60 days before the administrative court and 30 days before the tax court, counted from written service of the decision; a special 7-day deadline applies to deportation orders. A stay of execution can be requested together with the lawsuit.
Deadlines for administrative cases in Turkey
- Administrative court: 60 days from written service of the decision (Law No. 2577, art. 7)
- Tax court: 30 days
- Deportation order: 7 days (Law No. 6458, art. 53); details in deportation order appeal
- Appeal (istinaf): 30 days from service of the court decision (Law No. 2577, art. 45)
These are strict time limits. A case filed after the deadline is dismissed without the lawfulness of the decision being examined.
What if the authority does not reply?
If an application to an authority is not answered within 30 days, it is deemed rejected under article 10 of Law No. 2577. The deadline to sue starts from that date. Missing the deadline while waiting for an answer is one of the most common problems foreigners face, and some matters have special rules, so dates should be recorded from the start.
Administrative cases foreigners commonly bring
- Refusal or cancellation of a residence permit; see residence permit refusal appeal
- Refusal of a citizenship application; see Turkish citizenship by investment
- Entry bans and restriction codes; see Turkey entry ban removal
- Refusal of a work permit; see work permit in Turkey
- Tax assessments and tax penalties
Stay of execution (yürütmenin durdurulması)
Filing a case does not by itself stop the decision being carried out. The court may order a stay of execution if the act is clearly unlawful and its enforcement would cause damage that is difficult or impossible to remedy (Law No. 2577, art. 27). The request is made in the statement of claim and should be supported with documents: family living in Turkey, children at school, property, employment or long lawful residence.
Deportation orders follow a special rule: within the time limit to sue and until the case is decided, the foreigner is not deported, except in the cases listed in the law.
Stages of an administrative case
Decision and file
The served decision and, where possible, a copy of the administrative file are obtained, and the date of service is recorded.
Statement of claim
The grounds of unlawfulness and the request for a stay of execution are prepared and evidence is attached.
Defence of the authority
The claim is served on the authority; the parties file their reply and second submissions.
Decision
The court normally decides on the file; hearings are held only in certain cases.
Appeal and cassation
Decisions of the administrative court can be appealed to the regional administrative court within 30 days of service; in the cases listed in the law, a further appeal lies to the Council of State (Danıştay). In cases against a deportation order, the administrative court's decision is final.
Filing an administrative case from abroad
Foreigners who cannot enter Turkey because of an entry ban can still sue. They need a litigation power of attorney issued at a Turkish consulate, or by a local notary with an apostille; see power of attorney from abroad. The case is followed by the lawyer through UYAP.
Administrative cases for foreigners in Turkey: frequently asked questions
What is the deadline for an administrative lawsuit in Turkey?
As a rule 60 days from service; 30 days before the tax court and 7 days against a deportation order.
Does filing a case stop the decision?
No, not automatically; a stay of execution has to be requested. Deportation orders follow a special rule.
What if the authority does not answer my application?
If there is no answer within 30 days, the application is deemed rejected and the deadline to sue starts from that date.
Can I sue while I am abroad?
Yes. Your lawyer in Turkey can file and follow the case with a power of attorney issued at a consulate or by a notary with an apostille.
This guide is based on the official legislation of the Republic of Türkiye and was last updated on .
This page provides general information and is not a substitute for legal advice on a specific case. No particular outcome of any application or proceeding is promised.
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