Expertise
Immigration & Private International Law
Immigration and private international law covers the legal status of foreigners in Turkey, residence and work permits, citizenship, deportation and private-law disputes with a foreign element. Procedures here are subject to administrative deadlines and formal rules; preparing applications correctly and objecting to adverse decisions in time are of great importance. Our firm serves both individual and corporate clients.
Residence Permit
Foreigners need a residence permit to stay lawfully in Turkey. Short-term, family, student, long-term and humanitarian permits are subject to different conditions. Preparing documents fully, choosing the correct permit type and renewing on time are important.
Where a residence permit is refused, cancelled or not renewed, administrative objection and litigation are assessed; the grounds of refusal, notification date and filing deadline must be examined carefully.
Work Permit
Foreigners need a work permit to work in Turkey; it is generally arranged through the employer and for a specific workplace. Different statuses exist, including fixed/indefinite work permits, independent work permits and the Turquoise Card.
Refusal of a work-permit application, detection of unauthorised work and administrative fines may cause disputes; the employer’s obligations, insurance declarations and the employment contract are assessed together.
Turkish Citizenship
Turkish citizenship may be acquired by the general route (residence for a certain period), through marriage, or exceptionally (for example by investment). Each route has its own conditions, documents and assessment processes.
Preparing citizenship applications, the steps to take on missing documents or refusal, and administrative litigation where needed must be handled carefully.
Deportation, Administrative Detention and Objection
For foreigners subject to a deportation decision or placed under administrative detention, the deadlines are very short. Objection to the deportation decision and detention must be made to the competent court within short, preclusive periods.
The grounds, notification, whether there is an international-protection application and the person’s situation are assessed together; an objection not made in time causes serious loss of rights.
Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments
For foreign judgments — divorce, custody, alimony, debt or others — to take effect in Turkey, a recognition or enforcement action must be brought. Finality of the foreign judgment, apostille, proper translation and statutory conditions are required.
For Turkish citizens divorced abroad, a recognition action is important for correcting civil-registry records; when handled correctly, the process often concludes quickly.
Private International Law Disputes
In contract, commercial, family and inheritance disputes with a foreign element, determining the applicable law and competent court is critical. International commercial contracts, cases with foreign parties and cross-border family/inheritance matters are assessed here.
Our Immigration Law Services
Our main services for foreign individuals and entities:
- Short-term, family, student and long-term residence permit applications
- Work permit applications and employer advisory
- Turkish citizenship applications (general, marriage, exceptional)
- Objections to deportation and administrative detention decisions
- Administrative fines and litigation against adverse decisions
- Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments
- Family, inheritance and commercial disputes with a foreign element
- Applicable-law and jurisdiction assessment in international contracts
This content is provided for general legal information only and does not constitute legal advice on any specific matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Immigration & Private International Law
Administrative objection and litigation are available against a refusal. The grounds, notification date and filing deadline must be examined carefully; as deadlines are short, acting quickly is important.
Objections to deportation and administrative detention are subject to short, preclusive periods. The competent court should therefore be approached without delay as soon as the decision is served.
For a foreign divorce to take effect in Turkey, a recognition (and, if needed, enforcement) action must be brought. Finality of the judgment, apostille and proper translation are important.
Do you need legal support in this area?
We can schedule a preliminary consultation to assess your situation.
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