How Long Can Uzbek Citizens Stay in Türkiye? A Legal Roadmap from Residence Violations to Removal Centres

1. How does the 90-day rule work?

Visa-free entry into Türkiye does not grant an unlimited right to live or work here. Problems Uzbek nationals may face often begin when this distinction is overlooked: stay days are miscalculated, a residence application does not match the person’s actual purpose, or work begins without a work permit. Conversely, finding a violation does not mean that the person can always be sent home immediately. Residence, an entry ban, deportation and administrative detention are separate measures, each with its own legal basis and remedy.

2. Moving from visa-free stay to a residence permit

Uzbek nationals holding ordinary passports are exempt from a visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days in total within each 180-day period. This appears both on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ country list and in the information note of the Embassy in Tashkent. The scope of the exemption must be considered together with the purpose of travel and passport type.

The 180-day period is not a fresh, unlimited allowance on every entry. Earlier visits that fall within the relevant period count. For example, a person who has already spent 55 days in the same 180-day window may have no more than 35 days remaining, unless another lawful basis applies. This is an illustration; the actual calculation must be made from entry and exit records. A brief trip abroad does not reset earlier days.

Border officials may also review the validity of travel documents, an entry restriction and the purpose of travel. A ticket, hotel reservation or visa exemption alone does not guarantee admission. Visits under an old passport should not be ignored after renewal; the calculation follows the person’s travel history.

3. A residence violation, an administrative fine and an entry ban are different things

A foreign national wishing to remain longer should identify the permit route that matches the actual purpose before the lawful stay expires. Tourism, education, family unity and employment have different requirements. Short-term residence is governed principally by Articles 31 and 32 of Law No. 6458; family residence by Article 34 and following provisions. Uzbek nationality does not create a general exemption from these requirements.

A tourist residence application should explain where and for how long the applicant will stay and what resources are available. If the real purpose is employment, applying as a tourist does not make that work lawful. A student must have genuine enrolment and study; a family application must document the relationship and the sponsor’s eligibility. Choosing a permit category is not merely selecting a box in an online system.

Keep proof that the e-Residence application was completed, and track the appointment and submission of requested documents. A screenshot, appointment form and official residence-permit application document are not interchangeable. Anyone leaving Türkiye while an application is pending should separately verify the travel conditions. Travelling on the assumption that “I have applied” is risky if the required documents and fees have not been met.

4. The consequences of working without a work permit

If the permitted stay is exceeded, first establish when the violation began, how long it lasted and the person’s status. Administrative fines or fee liabilities are distinct from a ban on re-entry. The Migration Management Presidency’s statement of 9 June 2020 addresses voluntary departure, detection by authorities, compliance with a departure period and payment as separate situations. It does not support the conclusion that paying a fine always prevents an entry ban.

For certain violations shorter than three months, avoiding an entry ban may be possible if, among other conditions, the person voluntarily presents at a border gate before detection and pays the relevant amounts. This is not an additional three-month lawful stay granted to everyone. A separate restriction based on public order or another legal ground may also apply. The outcome may change if the violation lasts longer or departure obligations are not met.

Article 54 of Law No. 6458 lists exceeding a visa or visa-exemption period by more than ten days as a ground for deportation. This does not mean the first ten days are lawful or free of consequences. Other grounds may include cancellation of a residence permit, unauthorised work or use of false documents. An expired permit and a rejected extension application are not the same situation; the applicable legal ground and the served decision must be read.

5. The key issue in a deportation case: notification and judicial review

A residence permit issued for tourism or family purposes does not, by itself, generally authorise employment. A work permit is required unless an exemption or applicable waiver exists. For an in-country application, the general rule is a valid residence permit issued for at least six months as of the application date; this does not mean that the person must necessarily wait six months in Türkiye. The appropriate permit category and specific exceptions must be checked.

An employer’s statement that an application has been filed does not make starting work before approval safe. An employment contract, a permit application and an approved work permit are different things. The worker should verify the permit issued in their own name, including employer, role and validity. Unauthorised work may have consequences under both labour and foreigners law.

6. A separate remedy against detention in a removal centre

A deportation decision may be challenged before the administrative court within seven days of notification. The authority that issued the decision must also be informed that the action was filed. Under Article 53(3), subject to the foreign national’s consent, deportation is not carried out during the filing period and, if a case is filed, until the proceedings conclude. This safeguard does not automatically end administrative detention.

Send the decision, proof of service, information about interpretation and the date it was received to a lawyer without delay. Do not calculate the deadline using a generic online calendar. A case against refusal of residence and a later case against deportation are separate proceedings. A CİMER petition, an application to the administration or a phone call does not replace a court action that must be filed on time.

7. Non-refoulement and access to rights

Administrative detention in a removal centre is a separate restriction of liberty from a deportation decision. Under Article 57, an application may be made to the criminal judgeship of peace; the court is expected to decide within five days. This is not the person’s final deadline to apply. Filing does not automatically suspend detention, but a fresh application may be made if the circumstances change or cease to exist.

The ordinary maximum period of detention is six months. It may be extended by up to a further six months if removal cannot be completed because the person fails to cooperate or provide accurate information or documents about their country. These limits do not mean everyone must be detained for six months. Necessity must be reviewed monthly, taking into account a fixed address, family ties, health and alternative obligations. Options such as regular reporting or residence at a specified address can be raised with a concrete request and supporting documents.

Practical conclusion

Risks of torture or ill-treatment, serious health issues and other protective circumstances under Article 55 must be assessed individually. Uzbek nationality alone proves neither the existence nor absence of risk. Any claim should connect personal events, threats, court documents and medical records with current country information. The Constitutional Court’s Y.T. judgment is relevant to effective remedies; the ECtHR’s Abdolkhani and Karimnia judgment addresses return risk, legal assistance and safeguards for liberty. Those cases concern events at earlier dates; former procedural rules should not be treated as current law.

Türkiye’s Human Rights and Equality Institution reported in its 2024 report that some visited centres needed improvements in informing detainees of their rights and enabling confidential meetings with lawyers. Those findings are limited to the centres and visit dates concerned. They do not establish systematic worse treatment of Uzbek nationals.

Sources

Legislation and online sources reviewed on 12 September 2026. Source numbers are shown below.

• [1] Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Visa Regime for Foreign Nationals, relevant country entries (current online list). Access source
• [2] Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Tashkent, visa information note on tourist travel by Uzbek nationals. Access source
• [3] Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Visa Information. Access source
• [4] Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection, particularly Articles 4, 7–11, 19–33 and 53–63; consolidated Ministry text. Access source
• [5] Presidency of Migration Management, Types of Residence Permits, short-term and family residence sections. Access source
• [6] Presidency of Migration Management, Residence Permit: Frequently Asked Questions. Access source
• [7] Presidency of Migration Management, Statement on entry bans for foreign nationals who violate the right to lawful stay, 9 June 2020. Access source
• [8] Presidency of Migration Management, Deportation: judicial remedies, administrative detention and alternative obligations. Access source
• [9] Law No. 6735 on International Labour Force, Articles 6–10, 12, 15 and 21–23. Access source
• [10] Ministry of Labour and Social Security, International Labour Force Directorate, Work Permits: Frequently Asked Questions. Access source
• [11] Constitutional Court of Türkiye, General Assembly, Y.T., Application No. 2016/22418, 30 May 2019. Access source
• [12] ECtHR, Abdolkhani and Karimnia v. Türkiye, Application No. 30471/08, 22 September 2009. Access source
• [13] Human Rights and Equality Institution of Türkiye, 2024 National Preventive Mechanism Report, August 2025, pp. 31–34. Access source

Prepared on the basis of legislation and official sources reviewed as of 12 September 2026. This article is for general information and is not legal advice. Consult a lawyer about your specific circumstances.