N-82 Restriction Code: A Special Type of Entry Ban to Turkey
Turkey continues to be a preferred location for foreigners for tourism, work, education and living. One of the most common immigration law issues foreigners encounter in Turkey is the travel ban to Turkey. Despite Turkey’s comfortable visa system, entry ban to Turkey decisions can be made against foreigners for a wide variety of reasons, ranging from stay duration and visa violations to Interpol searches, work permit violations, and national security reasons.
The N-82 restriction code is a frequently observed entry ban code in Turkey that links a foreign national’s entry into Turkey to a prior authorisation procedure. This code often functions as a de facto ban, resulting in visa denials or rejection at border gates (INAD). Fortunately, this restriction is not permanent; with the strategic assistance of a competent Turkish immigration lawyer, the N-82 code can be effectively managed or removed, allowing you to enter Turkey legally.
What is the N-82 Restriction Code?
N-82 entry ban restriction code, is a travel ban code indicating that a foreign national’s entry into Turkey is subject to the permission of the Provincial Migration Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior for reasons of national security and public order. Like other entry ban codes, this code is applied to the foreign national’s passport and is encountered during visa applications or entry into Turkey.
Legal Basis of Entry Ban To Turkey
The legal basis for the ban on entry into Turkey is set out in Article 9 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection No. 6458.
“Prohibition of entry into Turkey
ARTICLE 9 – (1) The General Directorate may, when necessary, after consulting with the relevant public institutions and organisations, prohibit the entry into Turkey of foreigners whose entry is deemed detrimental to public order, public safety or public health. …
(3) The duration of the entry ban into Turkey shall not exceed five years. However, in cases where there is a serious threat to public order or public safety, this period may be extended by the General Directorate for a maximum of ten additional years….
(7) The General Directorate may condition the admission of foreigners into the country on prior approval for reasons of public order, public safety, or public health; provincial governors may do so for reasons of administrative fines and public debts.”
Accordingly, the General Directorate of Migration Management may impose an entry ban into Turkey on grounds of public safety. The entry ban may imposed for a maximum period of five years and can be extended by the General Directorate of Migration Management for up to ten years. Therefore, it can be said that the maximum duration of an entry banis fifteen years. On the other hand, The N-82 code is generally imposed for an indefinite period. It remains the relevant Turkish authorities (Directorate of Migration Management or security units) decide that the requirement for prior permission is no longer necessary, or until the code is annulled by a Turkish Administrative Court order. It does not automatically expire after a certain number of years.
Related Entry Bans and Other G Restriction Codes
N restriction codes are applied in cases where the foreigner’s entry into Turkey is subject to prior authorisation. G restriction codes are applied in cases where a foreign national has committed a crime. There is a separate G restriction code for almost every crime. O restriction codes are applied to foreigners who have applied for asylum and international protection. Ç restriction codes can be based on a wide variety of reasons. However, in most cases, it has been observed that the Ç code is applied in cases of behaviour contrary to immigration legislation.
It could be said that N-99 and N-82 codes are the most common N codes of travel ban to Turkey implementations. While the N-99 code corresponds to an Interpol alert, the N-82 code applies to foreigners whose entry into Turkey is subject to prior authorisation for reasons of national security and public order.
Specifications of N-82 Restriction Code: Entry Subject to Prior Permission
The N-82 code is not directly associated with terrorism or crime. However, it would be accurate to state that this code, which requires the foreign national to obtain administrative permission to enter Turkey for general security reasons, is mostly applied to foreign nationals who are subject to the G-82 or other G codes and remains after the restriction from the G code expired.
Why is the N-82 Code Applied?
As stated above, the N-82 code indicates that the foreign national’s entry into Turkey is subject to administrative authority permission for reasons of national security and public order. However, we can state that the N-82 code is frequently applied to foreign nationals subject to the G code and prohibited from entering Turkey, effectively making the entry ban indefinite.
We can also state that the N-82 code is applied to foreigners who are considered by the Republic of Turkey to be associated with FETÖ or other terrorist organisations. As is well known, following the coup attempt in Turkey in 2016, the Fetullahçı Organisation was recognised as a terrorist organisation, and those who attended FETÖ schools abroad, those who studied at Fatih University in Turkey, and those with accounts at Bank Asya, are frequently subject to an entry ban into Turkey under the N-82 code, even if they are not considered foreign terrorists or foreign terrorist fighters.
Consequences of N-82 Code: Can I Enter Turkey?
As mentioned above, we stated that the entry ban imposed on Turkey under code N-82 does not actually constitute a genuine entry ban, but rather makes the foreign national’s entry into Turkey subject to the permission of the Ministry of the Interior, which effectively amounts to a kind of indefinite entry ban into Turkey.
Foreign nationals subject to entry ban into Turkey under code N-82 are highly likely to have their visa and e-visa applications to Turkey rejected. It is also likely that annotated visa applications for purposes such as education, language learning, work and medical treatment will be rejected.
Foreign nationals who do not require a visa to enter Turkey, in other words, foreign nationals who can enter Turkey with their passport or identity document, will be subject to the INAD (inadmissible passenger) procedure and will be returned to their country of origin without being permitted to enter Turkey if they are subject to an entry ban to Turkey with the N-82 code.
How to Check If You Have an N-82 Restriction Code?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to find out online or from consulates whether your entry into Turkey is prohibited or to obtain information such as the entry ban code and duration. Foreign nationals are usually informed of this situation at the airport where they enter Turkey and are sent back as INAD passengers.
We should mention a situation we have encountered with some of our clients: since the consulates’ and the Ministry of Interior’s data systems are not synchronised, even if a foreign visa or e-visa application is approved, the individual may find that they are subject to an entry ban into Turkey due to an N-82 code when attempting to enter the country. In particular, foreigners who have previously been subject to an entry ban with a G code may encounter the N-82 code and INAD passenger application when they come to Turkey without a visa or with a visa, thinking that the entry ban period has expired.
In any case, the most reliable solution is to have a Turkish immigration lawyer, to whom you have granted power of attorney, physically inquire whether there is an entry ban against you in Turkey. We also recommend that foreigners who have previously been subject to an entry ban and are considering returning to Turkey because the ban period has expired have this inquiry made, regardless of whether they have obtained a visa or not.
Legal Remedies: How to Remove N-82 Restriction Code
Remedies against the N-82 code include: applying for prior authorisation, submitting a complaint to the administrative body that issued the administrative act on the grounds that it is unlawful, and filing a lawsuit in the administrative court for the annulment of the act under which the N-82 code was issued.
Application For Prior Permit
The first solution that comes to mind regarding the N-82 entry ban into Turkey is, of course, obtaining prior authorisation from the administration. However, it should be borne in mind that this prior authorisation application does not always yield a positive result. With the rejection of the prior authorisation application, an administrative action has been established, and if the prior authorisation application is unsuccessful, the only remaining solution is to file a lawsuit in the administrative court to cancel this rejection. In this case, when the prior authorisation application is unsuccessful, it can be considered that the application itself was a waste of time.
Application To The Administartion To Appeal Against N-82 Restriction Code
Under Turkish law, individuals have the right to challenge the N-82 restriction through an administrative appeal, before filing a cancellation lawsuit. This involves submitting a petition to the Directorate General of Migration Management (DGMM) which is the authority that issued the restriction. The petition must clearly outline the reasons why the restriction code is unlawful, factually incorrect, or why the security risk necessitating the prior permission requirement has ceased to exist. While this process can be considered faster than a lawsuit, administrative response times can vary, and if a negative response is received (or if the administration fails to respond within 60 days), the legal pathway shifts to the judicial courts.
Cancellation Lawsuit Against N-82 Restriction Code and Entry Ban To Turkey
In cases of entry bans into Turkey, the final solution, following the exhaustion of administrative remedies—which is an optional preliminary step in an administrative court action for annulment—will be to file an action for annulment in the administrative court, provided that a special prior authorisation application under code N-82 and applications for visas with restrictions have been submitted. As each entry ban to Turkey or similar restrictions resulting in this outcome constitutes an administrative act, it is possible to file a lawsuit in the administrative court for their annulment. According to Article 125 of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, ‘The judicial remedy is open against all actions and decisions of the administration.’ Accordingly, filing a lawsuit against administrative decisions is a right granted to both Turkish citizens and foreigners.
As with all entry ban decisions, the time limit for filing a lawsuit against an entry ban with code N-82 is 60 days from the date of notification of the decision. The notification may have taken place at the airport during the return or deportation process.
When a lawsuit for annulment is filed in the administrative court against an entry ban into Turkey, the court may be requested to suspend the execution of the entry ban in question. If the court decides to suspend the execution, the foreign national may enter Turkey without waiting for the outcome of the lawsuit.
Cases filed in the administrative court for the cancellation of the entry ban into Turkey are concluded in approximately six months at the local court, depending on the workload of the courts and the specific circumstances of the case. Requests for suspension of enforcement are concluded in approximately two or three months.
Turkish Immigration Lawyer: Viridis Legal Partners
As your Turkish immigration lawyer in Istanbul, Viridis Legal Partners offers specialized expertise in handling issues raised from immigration law like entry ban to Turkey and restriction codes like N-82. As your immigration lawyer in Turkey we possess deep experience in challenging administrative decisions, successfully lifting various G, Ç, and N-coded travel bans to Turkey through both administrative appeals and cancellation lawsuits. As your English-speaking Turkish immigration lawyers, ensuring you fully understand every legal nuance, procedural step, and your rights throughout the entire process, eliminating language barriers and miscommunication.
Contact us today to receive advice from your Turkish immigration lawyer and deportation law services.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does N-82 restriction code mean I am permanently banned from entering Turkey?
No, the N-82 code does not constitute a permanent or absolute entry ban in the strictest sense. Instead, it marks your entry into Turkey as “subject to prior authorisation” by the Ministry of the Interior (Provincial Migration Directorate). However, because this required permission is rarely granted for standard travel, the code functions as a de facto indefinite travel ban to Turkey, resulting in repeated denials at the border (INAD) or during visa applications.
Can I get an e-visa with an N-82 code?
While the Turkish e-visa and standard visa systems are designed to automatically reject applications if the N-82 code is active, you cannot rely on system consistency. Even if you manage to secure a visa, the underlying N-82 restriction remains active in the border database, resulting in immediate denial of entry and the INAD (inadmissible passenger) procedure upon your arrival in Turkey. The only safe way to enter is by resolving the code through legal means.
How long does the N-82 code last?
The N-82 code is generally imposed for an indefinite period and does not have a fixed expiry date. Unlike other entry bans that may automatically expire after a set duration (e.g., 5 years for some G codes), the N-82 code remains in your records until the relevant Turkish authorities (DGMM or security units) proactively decide that the requirement for prior permission is no longer necessary, or until the code is formally annulled by a Turkish Administrative Court order.
Can a lawyer remove the N-82 code and entry ban into Turkey?
Yes, definitively. While administrative appeals are possible, the most effective and final legal remedy for the permanent removal of the N-82 code is the annulment lawsuit filed in the Turkish Administrative Court. An experienced Turkish immigration lawyer is essential to challenge the underlying administrative act, suspend the code’s execution during the lawsuit, and ensure the legal grounds for the removal are successfully proven in court.
What is the “Prior Permission” procedure?
The “prior permission” procedure is the mandatory administrative requirement for your entry to be checked and approved by the Turkish Ministry of the Interior. While you can formally apply for this permission, the most practical way to successfully trigger and obtain this authorisation is through an annotated visa application (for purposes like family reunification, work, or education) submitted via a Turkish consulate or embassy abroad. This forces the administration to formally review and potentially grant the necessary permission for your specific entry purpose.
