Overstay is the exceeding of the permitted stay in a country on a visa or visa-free regime. Exceeding the stay can be deliberate or accidental, for example, if the residence permit has expired.
For Russian citizens, the maximum stay in Turkey is 60 consecutive days, taking into account the overall limit of 90 days within 180 days. Ukrainians can stay in Turkey for up to 90 days without applying for residence. Belarusians are allowed to stay in the country for no more than 30 days.
Upon arrival in Turkey, a foreigner is given an entry stamp in their passport with the date of crossing the border. The count of days allowed under the visa-free regime starts from this date. The day following the last permissible day of stay in Turkey will be considered penal.
If a foreigner applies for a residence permit (ikamet) during their stay, they can legally remain in the country until the application is processed. However, in case of refusal to issue a residence permit, a penalty for overstay will be imposed, and the person must leave the country before reapplying for ikamet.
Visa run is a way to extend the legal stay in a country, where a non-resident exits to another state and immediately returns.
Fines for overstay in Turkey can vary. The minimum amount of penalty for unauthorized exceeding of the visa-free period is around 130 Turkish liras for a short period of up to 10 days. The upper limit of penalty sanctions is unlimited and can reach significant amounts. It should be noted that the amount of the fine depends on the nationality of the foreigner. For example, Russians pay around $14 for the first month of overstay, while citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan face fines ranging from $18 to $50. The amount of the fine increases for each subsequent day.
If the visa-free stay exceeds 10 days, the cost of obtaining or renewing an ikamet card, which amounts to 356 Turkish liras, is added to the amount of the fine.
There are online calculators available to calculate the fines for overstay in Turkey, which help determine the exact penalty amount. For example, you can use the calculator on the e-ikamet.com electronic system.
If the exceeding period of stay is less than one month, it is considered an administrative offense. In this case, the fine can be paid at the Tax Office or at the customs inspection upon crossing the border.
Exceeding the stay period may also have restrictions on subsequent entry to Turkey, which depend on the duration of the overstay. For example, a restriction of 3 months may be imposed for exceeding from 16 to 90 days, 6 months for exceeding from 91 to 180 days, 1 year for exceeding from 181 to 365 days, 2 years for overstay within 12 months, 5 years for overstay from 2 to 5 years, as well as 7 years or more for overstay of 5 years or more.
In some cases, especially with significant overstay, authorities may decide on deportation, which means the need to leave Turkey and return to one’s own country.
Keep in mind that laws and procedures can change, so it is always recommended to check the up-to-date information before traveling or in case of overstay issues.
