Istanbul Airport INAD Detention, Deportation and Tuzla Çatalca Removal Center Lawyer

When a foreign national is denied entry at passport control at Istanbul Airport (IST — Arnavutköy) or Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW — Pendik) and placed in the airport INAD (Inadmissible Passenger) Holding Facility, or transferred by police/migration authorities to the Tuzla, Çatalca (İnceğiz), Silivri (Selimpaşa), or Arnavutköy Removal Centers (Geri Gönderme Merkezi — GGM), every hour counts. Without immediate legal intervention by a licensed attorney before the passenger is forced onto a return flight or before the 7-day statutory appeal window expires, the traveler faces forcible deportation and a 1-to-5-year entry ban to Turkey. Kalem Law Office, led by Attorney Enes Nergiz (Antalya Bar Association Reg. No: 6281), provides rapid emergency legal representation at Istanbul airports, removal centers, and the Istanbul Administrative and Peace Criminal Courts.

1. Istanbul Airport (IST) & Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) INAD Passenger Detention (Law No. 6458 Art. 7 & 15)

Border police at Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport issue formal "Refusal of Entry to Turkey" (Türkiye’ye Giriş Kabul Edilmeme / INAD) decisions under Articles 7 and 15 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection No. 6458 (YUKK) when passport control screens reveal:

• Active Restriction Codes (Tahdit Kodları): Security or administrative codes such as G-87 (general public security), N-82 (prior ministry permission required), V-69 / V-71 (canceled residence permit), Ç-113 / Ç-114 / Ç-141 (previous overstay or judicial investigation), or V-84 (10-day residence application condition violation).
• Alleged Lack of Visa Purpose or Financial Means (YUKK Art. 15/1-c): Travelers suspected of intending to work without a permit or holding invalid hotel/return documentation.
• Immediate Attorney Access at the Airport INAD Zone: Under Turkish Attorneyship Law No. 1136 and Law No. 6458, a detained INAD passenger has the legal right to refuse voluntary return papers, meet with their retained lawyer at the airport border gate, grant a Power of Attorney, and challenge unlawful refoulement or restriction codes before the Administrative Court.

2. Release from Tuzla, Çatalca (İnceğiz) & Silivri (Selimpaşa) Removal Centers (GGM)

Foreigners arrested inside Istanbul (due to visa overstay, residence permit rejection, unauthorized employment raids, or dismissed criminal complaints) are transferred to one of Istanbul’s Provincial Removal Centers: Tuzla GGM (Asian Side), Çatalca İnceğiz GGM, Silivri Selimpaşa GGM, or Arnavutköy GGM (European Side). Our emergency two-track legal defense consists of:

• Track 1 — Filing the 7-Day Deportation Annulment Lawsuit (YUKK Art. 53/3): Filing the lawsuit before the Istanbul Administrative Court (Mahmutbey Courthouse) within 7 days of the deportation order and serving the court filing receipt (Derkenar) on the Removal Center Legal Bureau legally halts deportation under Article 53/3 of Law No. 6458.
• Track 2 — Appealing Administrative Detention Before the Peace Criminal Judgeship (YUKK Art. 57/6 & 57/A): Because the Administrative Court case takes several months to conclude, we simultaneously petition the competent Istanbul Peace Criminal Judgeship (Sulh Ceza Hakimliği) showing the client’s fixed residential lease in Istanbul, family ties, or health/humanitarian grounds, requesting immediate release from Tuzla or Çatalca GGM under alternative administrative supervision (İdari Gözetime Alternatif Yükümlülükler — Art. 57/A, such as weekly signature reporting).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What should a passenger held in the INAD room at Istanbul Airport (IST or SAW) avoid signing?

Detained passengers should never sign "Voluntary Return" (Gönüllü Geri Dönüş) or waiver-of-appeal forms in a language they do not understand before consulting their attorney, as signing voluntary return waives the automatic stay of deportation and facilitates immediate removal on the next flight.

Can a family member hire a lawyer for a relative detained at Tuzla or Çatalca Removal Center if the detainee has no Power of Attorney?

Yes. When a family member contacts our office with the detainee’s full name, nationality, and passport or Foreigner ID number (99... YKN), our attorney visits the Tuzla, Çatalca, or Silivri Removal Center in person using Bar Association authority, interviews the detainee privately, and obtains the required authorization directly at the facility to file the court appeals.

How long does the Peace Criminal Judge take to decide on a release petition from a Removal Center?

Under Article 57/6 of Law No. 6458, the Peace Criminal Judgeship (Sulh Ceza Hakimliği) is statutorily required to conclude its review of an administrative detention objection within 5 days.

Why was my relative sent to Tuzla GGM even though the police investigation against them ended in release?

In Istanbul, even when a prosecutor or criminal judge releases a foreign national after a minor altercation, workplace check, or dismissed complaint, police routinely refer the foreigner to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management under YUKK Art. 54/1-d (alleged public order risk). We challenge this administrative deportation order before the Istanbul Administrative Court by proving no criminal conviction exists.