Pehlivan & Güven Law FirmPublished:
Short answer
A restriction code (tahdit kodu) is a code entered in a foreigner's records concerning bans on entering and leaving Türkiye, prior-permission decisions and administrative fines. For example, the G-82 code indicates suspicion of activities against national security; a foreigner with this code cannot enter Türkiye and, if already in the country, a deportation order is enforced against them. Like any administrative act, restriction codes can be annulled through an action for annulment filed with the administrative court.
Related guides: Visa and Residence Permit Violations by Foreigners and Entry Bans to Türkiye · Deportation Orders and the Annulment Action Process · Guide to Restriction Codes
| Code | Meaning | Duration / effect |
|---|---|---|
| V-91 | Foreigner under temporary protection whose exit requires permission | Record / monitoring |
| V-87 | Foreigner under temporary protection who returned voluntarily to their country | Record / monitoring |
| G-82 | Activity, or suspected activity, against national security | Indefinite |
| O-177 | Exclusion, cancellation of status or refusal of the application | 5 years |
| O-176 | Application deemed withdrawn, found inadmissible or not in need of protection, or status ended | 3 years |
| N-119 | Did not pay the administrative fine for working without a permit | Entry subject to prior permission |
| N-120 | Did not pay the fees and fines for a visa, residence or work violation | Entry subject to prior permission |
V-91 and V-87 are not entry bans in themselves; they record the exit and voluntary return of foreigners under temporary protection. If the voluntary return form was not explained in a language the person understands, the lawfulness of the V-87 record can be challenged.
For all code series (Ç, V, G, N, O) and the ways to have a code lifted, see our Guide to Restriction Codes.
Restriction codes are records concerning bans on foreigners entering and leaving Türkiye, prior-permission decisions and administrative fines. They were introduced under the Law on Foreigners and International Protection and the Circular on Restriction Procedures and Transactions, which was put into effect by the letter of the Directorate General of Migration Management dated 10.07.2020 and numbered 55560999.
Restriction codes consist of a letter and a number, such as G-82, Ç-117 or V-69. The codes have different meanings and, when added to a foreigner's records, provide information about the actions that the administration will take or has taken concerning that person. For example, a foreigner with the G-82 code will not be able to enter the country through Türkiye's borders. The G-82 code means suspicion of activities against national security.
Your time limit may be running
A restriction code can be challenged by an action within 60 days of notification (Administrative Procedure Law, Art. 7). If a deportation order was issued together with the code, the time limit for challenging that order is 7 days (Law No. 6458, Art. 53(3)).
The G-82 restriction code means suspicion of activities against national security. When this restriction code is entered in a foreigner's file, the foreigner cannot enter Türkiye. If this code is entered in the file of a foreigner within Türkiye's borders, the administrative authorities enforce a deportation order at the same time.
The G-86 or G-87 restriction code is issued for foreigners who pose a danger in terms of public security. Likewise, for all G (public security) restriction codes, a ban on entering Türkiye or, if the foreigner is in the country, a deportation order is applied.
The G-89 restriction code is issued for foreigners who are considered foreign terrorist fighters.
The Ç-141 restriction code is the restriction code relating to suspicion of international terrorism. It results in a ban on entering Türkiye for five years.
The Ç-118 restriction code is the restriction code for persons established by a doctor's report to be carrying an infectious disease likely to threaten public health.
The O-176 restriction code is applied to international protection applicants whose application for international protection is deemed withdrawn. This code results in a ban on entering Türkiye for 3 years.
The O-177 restriction code is applied to foreigners whose application for international protection has been rejected or cancelled. It means that their entry into Türkiye is banned for 5 years.
The V-87 restriction code is applied to foreigners under temporary protection who voluntarily return to their country.
The V-91 restriction code is entered because the departure of foreigners under temporary protection from Türkiye is subject to permission.
The N-95 restriction code is applied to persons who were required to pay an administrative fine because of an entry ban or for breaching the legal periods of stay and who have not paid it.
The N-119 restriction code is the restriction code applied to persons who have not paid the administrative fine arising from working without a permit.
The N-120 restriction code is the restriction code applied to persons who have not paid the administrative fine imposed for a breach of visa, visa exemption, work permit or residence permit rules.
It should first be noted that, in practice, it is very common for a deportation order to be issued together with the application of a restriction code against a foreigner within Türkiye's borders. In that case, filing an action only for annulment of the restriction code will not be sufficient and will not stop the deportation. If the administrative authorities have issued a deportation order together with the restriction code, two actions for annulment should be pursued. Filing an action for annulment of the deportation as well as an action for annulment of the restriction code will increase the legal protection for the foreigner.
Where both a restriction code and a deportation order have been issued against foreigners in Türkiye, it is common in practice for the ground of the deportation to be the restriction code that has been entered. In that case, it is useful to file an action for annulment of the restriction code as well, so that the administrative court examines the ground on which the deportation is based and the foreigner has the chance to prove otherwise. To explain: the governorship will issue a deportation order against a foreigner who has been given the G-82 restriction code. If an action is filed only against the restriction code, the deportation will be carried out and the foreigner will be deported. If an action for annulment is filed only against the deportation, administrative courts generally consider the existence of the restriction code to be sufficient. However, if actions are filed against both the deportation and the restriction code, the material fact constituting the ground of the restriction code, namely whether the person is a security threat, is examined, and as a result the lawfulness of the deportation is assessed.
If there is a ban on entering Türkiye during the action for annulment of the restriction code, filing an action with the administrative court will not by itself allow entry into Türkiye. Where a ban on entering Türkiye is applied during these cases, a stay of execution of the restriction code may be requested from the administrative court, taking into account the foreigner's circumstances. If the administrative court lifts the restriction code, the foreigner will be able to enter Türkiye.
Restriction codes are simply abbreviated records, entered in foreigners' files, concerning their entry into and exit from Türkiye, administrative fines and other matters. Like any administrative act, they can be annulled by administrative courts following proceedings. For foreigners, codes that may lead to deportation, such as the G (public security) codes, and codes that result in a ban on entering Türkiye are particularly important. These codes, too, should be challenged through actions for annulment and the proceedings followed through.
G-82 is the restriction code indicating suspicion of activities against national security. A foreigner with this code cannot enter Türkiye; if the code is entered while the foreigner is in Türkiye, the administrative authorities enforce a deportation order at the same time.
The Ç-141 code, relating to suspicion of international terrorism, and the O-177 code, applied to foreigners whose application for international protection has been rejected or cancelled, result in a ban on entering Türkiye for 5 years.
N-119 is applied to persons who have not paid the administrative fine arising from working without a permit. N-120 is entered for persons who have not paid the administrative fine imposed for a breach of visa, visa exemption, work permit or residence permit rules.
In that case, filing an action only for annulment of the restriction code is not sufficient and does not stop the deportation. Two separate actions for annulment should be filed, against both the restriction code and the deportation order; this ensures that the material fact on which the restriction code is based, namely whether the person is a security threat, is examined.
No, filing an action with the administrative court does not by itself allow entry into Türkiye. Depending on the foreigner's circumstances, a stay of execution of the restriction code may be requested from the court; if the court lifts the restriction code, the foreigner can enter Türkiye.
