It is in our nature to follow rules. We are so conditioned to the idea that by breaking them, we will get punished.
Rules are made to keep people in line, to avoid chaos and to have more control. And that’s not a bad thing.
Imagine how chaotic the world would be if there wouldn’t be any laws. It would be a crazy, chaotic place, even though the news always makes the world seem crazy already.
I’m a good girl. Seriously, I am. I don’t like breaking rules and laws. Well, not the big ones and definitely not the ones with severe consequences.
Since it’s not in my nature to kill people or steal, I really don’t need rules telling me these things. But every once in awhile I do break a law.
It wasn’t mine nor Niko’s intention to stay longer than the allowed period of 90 days in Turkey. Our intention was to hitchhike across the nation for three months before continuing on to the next location.
But we were forced to stay because there were so many amazing and rare opportunities that came our way during those three months, like house sitting in an opulent resort and teaching at a summer camp, to mention a couple.
More than following a plan, we follow our intuition. And when our gut feeling is telling us to seize an opportunity, we will do it. Even if it means overstaying our visa. So it wasn’t really an impulsive decision but more like living in the moment.
You may be thinking, “Hey you hippies, who do you think you are to make such a poor decision?” as you pass judgment on us right now.
We do not consider ourselves to be law-abiding individuals who are free to act however we please. We consider ourselves to be people who go with the flow, and we firmly think that we will act appropriately if it seems right to us.
We’re not impulsive but we like to live in the moment. If circumstances force us to make a nice lemonade, we will do just that! We also think that if you act with the best of intentions, good things will come of it.
A Comprehensive Guide to Overstay Fines Deportation, and Re-entry Bans
Turkey is a popular tourist destination, but what happens if you overstay your visa? This can be a stressful situation, but it’s important to understand the consequences and how to resolve them. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about overstaying your visa in Turkey, including fines, deportation, and re-entry bans. We’ll also provide some helpful tips on how to avoid overstaying your visa in the first place.
Overstaying Your Visa: What You Need to Know
If you overstay your visa in Turkey, you will be subject to a fine and a travel ban. The amount of the fine depends on how long you overstayed your visa. If you overstayed for less than 10 days the fine is 100 Turkish Lira (around $10 USD). If you overstayed for more than 10 days the fine is 500 Turkish Lira (around $50 USD).
In addition to the fine, you will also be subject to a travel ban. The length of the travel ban depends on how long you overstayed your visa. If you overstayed for less than 3 months, the travel ban is 1 month. If you overstayed for more than 3 months, the travel ban is 3 months. If you overstayed for more than 6 months, the travel ban is 6 months. If you overstayed for more than 1 year, the travel ban is 1 year. If you overstayed for more than 2 years, the travel ban is 2 years. If you overstayed for more than 3 years, the travel ban is 5 years.
How to Avoid Overstaying Your Visa
The best way to avoid overstaying your visa is to keep track of your expiration date and make sure to leave Turkey before it expires. You can also check with the Turkish embassy or consulate in your home country to see if you need to apply for a visa extension.
What to Do If You Overstay Your Visa
If you do overstay your visa, you should contact the Turkish embassy or consulate in your home country as soon as possible. They will be able to provide you with information on how to pay your fine and how to apply for a visa extension.
Overstaying your visa in Turkey can be a serious offense, but it is important to remember that there are ways to resolve the situation. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can avoid any further problems and ensure that you can return to Turkey in the future.
Additional Resources
- Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Turkish Embassy in the United States
- Turkish Consulate General in New York
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happens if I can’t pay the overstay fine?
If you can’t pay the overstay fine, you may be detained by the Turkish authorities until you can pay the fine.
- Can I appeal the travel ban?
Yes, you can appeal the travel ban to the Turkish courts.
- Can I apply for a visa waiver if I overstayed my visa?
No, you cannot apply for a visa waiver if you overstayed your visa.
- Can I apply for a new visa after my travel ban is lifted?
Yes, you can apply for a new visa after your travel ban is lifted. However, your application may be denied if you have a history of overstaying your visa.
How to renew the visa for Turkey
Depending on your nationality, you can stay 30 to 90 days in Turkey. Some nationalities can visit the country visa-free (like EU citizens), others have to apply for an e-visa (like Canadians and citizens of the USA).
Niko and I were both allowed to stay 90 days. We wanted to see if there was any other way for us to stay in Turkey longer before deciding to overstay our visa.
Extending or renewing the visa for Turkey wasn’t a possibility. Turkey has the rule that you’re only allowed to stay 90 days per 180-day period. We would have to leave the country after 90 days and could only return 3 months later.
We were desperate to crawl through that tiny open window so we could house-sit and teach, but by then it would have closed!
Another possibility was applying for a residence visa for which you need a bank statement showing a balance of at least TL 10,000 or €3000 in your account, a Turkish tax number and a place of residence certificate.
We weren’t able to provide these documents so this wasn’t an option for us either.
Consequences of overstaying the visa for Turkey
The last option of staying longer in Turkey was overstaying our visa. Of course, we did some research about that too.
Although we both enjoy going on new experiences and adventures, being incarcerated isn’t exactly on our bucket list. Luckily this wouldn’t be one of the penalties.
We learned that, depending on the length of the overstay, the Turkish government penalizes overstayers with a fine or forbids them from entering Turkey again.
In practice, these guidelines vary wildly and depend on your nationality. Although different websites displayed different costs, the fine would typically be at least $50 plus $0. 40 (for European citizens) and $1 (for Canadian citizens) per day of overstay.
If you stay longer than 15 days, you may be prohibited from entering the nation for 90 days to five years.
We were also informed that if we chose not to pay the fine, we would be permanently barred from entering Turkey. But mostly the consequences would depend on the mood of the immigration officials on our day of exit.