INAD and Airport Procedures
Non-Admission to Türkiye, Border Gate Checks and Administrative Procedures at the Airport
Foreign nationals who arrive at a border gate to enter Türkiye may be subjected to checks regarding their passport, visa, residence or work permit and other entry conditions, in order to determine whether the entry requirements are met.
A foreign national who is assessed as not meeting the conditions for entry into Türkiye may be refused admission and turned back as an inadmissible passenger (INAD). Unlike a deportation decision, an INAD procedure is, as a rule, a border gate procedure that arises at the stage of the foreign national's entry into Türkiye.
Canaydın Law Firm provides services on INAD procedures, administrative decisions at airports and border gates, passport and travel document problems, the review of existing entry ban or restriction records, and the legal avenues that may be available.
- Review of the INAD Procedure
- Assessment of Airport and Border Documents
When Can INAD and Airport Procedures Arise?
01 — Non-Admission to Türkiye (INAD)
Foreign nationals who arrive at a border gate to enter Türkiye but are assessed as not meeting the entry conditions required by the legislation may be refused admission to Türkiye as inadmissible passengers.
The reason for an INAD procedure is not the same in every file. The legal basis of the procedure, the documents issued at the border gate, and the foreign national's existing visa, permit and entry records must be examined together.
02 — Passport and Travel Document Check
A valid passport or a document substituting for a passport must be presented on entry into and exit from Türkiye.
The validity period of the passport or travel document, whether the document is forged or falsified, and its consistency with the visa, residence permit or work permit may form part of the review at the border gate.
03 — Problems Concerning Visas, Residence Permits and Work Permits
The absence of a required visa, residence permit or work permit; problems concerning the validity of an existing document; or records arising from previous visa and residence violations may affect the assessment of entry into Türkiye.
Holding a visa or being exempt from the visa requirement does not, in itself, give an absolute right of entry into Türkiye.
04 — Detection of an Entry Ban or Restriction Record at the Border Gate
Where an existing entry ban or restriction record concerning the foreign national is in place, it may be detected during the entry check at the border gate and may affect admission to Türkiye.
In this case, not only the INAD document but also the basis of the entry ban or restriction record must be examined separately.
Explore Entry Bans and Restriction Codes
05 — Failure to Sufficiently Explain the Purpose of Travel and Entry Conditions
Where the purpose of entry into, transit through or stay in Türkiye cannot be sufficiently demonstrated, or where it is assessed that other conditions required for entry are not met, the foreign national may be subjected to a comprehensive check or may be refused admission to the country.
The assessment at the border gate must be considered together with the documents presented and the purpose of the travel.
06 — Checks in the Airport Transit Area
Foreign nationals who use the transit area of an airport may also be subjected to checks by the competent authorities.
Where problems arise during transit travel concerning the passport, travel document, transit visa or the onward flight, the existing documents and the travel itinerary must be assessed separately.
What Is a Comprehensive Check?
If a detailed review of the foreign national's documents or conditions of entry into Türkiye is deemed necessary at the border gate, a comprehensive check may be applied.
A comprehensive check is not the same procedure as an administrative detention decision. The legislation provides that a person for whom this check is deemed necessary may be held for a maximum of four hours, and that within this period the foreign national may return to their country or wait for the procedures to be concluded.
The outcome of the check may be that the foreign national is admitted to Türkiye or is turned back as an inadmissible passenger.
Is an INAD Procedure a Deportation Decision?
No. An INAD procedure and a deportation decision are not the same legal procedure.
INAD concerns the refusal of admission to the country at the border gate on the grounds that the foreign national does not meet the conditions for entry into Türkiye. Deportation, on the other hand, is a separate administrative decision issued concerning a foreign national who is present in Türkiye, based on the grounds set out in the law.
Since a file may contain both an INAD procedure and a previously issued deportation, entry ban or restriction decision, all documents must be reviewed together.
Documents Issued at the Border Gate and Notification
The procedure carried out concerning a foreign national who is not permitted to enter Türkiye is notified to the foreign national. The notification must inform the foreign national of their legal rights and obligations regarding how they may exercise their rights against the decision.
The form, record, notification, entries in the passport and other documents given to the foreign national in an INAD or airport procedure are important for the legal assessment.
Where a passport or another document is taken over, retained by the competent authority, or otherwise dealt with in connection with the document, the legal basis of the procedure and the record issued must be examined separately.
Administrative Fines and Previous Debts
Debts and administrative fines arising from previous visa or residence violations may affect the foreign national's subsequent entry into Türkiye.
Where a payment request or a record relating to a past violation is encountered at the border gate, the basis of the fine or debt and whether there is an entry ban or restriction record must be assessed together.
What We Do for You
Review of the INAD Document and Border Gate Procedures
The INAD form, notification, record and other border gate documents given to the foreign national are reviewed.
Assessment of Passport and Travel Document Problems
The nature of the problem concerning the passport, travel document, visa or permit documents and its effect on the entry procedure are assessed.
Review of Entry Ban and Restriction Records
The connection of an entry ban or restriction record detected at the airport with the INAD procedure is examined.
Legal Follow-Up of Border and Airport Procedures
Based on the existing documents and the stage of the procedure, the steps that can be taken before the relevant administrative authorities are assessed.
Review of Administrative Fines and Violation Records
The effect of fines and records arising from previous visa or residence violations on subsequent entry is assessed.
Assessment of Administrative and Judicial Remedies
Depending on the legal nature of the INAD or the related administrative procedure, the applicable application and lawsuit avenues are examined separately.
Follow-Up of Ongoing Files
The current stage of a previously initiated entry ban, restriction, visa or lawsuit file is reviewed and the necessary follow-up steps are determined.
How the Process Works
- 01
Review of Airport and Border Gate Documents
The INAD form, notification, record, passport entries and other existing documents are reviewed.
- 02
Determination of the Reason for Non-Admission to Türkiye
The connection of the procedure with the passport, visa, entry ban, restriction record, purpose of travel or another entry condition is assessed.
- 03
Review of Related Administrative Records
Any entry ban, restriction code, previous deportation procedure, visa violation or administrative fine is reviewed together.
- 04
Determination of the Appropriate Legal Avenue
Depending on the nature of the file, administrative application, visa procedure or judicial application options are assessed.
- 05
Preparation of Documents and Petitions
Depending on the nature of the application, the necessary documents and legal explanations are prepared.
- 06
Procedures Before the Relevant Authority
Application or follow-up procedures are carried out before the relevant administrative authority, foreign mission or competent judicial body.
- 07
Planning of the Subsequent Entry into Türkiye
Depending on the nature of the existing obstacle, a new visa, a visa with a special annotation or other entry procedures are assessed separately.
Is There an Entry Ban or Restriction Record Together with the INAD Procedure?
Where there is an entry ban or restriction record in addition to the non-admission procedure, the reasons for these records and the administrative or judicial avenues that may be available must be examined separately.
Is a Legal Application Against the INAD Procedure Necessary?
If the INAD or the related administrative procedure is assessed to be unlawful, the decision and documents notified to the foreign national are reviewed and the administrative and judicial avenues that may be available are determined for the specific file.
Do You Have an Ongoing Airport or INAD File?
If you have a file that was previously initiated due to non-admission to Türkiye, an entry ban, a restriction record or a related visa procedure, the current stage and the procedures carried out can be reviewed and the necessary follow-up path can be determined.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What does INAD mean?
INAD refers to a situation in which a foreign national is refused admission to Türkiye at the border gate. The passport, travel document, entry conditions and related administrative records are examined on the basis of the file.