If a Turkish border officer, a visa refusal letter or a lawyer has mentioned a code like Ç-101, V-84 or N-120 in connection with your name, this page is the reference you are looking for. These are Turkey’s restriction codes (“tahdit kodları”) — short labels entered into the immigration system that record why a foreigner is flagged, fined, banned or monitored. Below is the full list in plain English, organised by series, with what each code means and — most importantly — what can be done about it. Compiled by a practising Turkish immigration lawyer.
How the Code System Works
Codes are grouped into series by their initial letter: V codes are informational/status records, Ç codes are restriction and entry-ban records, G codes relate to criminal grounds, N codes record administrative fines and debts, and O codes concern international protection. A foreigner usually discovers a code the hard way — at the airport or in a visa refusal citing Law 6458 Article 15/1-b. How to confirm what is registered against you is explained in our entry ban check guide.
Ç Series — Entry Bans and Restrictions
The Ç series contains the codes most foreigners encounter. Ç-101 through Ç-105 and Ç-167 are the ban-duration codes applied for visa, visa-exemption, residence or work-permit violations — which code you receive depends on how long you overstayed and whether you paid the fine (the full duration table and the fine calculator are in our overstay penalty guide):
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ç-101 | Visa/visa-exemption/residence/work-permit violation — 3-month entry ban |
| Ç-102 | Same violation family — 6-month entry ban |
| Ç-103 | Same violation family — 1-year entry ban |
| Ç-104 | Same violation family — 2-year entry ban |
| Ç-105 | Same violation family — 5-year entry ban |
| Ç-167 | Violation of 3–6 months — 1-month entry ban |
| Ç-113 | Illegal entry into or exit from Turkey |
| Ç-114 | Foreigner subject to legal proceedings |
| Ç-115 | Released from prison |
| Ç-116 | Deemed a danger to public morality or public health |
| Ç-117 | Illegal (unauthorised) work |
| Ç-118 | Residence permit revoked |
| Ç-119 | Fine for illegal work left unpaid |
| Ç-120 | Fine for a visa or residence violation left unpaid |
| Ç-135 | Violation of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection |
| Ç-136 | Travel expenses not paid |
| Ç-137 | Invited (called) to leave Turkey |
| Ç-138 | INAD (inadmissible) passenger |
| Ç-141 | Deemed dangerous for international security |
| Ç-149 | Deemed dangerous for public security |
| Ç-150 | Attempted entry with forged documents |
| Ç-151 | Migrant smuggler / human trafficker |
| Ç-152 | Precautionarily prevented from entering Turkey |
| Ç-166 | Entry without justified reason / insufficient financial means |
V Series — Status and Information Records
V codes are not always bans — many simply record a status. But several of them (V-69, V-70, V-71, V-84, V-157) directly affect what happens at the border or at your next application:
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| V-68 | Residence permit subject to ministerial permission |
| V-69 | Residence permit revoked |
| V-70 | Fake (sham) marriage record |
| V-71 | Failure to notify a change of address, or inaccurate address declaration |
| V-74 | Foreigners whose departure is to be reported to the Ministry/governorates |
| V-77 | Applied as a Meskhetian Turk without being one |
| V-84 | Entered under the condition of obtaining a residence permit within 10 days |
| V-87 | Temporary protection holder who made a voluntary return |
| V-88 | Work permit invalidated |
| V-89 | Readmitted foreigner |
| V-91 | Temporary protection holder whose exit from Turkey is subject to permission |
| V-92 | Duplicate registration under temporary protection |
| V-137 | Ordered to leave Turkey |
| V-144 | Released under Article 57-A |
| V-145 | Voluntary return |
| V-146 | Annotated Turkish passport |
| V-147 | Spouse of a Turkish citizen whose passport is annotated |
| V-148 | Resident of a temporary accommodation centre |
| V-153 | Constitutional Court injunction concerning a third country |
| V-154 | Administrative court application against a deportation order |
| V-155 | Injunction of the European Court of Human Rights |
| V-156 | Contingency fee record |
| V-157 | Residence permit application rejected |
| V-158 | Foreign representation staff/family ID card revoked |
| V-159 | Entered Turkey for transit to a third country |
G Series — Criminal Grounds
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| G-26 | Activities of an illegal organisation |
| G-34 | Forgery |
| G-42 | Drug offences |
| G-43 | Smuggling offences |
| G-48 | Facilitating prostitution |
| G-58 | Homicide offences |
| G-64 | Threat |
| G-65 | Theft |
| G-66 | Extortion and looting |
| G-67 | Fraud |
| G-78 | Infectious disease record |
| G-82 | Activities against national security |
| G-87 | Danger to public security |
N Series — Fines and Debts
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| N-82 | Entry subject to preliminary permission |
| N-95 | Fine for violating an entry ban |
| N-96 | Administrative fine for failing to leave within the allocated time |
| N-97 | Administrative fine concerning the address declaration |
| N-99 | Interpol code |
| N-119 | Administrative fine for working without a permit |
| N-120 | Administrative fine for visa/residence/work-permit violations |
| N-135 | Administrative fine for illegal entry or attempted illegal entry |
| N-136 | Cross-border travel expenses |
| N-168 | Administrative fine under Article 102/ç |
| N-169 | Fine for failing to comply with obligations set by the Ministry |
| N-170 | Administrative fines under the Misdemeanours Law and related laws |
| N-171 | Fine for failure to fulfil established obligations |
| N-172 | Voluntary repatriation travel expenses |
O and K Series — International Protection and Wanted Records
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| O-100 | Asylum seeker with unknown address, banned from entry |
| O-176 | International protection request rejected — 3-year record |
| O-177 | International protection request rejected — 5-year record |
| K | Wanted for smuggling offences |
Can a Restriction Code Be Removed?
Often, yes — but the route depends on the code:
- Fine-based codes (Ç-119, Ç-120, N-96, N-119, N-120, N-135): the code loses its force once the underlying fine is paid through the proper channel — at the border on exit or via the tax authority.
- Ban codes (Ç-101 – Ç-105, Ç-167): the ban expires at the end of its period; before that, it can be challenged before the administrative court (7 days if issued with a deportation decision inside Turkey, 60 days if issued while you were abroad), or bypassed for justified purposes with an annotated visa (meşruhatlı vize).
- Status codes (V series): corrected by fixing the underlying record — updating the address, documenting the genuine marriage, completing the missed application — sometimes administratively, sometimes through court.
- Criminal and security codes (G series, Ç-141, Ç-149, Ç-150, Ç-151): these are the hardest; they follow the outcome of criminal proceedings and are litigated case by case.
Every removal case starts the same way: confirm exactly which code is registered, on what grounds and on what date. Bring whatever documents you have to a consultation — the code tells us most of what we need to know.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Code descriptions are simplified explanations of administrative practice under Law No. 6458 and related legislation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is restriction code Ç-101 in Turkey?
Ç-101 is a 3-month entry ban imposed for visa, visa-exemption, residence or work-permit violations. The Ç-101–Ç-105 series covers bans of 3 months up to 5 years, and Ç-167 is the 1-month ban for 3–6 month violations.
What is code V-84?
V-84 records that a foreigner entered Turkey under the condition of obtaining a residence permit within 10 days. Missing that deadline leaves a violation trail in the system.
How do I find out which restriction code is registered against me?
There is no public online query. Inside Turkey the check is made through the Irregular Migration units of the Presidency of Migration Management; from abroad it can only be done through a specially authorised representative, typically a lawyer with power of attorney.
What is the N-82 code for Turkey?
N-82 records that a foreigner’s entry into Turkey is subject to preliminary permission — entry is not banned outright, but requires prior approval before travel.
Can I travel to Turkey if I have a criminal record?
A foreign criminal record does not automatically ban you from Turkey — restriction codes such as the G series arise mainly from offences and security assessments connected to Turkey itself (Ç-115, for example, records release from a Turkish prison). In practice, the migration administration does not routinely request criminal-record certificates in these procedures. That said, terrorism, terrorism financing and comparable security matters are certainly taken into account at the screening stage, since public order and public security are refusal grounds under Article 15 of Law 6458 — serious cases are assessed individually.
Can restriction codes be removed?
Frequently, yes: fine-based codes lose force once the fine is paid; ban codes can be challenged before the administrative court (within 7 or 60 days) or bypassed with an annotated visa for justified purposes; status codes are corrected by fixing the underlying record.