International Protection FAQ

Law 6458 defines refugee status (for persons covered by the 1951 Refugee Convention's geographic limitation, in practice mostly European-origin applicants), conditional refugee status (for non-European applicants who would otherwise meet the refugee definition), and subsidiary protection (for applicants who do not qualify as refugees but face serious harm if returned). Each status carries different rights and durations.

Source: Law 6458 (Law on Foreigners and International Protection / YUKK) and the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM / Göç İdaresi), Articles 61–63

Türkiye signed the 1951 Refugee Convention with a geographic limitation, recognising full refugee status only for people fleeing events in Europe. Non-European asylum-seekers who meet the same persecution criteria are recognised under the domestic 'conditional refugee' status — protected in Türkiye, but with a long-term plan generally tied to resettlement to a third country. The distinction is procedural, not a comment on the strength of the underlying claim.

Source: Law 6458 (Law on Foreigners and International Protection / YUKK) and the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM / Göç İdaresi), Article 62

Subsidiary protection (ikincil koruma) covers people who do not qualify as refugees or conditional refugees but who would face death penalty, torture, or serious harm in armed conflict if returned. It mirrors the EU's subsidiary-protection concept. Subsidiary protection holders get a renewable residence permit and access to defined rights, with the duration tied to the persistence of the underlying risk.

Source: Law 6458 (Law on Foreigners and International Protection / YUKK) and the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM / Göç İdaresi), Article 63

Applications are made in person at the Provincial Migration Management or, on entry, at the border. The applicant is interviewed, fingerprinted, and issued an International Protection Applicant Identification Document while the case is processed. Applications must be made promptly after entry; significant delay without good reason can adversely affect credibility.

Source: Law 6458 (Law on Foreigners and International Protection / YUKK) and the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM / Göç İdaresi), Articles 65–69

Applicants have the right to lawful stay in Türkiye while the case is decided, free legal-aid access in some circumstances, basic healthcare via SGK enrollment after a defined waiting period, and education for minor children. Work-permit access exists but is conditional and time-gated — typically allowed several months after registration, subject to sectoral and regional restrictions. Confirm current rules with PMM or a refugee-law NGO.

Source: Law 6458 (Law on Foreigners and International Protection / YUKK) and the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM / Göç İdaresi), Articles 88–95

Processing times vary widely with caseload and applicant nationality, ranging from many months to several years for a final decision. First-instance decisions are made by PMM; refusals can be appealed to the International Protection Evaluation Commission and then to administrative court. Plan for a long timeline and stay in regular contact with the directorate handling your file.

Source: Law 6458 (Law on Foreigners and International Protection / YUKK) and the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM / Göç İdaresi), Articles 78–80

Family unity is a defined right under the law: spouse and minor children of a protected person can be granted a derivative status if they are outside Türkiye, or recognised within Türkiye if the family member is also at risk. Family-unity claims are documented separately from the main application but assessed together where possible.

Source: Law 6458 (Law on Foreigners and International Protection / YUKK) and the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM / Göç İdaresi), family unity provisions

Refusal can be appealed: first to the International Protection Evaluation Commission within a defined window, and from there to administrative court. While appeals are pending, lawful stay typically continues and removal is suspended in most cases. Specialist legal representation materially affects outcomes; many NGOs provide free or subsidised refugee-law support.

Source: Law 6458 (Law on Foreigners and International Protection / YUKK) and the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM / Göç İdaresi), appeal provisions

International travel is restricted. Holders of refugee, conditional refugee or subsidiary protection generally cannot use their original-country passport without forfeiting status, and travel documents issued by Turkish authorities are limited and case-specific. Most international travel is impractical until the case resolves to permanent status or resettlement.

Source: Law 6458 (Law on Foreigners and International Protection / YUKK) and the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM / Göç İdaresi), travel-document provisions

Temporary protection is a separate, group-based regime under Decree 2014/6883 designed for the Syrian mass influx after 2011, not the case-by-case international-protection system in Law 6458. TP holders carry the well-known kimlik card numbering (99XXX) and have their own work-permit pathway under the Regulation on Work Permits of Foreigners under Temporary Protection. See our temporary-protection FAQ for that regime.

Source: Council of Ministers Decree 2014/6883 (Temporary Protection Regulation) and the Regulation on Work Permits of Foreigners under Temporary Protection; Law 6458 (Law on Foreigners and International Protection / YUKK) and the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM / Göç İdaresi)