Restriction Codes (G and V Codes) in Residence Permit Refusals: What They Mean and How to Object

According to the latest statistics from Turkey’s Presidency of Migration Management, more than one million foreign nationals currently hold a residence permit in Turkey, and applications have continued at a heavy pace throughout 2026. Amid this volume, a large number of applications are refused every year, and behind many of these refusal decisions lies a record the applicant is often not even aware exists: a restriction code (tahdit kodu).

This guide explains, within the framework of Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection, what the G and V codes mean, how you can find out which code has been entered against you, and what steps to take within the 60-day litigation period.

What Is a Restriction Code and How Does It Affect a Residence Permit Refusal?

A restriction code is a restriction record entered into the data systems of the Presidency of Migration Management and the relevant security units regarding a foreign national. This record can lead to the refusal of a residence permit application, the cancellation of an existing permit, denial of entry into the country, or a negative outcome on a visa application. The codes are identified by a letter-and-number combination: V codes mainly denote visa and residence violations, while G codes denote security-related grounds.

A concrete example: Ms. Sara, who lives in Beyoğlu and wanted to extend her residence permit, had her application refused by a decision that did not clearly state its grounds. Research carried out through her lawyer revealed that a V-71 code (not found at the registered address) had been entered against her because she had failed to report her new address after moving. Just as much as the refusal decision itself, this underlying record also needed to be addressed as a matter of law.

V Codes: Records Based on Visa and Residence Violations

V codes are generally entered due to violations of visa or residence regulations. The most common examples include V-69, entered against those whose residence permit has been cancelled, V-70, based on suspicion of a marriage of convenience (a sham or fraudulent marriage), and V-71, based on a breach of the address registration obligation.

Consider this scenario: a student attending a language course in Galata entered Turkey on condition of applying for a residence permit within 10 days, but filed the application after that period had elapsed. A V-84 code was entered against them, and their subsequent application was refused on the basis of this record. Certain codes of this kind can be lifted after a set period, depending on the nature of the violation, or through litigation.

G Codes: Security-Based Records

G codes are based on general security and public order assessments and generally carry more serious consequences than V codes. For example, G-87 reflects an assessment that the person is considered a danger to general security, while G-78 denotes a record of an infectious disease. Because these codes are often based on an intelligence-type assessment, the lawfulness of their basis is scrutinized closely by the courts.

In practice, this often plays out as follows: a foreign national who runs a business in Taksim learns, upon returning from a trip abroad, at the airport, that a code has been entered against them, even though no prior notification was ever served. In such a situation, rather than panicking and arguing at the border gate, it is far more effective to challenge the legal basis of the record through proper legal channels.

Note: The list of codes and their application may change through administrative regulations (general framework valid as of August 2026).

Step 1: Find Out Which Code Has Been Entered

To build a sound objection, you first need to find out which code was entered, on what date, and on what grounds. This can be done by submitting a written application to the Presidency of Migration Management under Law No. 4982 on the Right to Information; a request can also be submitted through CİMER (the Presidential Communication Center). Official information from the relevant authorities is available at goc.gov.tr.

For example, Mr. Amir, who lives in Cihangir, filed a right-to-information request through his lawyer after his residence permit extension was refused, and learned in writing the scope of the record held against him. In records based on security grounds, the authority may not disclose details; in that case, the content of the record can only be brought into the case file through the court, at the litigation stage.

Step 2: Administrative Application and Annulment Lawsuit

Two avenues are considered together to have a restriction code lifted. The first is an administrative application to the authority that entered the code, demonstrating with supporting documents that the record is unfounded or mistaken. The second, and in practice the avenue that actually produces results, is an annulment lawsuit filed with the administrative court. Both the annulment of the residence permit refusal decision and the annulment of the restriction code can be pursued as separate causes of action.

So where is the lawsuit filed? If the restriction code is a centrally issued action, the case is generally filed with the Ankara administrative courts; for the residence permit refusal decision, it is filed with the court in the location of the provincial migration authority that issued the decision. Returning to Ms. Sara’s example: in the lawsuit filed against the V-71 record, documentation of the move and evidence of her actual residence were presented to argue that the record was unlawful; the refusal decision was challenged in the same proceeding.

Deadlines, Special-Purpose Visas, and Points to Watch

An annulment lawsuit must be filed within 60 days of notification of the decision or of learning of the record (Article 7 of the Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577). One point that should not be confused: the litigation period against deportation decisions is much shorter, at 7 days. Correctly identifying which type of action is subject to which deadline is therefore critical.

For certain V codes, even if the code is not lifted, entry into the country and a new application may still be possible through a specially annotated visa known as a “meşruhatlı vize” (special-purpose visa), for example on grounds of marriage or employment. One final warning: do not trust intermediaries who guarantee that “we will definitely get the code removed”; no legal process can be guaranteed to succeed, and every case must be assessed on its own evidence. You can use turkiye.gov.tr (e-Devlet) to track litigation and service of process.

To sum up, the course of action when facing a residence permit refusal and a restriction code:

• Identify: Find out through a right-to-information request whether a code lies behind the refusal decision.
• Document: Gather address, marriage, and entry-exit records that refute the basis of the record.
• Deadline: File the annulment lawsuit within 60 days; remember that the period for a deportation decision is 7 days.
• Strategy: Plan the annulment of the code, the annulment of the refusal decision, and, if needed, a special-purpose visa option together.

Since the type of code, the manner of notification, and the available evidence differ from case to case, the course of action to be followed must be assessed individually.