Who pays for return costs when a foreigner is found working without a permit?
General information, not legal advice. For high-stakes decisions, confirm with the official institution in the next-step below, or consult a qualified Turkish lawyer.
Pending expert review. This fact is sourced but has not yet been reviewed by an independent legal expert. Treat as a starting point.
The employer (or the employer's representative) has to cover the foreigner's accommodation costs in the period before departure, return-to-home-country travel expenses, and any necessary medical expenses. If the foreigner has a spouse and children also being returned, those costs are on the employer too.
If Göç İdaresi covers these costs from its budget first to move things along, the amounts are then recovered from the employer under Law 6183 (the public-debt collection law). It's a debt to the state, not a private dispute.
The implementing details are jointly set by the İçişleri Bakanlığı (Interior Ministry) and CSGB.
Watch-outs
- This is a financial disincentive aimed at employers. It does nothing for the worker, who still faces deportation and a re-entry ban under Law 6458 Article 9. See law-06 for the deportation triggers.
- Employer liability extends to the worker's dependants. A family-of-four situation can be very expensive for the employer — multiplying by accommodation, four plane tickets, and any medical costs.
- "Employer" includes the employer's representative. A middle manager who knowingly hired without checking can be personally liable, not just the company.
Next step
For employers: verify every foreign worker's permit status before they start, not after. For workers: refuse a job where the employer says "start now, we'll do the paperwork later." That's the pattern this rule is designed to punish, and the worker carries the deportation risk regardless of who pays for the flight home.
All sources (2)
- Resmî Gazete — Law 6735, Art. 23(9) ↗
- Resmî Gazete — Law 6183 (Amme Alacaklarının Tahsil Usulü Hakkında Kanun)
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