Arrested at the airport on a warrant

What happens when you're stopped at passport control

At passport control, officers run a routine check against police databases (often called the GBT check). If there is a wanted record or arrest order (yakalama kararı) against your name — or an INTERPOL notice — the system flags it, and you are taken to the airport police unit rather than admitted or allowed to fly.

This is a criminal matter, not an immigration refusal. It is governed by the Code of Criminal Procedure (CMK, Law No. 5271). What you do in the first hour — especially whether you speak without a lawyer — can shape everything that follows.

Why your name may flag at the border

A “hit” at passport control usually traces back to one of these:

• An arrest order (yakalama kararı)A court has ordered your detention in an open case.
• A wanted / search record (GBT)Your name is recorded as sought by authorities.
• An INTERPOL Red NoticeA request from another country. More on Red Notices →
• A missed hearing or summonsFailure to appear can lead to an arrest order in your absence.
• An old or unresolved caseA matter you thought was closed may still carry a record.
• A name match or errorSometimes the flag is a mistaken identity or an outdated record.

Your rights in custody

• To remain silent.
• To a lawyer — and to have one present for your statement.
• To an interpreter if you do not understand Turkish.
• To be told what you are accused of.
• To notify a relative that you are held.
• To medical attention if you need it.

The exact limits — including how long you may be held before seeing a prosecutor or judge — depend on the situation.

What to do — and what not to do

How it usually unfolds

• GBT check & flagYour name flags at passport control; you are taken to the airport police unit.
• Police custody (gözaltı)You are held while your identity and the record are confirmed.
• Statement (ifade)You may be asked to give a statement — this is where a lawyer matters most.
• ProsecutorThe public prosecutor decides the next step — release, judicial control, or referral to a judge.
• Duty judgeA judge may order release, judicial control (adli kontrol), or remand (tutuklama).

These stages can move fast, sometimes within a day. Getting a lawyer in early — before the statement — is the highest-value step.

Common situations we see

Yours may differ, but these are situations we encounter at IST and SAW:

• Stopped on arrival over an old caseA matter you believed was closed flags as you enter.
• Stopped on departureYou are pulled aside trying to fly out, on a record you did not know about.
• Missed hearing led to a warrantAn arrest order was issued because a summons or hearing was missed.
• INTERPOL notice from abroadAnother country's request flags at the border.
• Mistaken identity / name matchThe record relates to someone else, or is outdated.

Who we help

• Travellers stopped on arrival or departure at IST / SAW
• Foreigners and dual nationals flagged on a record
• Turkish citizens living abroad, stopped on a visit
• Families acting for someone in custody right now
• People with an old, disputed or possibly mistaken record
• Anyone asked to give a statement at the airport police

How we help

1. 1
   AssessWe take the facts and the record, and tell you honestly what you are facing.
2. 2
   AttendWhere the situation requires it and time allows, an attorney can attend the airport, and be present for any statement.
3. 3
   Protect your rightsWe make sure the right to silence, counsel and interpretation are respected, and act on the custody.
4. 4
   Seek release where the law allowsWe argue for release or judicial control rather than remand where there are grounds, and address the underlying record.

We are independent attorneys registered with the İstanbul Barosu. We do not promise outcomes; we explain your options and the fee before any work begins.

At which airport — IST or Sabiha Gökçen?

We act at both Istanbul airports, day and night:

• Istanbul Airport (IST)The European-side hub — most arrivals and departures, and most border stops, happen here.
• Sabiha Gökçen (SAW)The Asian-side airport — same checks, same rights, and we cover it too.

Key terms

GBT check

The routine police-database check run on your details at passport control.

Arrest order (yakalama kararı)

A court order to detain a person.

Police custody (gözaltı)

Being held by police for a limited period before the prosecutor/judge stage.

Statement (ifade)

Your formal account — best given only with a lawyer present.

Judicial control (adli kontrol)

Conditions (for example signing in, travel limits) as an alternative to remand.

Remand (tutuklama)

Pre-trial detention ordered by a judge.

INTERPOL Red Notice

A foreign country's request via INTERPOL. More →

Frequently asked questions