Extradition from Türkiye

What extradition (iade) is

Extradition is the formal process by which one country asks Türkiye to hand over a person so they can face prosecution or serve a sentence there. In Türkiye it is governed mainly by the Law on International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters (Law No. 6706), alongside any treaty between the two countries.

It often begins with detention on an INTERPOL notice or a direct request, and then becomes a court matter. A judge — not the police — decides whether the legal conditions for surrender are met. That means there are real points at which it can be contested.

How an extradition request reaches you

Extradition usually surfaces in one of these ways:

• Stopped at the borderAn INTERPOL notice flags as you travel. More on Red Notices →
• A direct requestA country sends a formal extradition request to Türkiye through diplomatic channels.
• Provisional arrestYou may be detained while the requesting country submits its full request.
• While resident in TürkiyeA request can reach someone already living here, not only travellers.
• Sentence vs. prosecutionRequests can be to face trial, or to serve a sentence already imposed abroad.

Your rights in the process

• To a lawyer throughout the process.
• To an interpreter.
• To be told the basis of the request.
• To be heard by the court before a decision.
• To present grounds against surrender.
• Not to be pressured into “consenting” without understanding the consequences.

How these play out depends on the request, the treaty position and the facts.

What to do — and what not to do

The process & timeline

• Detention / requestYou are detained on a notice, or a formal request arrives.
• Provisional arrestA court may order temporary detention pending the full request.
• Court reviewA court examines whether the legal conditions for extradition are met, and hears your grounds against it.
• DecisionThe court decides; depending on the framework, a final political/ministerial step may follow.
• Appeal / remediesThere may be avenues to challenge a decision. Timing is critical.

Extradition timelines vary widely with the country, the treaty and the case. Some steps are strictly time-limited.

Common situations we see

Each case is different; these are situations we encounter:

• Detained at the airport on a noticeA border stop becomes an extradition matter.
• Old or time-barred caseThe underlying matter may be too old to support surrender.
• Risk of unfair trial or ill-treatmentConditions in the requesting country can be a ground to oppose.
• Turkish citizen sought abroadCitizenship can bar or limit extradition.
• Possibly political requestRequests aimed at political or military matters may be refused.

Who we help

• People detained in Türkiye on another country's request
• Travellers stopped at IST / SAW on an INTERPOL notice
• Foreign nationals and dual nationals facing surrender
• Turkish citizens sought by another country
• Families acting for someone in extradition custody
• People who want to assess their exposure before travelling

How we help

1. 1
   AssessWe review the request, the treaty position and the facts, and tell you honestly where you stand.
2. 2
   Act on detentionWe address any provisional arrest and argue for release or judicial control where there are grounds.
3. 3
   Contest where there are groundsWe present the legal grounds against surrender to the court, and challenge the underlying notice where appropriate.
4. 4
   Pursue remediesWe advise on appeals and other avenues, and on the INTERPOL CCF route in parallel.

We are independent attorneys registered with the İstanbul Barosu. We never promise a result; we explain the realistic options and the fee before any work begins.

Where it often starts — IST or Sabiha Gökçen

Extradition cases often begin with a border stop. We act at both Istanbul airports, around the clock:

• Istanbul Airport (IST)The European-side hub — where most international notices flag on arrival.
• Sabiha Gökçen (SAW)The Asian-side airport — same process, same rights, covered too.

Key terms

Extradition (iade)

Surrendering a person to another country to face prosecution or serve a sentence.

Law No. 6706

The Law on International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters — the main Turkish framework.

Dual criminality

The principle that the act must be a crime in both countries.

Provisional arrest

Temporary detention pending a full extradition request.

Speciality rule

A surrendered person may generally be tried only for the offence extradition was granted for.

Red Notice (kırmızı bülten)

An INTERPOL request that often precedes extradition. More →

Frequently asked questions