Place of detention

The LFIP clearly differentiates between administrative detention for the purpose of removal and detention in the international protection procedure, which are governed by Articles 57 and 68 respectively. In practice, however, applicants for international protection are detained in Removal Centres.

Removal Centres

In 2024 there are 32 removal centres in 25 provinces with a total detention capacity of around 1718,780. In 2024 approximately 350,000 individuals remained in removal centres. İzmir (Harmandalı), Kırklareli, Gaziantep, Erzurum, Kayseri and Van (Kurubaş) were initially established as Reception and Accommodation Centres for applicants for international protection under EU funding, prior to being re-purposed as Removal Centres (see Types of Accommodation). The facility located in Iğdır and two of three facilities in Arnavutköy are listed as temporary Removal Centres. Stakeholders stated that the facility in Iğdır was not in use in 2024.[1] Aydın and Ayvacık was temporarily closed for maintenance. Their total capacity was planned to reach 19,000 by the end of 2024,[2] while there is a plan to soon build 8 more centres.[3]

The locations and capacities of Removal Centres are listed as follows:

Source: PMM, Removal centres, available at: https://bit.ly/3rjWEhz & PMM, Faaliyet Raporu 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3LNM5uo.

Hatay removal center was heavily damaged and afterwards demolished. The removal center in Malatya was temporarily repurposed and serves as an accommodation facility for the earthquake victims. Adana removal center was also damaged by the earthquake, yet the facility remains operational as a detention facility.[4]

In İstanbul, the Çatalca (İnceğiz) Removal Centre is for women, Binkılıç for men. These removal centres mostly accommodate ex-convicts or refugees involved in criminal cases. A removal centre was established in Tuzla for men with a capacity of 700.  At the beginning of 2024, the Arnavutköy premises were opened, comprising removal centres, a temporary accommodation centre, and a GÖKSEM. The facility has been used both as a pre-detention centre and as a removal centre, facilitating smoother transfers between detention units compared to previous practices at Pendik. In 2024, persons apprehended in Istanbul were directly transferred from police stations to Arnavutköy. Some, mostly Syrian men and families along with individuals of other nationalities, remained in Arnavutköy as a removal centre. Afghan men were predominantly transferred to Binkılıç, women to Çatalca, and nationals primarily from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Morocco, Tajikistan, and Pakistan were sent to Tuzla.[5]  A stakeholder reported that, on a daily basis, a bus departs from Arnavutköy for deportation procedures.

In 2024, the major problem faced by lawyers has remained as to determine the removal centre where the client is being held. PDMM does not share information on where the person is being held and it is impossible to reach the removal centres via phone. Lawyers must proactively search for their clients in each removal centres, which may take to a couple of days.[6] Sometimes, due to the misspelling of the client names, lawyers might be misinformed about the presence of their clients in the centre. The number of transfers between the centres increased significantly in 2024. Uninformed, sudden transfers are happening form one centre to another centre in different cities. For example, a detainee may be transferred from Ağrı to Erzurum, and eventually end up in Istanbul. The reason for these transfers is not fully known by the stakeholders.[7] This practice may undermine detainees’ right to access legal representation, as lawyers are not always informed of their clients’ whereabouts. Even when they are, it can be challenging for a single lawyer to travel across the country or to coordinate with a local colleague within the seven-day legal time limit.”[8]

In 2024, following complaints about the conditions at the Antalya Removal Center, 14 individuals were transferred to the Van Removal Center. ^[9]

Also in 2024, a group of lawyers publicly stated that they had lost contact with at least 35 of their clients, who were reportedly being held in the Şanlıurfa Removal Center. However, PDMM authorities denied that these individuals were in custody at the facility.^[10] Subsequently, the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM) issued a public statement denying the allegations.[11] Finally, the lawyers issued a follow-up statement, sharing their clients’ accounts of the incident.[12]

In İstanbul, refugees are generally not informed about their rights in removal centres. In 2024, the mobile migration points were active and referring the ones who has problems with their IDs or criminal records to Arnavutköy Removal centre, still, there were some cases where regular migrants were sent to the removal centre due to not carrying their IDs.[13] Under a project implemented by IOM, information booklets, posters, and videos were prepared in 11 different languages to be used in the removal centres, to provide detailed information about their rights, including accessing to legal aid, the procedures to apply international protection, the contact details of bar associations, and the function of removal centres.[14] However, there are still challenges to access the information regarding the international protection application procedures in the removal centres.

The Presidency of Migration Management (PMM) does not publicly share official data on the capacities of Removal Centres (RCs) in Türkiye. According to TİHEK, the capacity of Adana RC is 450, Ağrı RC has a normal capacity of 850 which can be increased to 1,000, and Akyurt RC accommodates up to 1,000 individuals. Antalya RC has a base capacity of 168, with the possibility of expanding to 250 depending on occupancy levels. Similarly, Binkılıç RC is reported to have a standard capacity of 384, though this can be increased during periods of mass deportations. In Bursa RC, the women’s section can host 50 persons, while the men’s section accommodates 150. Edirne RC can normally host 520 people, with the potential to increase to 586 if needed. Kütahya RC has a capacity of 400, and Şanlıurfa RC can accommodate up to 523 persons. In addition to these figures, stakeholders have reported that the Inceğiz RC has a capacity of approximately 400, Arnavutköy RC around 1,500, and Kurubaş RC about 700.[15]

Airport holding facilities and police stations

There is a border facility for persons refused entry into Türkiye (“inadmissible passengers”) at international airports. These include İstanbul Airport, İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, Ankara Esenboğa Airport and İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport (see Access at the airport).

The authorities generally do not consider holding in transit zones as a deprivation of liberty, although a Council of Europe report of 2016 refers to them acknowledging that persons held in such facilities are deprived of their liberty.[16] In the case of an Iranian with an execution warrant in Iran who obtained a residence permit in Mexico and previously resided in Türkiye, the individual was deported to Türkiye. The individual did not want to remain in the country and wished to seek asylum in another Latin American country. However, police in the transit zone made him access the ‘inadmissible passenger’ zone, and he has since been detained there against his will.[17]

Police stations can be used for short-term detention of up to 48 hours prior to a Removal Centre.[18] These are used in practice in provinces such as İstanbul and Izmir.

Unofficial detention facilities

For the last 6 years, stakeholders have been reporting a number of practices consisting of de facto detention of people in facilities (for more information, see AIDA 2020, 2021 and 2022 updates) e.g. sport halls in different provinces, without a detention order, prior to being transferred to a Removal Centre or to signing voluntary return documents. It is not clear whether these centres are managed by PMM or the Directorate General for Security Affairs. In 2024, the persistence of these practices was confirmed.

Ağrı and Iğdır: Irregular migrants are primarily detained at the border and detained at a police station or in a warehouse located in the Gendarmerie’s police park close to the border. Detained irregular migrants’ access to facilities such as toilets is problematic. Occasionally, detention exceeds 48 hours.[19]

İstanbul:  In İstanbul Arnavutköy Premises is used as an intermediate place to transfer third country nationals to the relevant removal centres and detention time exceeds 48 hours most of the time [20]. Foreign citizens involved in a legal case were kept at the police station until called by the PDMM. They were kept for 2-3 days, sometimes even 10 days, sometimes elderly people or people with health problems can be held[21]. In 2024, according to stakeholders, the waiting period in police stations was reduced, and individuals were transferred to Arnavutköy more swiftly.[22] Arnavutköy is also known by temporary accommodation center in Istanbul Arnavutkoy,[23] according to observation of some stakeholders, when a Syrian without registration or ID is identified by mobile migration points, they are referred to this center before being transferred to other centers or removal centers.[24] In 2024, some Afghan families were held in the Arnavutköy Temporary Accommodation Center without a clear legal basis. In Arnavutköy police building, sometimes 30 people are held in a very small container, there is a hygiene problem, although there have been some improvements in 2024, the conditions are still not suitable, especially in cases where temporary holds are extended.[25]

Aydın, İzmir: In İzmir, attorneys report that three containers have been constructed in front of the removal centre to detain all apprehended irregular migrants under poor and unclean conditions, including families with children.[26] The Izmir Solidarity Platform with Refugees investigated claims that refugees were held in vacant and wedding areas managed by the Karaburun municipality, confirming these locations are used and noting the conditions violate basic human rights. Officers justify prolonged detentions due to delays caused by the Izmir Removal Centre.[27] In 2024, a stakeholder described the acceptance procedure at Aydın and Harmandalı Removal Centers as disturbing. During the initial examination process to determine whether individuals would be placed under administrative detention, they were reportedly made to wait in an open basketball court, exposed to harsh weather conditions without adequate shelter or privacy—even for families or women. Although some container units were later installed, the conditions remained inadequate[28]. In 2023, in Karaburun, on the roof of a venue with one toilet, a group of 50 people, including children were detained for more than 10 days without any phone to be able to reach out to lawyers.[29] In 14.10.2024, TİHEK conducted a visit to the Karaburun District Police Station and recommended that the authorities improve the conditions.[30] In Dikili migrants were kept in an enclosed place on the top of a hill, with only providing blanket and food. It is a common practice to hold the migrants in the yard of police or gendarme stations in Aydın, a group of migrants were kept in a basketball field until they were accepted to the removal centre.[31] Sometimes, the waiting period at the police station was exceeding 10-15 days, one of the reasons of these delays was lack of capacity to organise a swift transfer process; this situation seems to have improved recently.[32]

Adana, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Kilis, Şanlıurfa and Malatya: Syrians entering Türkiye are transferred to camps (temporary accommodation centres) as a result of a policy change implemented on 6 June 2022. This practice is based on article 8 of the TPR, which is essentially closed to judicial review. Admission to the temporary accommodation centre is in the hands of PDMM, and PDMM is under no obligation to issue a rejection decision. An unpublished circular dated 06.06.2022 outlined four exceptions to the requirement of staying in Temporary Accommodation Centres (TACs): (1) children of individuals exempt from TAC residence; (2) those for whom travel is not advisable due to health conditions; (3) individuals married to Turkish citizens or to foreigners legally residing in Türkiye under a residence permit, work permit, or international protection status, along with their children; and (4) individuals with special needs who are not suitable for placement in TACs, as well as their dependent children. However, the implementation of these exceptions has continued to vary in practice. Once rejected from accessing the camp, the only alternative for Syrians is to “voluntarily return” to Syria. Hence, the camps have become a new form of detention facility for Syrians who are either not registered under the temporary protection regime or have had their temporary protection status revoked. PMM has created a new form of ‘impunity’ without a transparent legal remedy. Syrians have no access to lawyers or their families from the camps. However, lawyers do have access to the camps. Individuals detained in the temporary accommodation centres often face indefinite detention, unlike those in regular detention centres, which have a maximum detention period of up to 12 months. Immigration lawyers believe that the indefinite detention in these centres aims to hinder Syrians from appealing deportation decisions or to coerce them into signing voluntary return forms[33].  It is claimed that majority of Syrians who stay in Kilis and Nizip temporary accommodation centres are returned back to Syria, there are concerns among stakeholders about the voluntariness of these returns[34].

The practices implemented in Temporary Accommodation Centers (TACs) across Türkiye remain inconsistent and subject to frequent changes, making them difficult to monitor systematically. A commonly observed procedure follows a three-step apprehension framework for individuals without updated addresses or documentation: Upon the first apprehension, individuals are issued a formal notification to return to their registered province and sign in regularly. On the second apprehension, their identity document is deactivated, and they are required to reactivate it and register within 15 days. If apprehended a third time, their identity document is cancelled, and they are transferred to a TAC. According to the activity report and strategic plan of PMM, The function of TACs is planned to be revised so that only persons with special needs are accommodated in designated centres, while other TACs are to be used for unregistered Syrians and those who do not fulfil their obligations.[35]

During the aftermath of the February 2023 earthquakes, TACs were used to temporarily host affected individuals, including those not previously accommodated. However, some residents were later incentivized to leave, sometimes with promises of future registration in designated urban areas. In practice, such promises were not always fulfilled. For instance, individuals transferred from TACs in Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa were unable to complete their registrations, leaving them in legal limbo.

Nizip (Gaziantep) In August 2023, Nizip TAC hosted earthquake-affected individuals. As part of a gradual decongestion policy, some residents were released with travel permits regardless of their registered address being in “open” or “closed” provinces. However, requests for relocation, such as those made by families seeking to move to Şanlıurfa, were often denied. Some individuals faced difficulties accessing transfer procedures. As mobile migration units were established, persons without registration were increasingly admitted. Due to long waiting lines and high demand for appointments, a dedicated data update desk was temporarily set up at the center. The admission criteria also fluctuated over time—at one point, only women and children were accepted, a practice not officially documented but reportedly applied. While initially framed as a data update initiative, the center functioned as a de facto control site. Arbitrary detention practices were also reported, particularly targeting women and children.

Elbeyli TAC (Kilis) Elbeyli TAC has been associated with reports of coercive and unlawful practices concerning returns to Syria. There are claims of individuals being held in cold storage facilities and exposed to physical abuse. Some reported that documents signed under duress bore visible traces of violence, including blood stains. Legal action was reportedly impeded by issues related to representation and power of attorney. In certain cases, authorities allegedly attempted to deport minors without a parent present, assigning them to unrelated adults as guardians. Although families were in theory given an option to exit the GBM, this practice was sometimes exploited through coerced signatures on voluntary return forms. Initially, single men were held in the facility, but by March–April 2024, families also began to be admitted. These developments coincided with the expansion of mobile migration units, particularly from February 27, 2024 onward.

Harran (Şanlıurfa): In 2024, one of the most significant developments was the transfer of international protection applicants—mostly Afghans who submitted their applications that same year—to the Harran Temporary Accommodation Center (TAC) without a clear legal basis. These individuals had successfully lodged their applications from within removal centres; for instance, all applicants who submitted international protection claims at the Kurubaş Removal Center were subsequently transferred to Harran TAC for the examination of their claims. As these detention practices lacked a legal foundation, lawyers often refrained from challenging the transfers, viewing access to registration under international protection as too valuable to jeopardize. Some stakeholders also reported that certain Afghan nationals were held at Harran TAC before being transferred to other removal centres for standard administrative detention procedures. There were also observations that Afghan nationals who were previously IP applicants but travelled outside their provinces of residence were first transferred to Harran TAC upon apprehension. In one case, an individual registered with Denizli PDMM was notified of the deemed withdrawal of their application with Denizli PDMM’s approval while at Harran TAC. Another individual, registered with Malatya PDMM, received the same notification. Upon returning to Malatya Province, Malatya PDMM officials reportedly destroyed the original document and issued a new one themselves, as required. Stakeholders noted that PDMM assigns officials who are experts in IP to handle such cases.

In 2024, according to stakeholders, Syrian nationals held in the Kilis Elbeyli and Harran Temporary Accommodation Centers (TACs) could be released if they were able to demonstrate family unification. However, single men were generally kept in detention. Some individuals reportedly got married while inside the TACs in an attempt to meet this condition. Despite this, in certain cases, individuals who were awaiting release were instead forced to sign voluntary repatriation forms and were returned to Syria.[36]

In 2024, the Hatay Apaydın facility was used as a referral center. Individuals apprehended in the region were first transferred there, where they were assessed to determine whether they would be transferred to a Removal Center or forcibly returned to Syria.[37]

When people are identified without an ID, they are taken to temporary accommodation centres (now called status referral centres) where fingerprints and security checks are conducted, and if there is no involvement in the case or YTS (foreign terrorist fighter), they are released. In 2023, stakeholders observe that those who are released from the centre, could access registration, some are given appointments, and some are waiting. Some of these temporary accommodation centres were also affected by the earthquakes[38]. In 2024, Nizip Temporary Accommodation Centre (TAC) was used as a status referral centre, but it also continued to function as a detention facility.[39]

As per the announcement, GÖKSEM (Referral Centers for Irregular Immigrants), which started operating on December 8, 2023[40], aim to detain irregular immigrants apprehended by law enforcement until administrative procedures, including criminal interrogation and health checks, are completed. This centralised detention facility represents a heightened focus on immigration enforcement, reflecting the government’s prioritisation of security measures. In 2024, aside from the ongoing problems related to transfers from police stations to Removal Centers, other issues—such as prolonged assessment processes for admitting individuals to Removal Centers—persisted.[41]

[1] Information provided by multiple stakeholders April 2025.

[2] PMM Faaliyet Raporu 2024, available here.

[3] European Migration Law Blog, 17.01.2024, The EU support for alternatives to immigration detention in Türkiye: a curious case at odds with EU’s external migration policy, available here.

[4] Information provided by a stakeholder, March 2024.

[5] Information provided by a stakeholder, March 2024.

[6] Information provided by stakeholders, May 2023, Information provided by stakeholders, March 2024.

[7] Information provided by stakeholder, March – April 2024.

[8] Information provided by stakeholders, March 2021, May 2023 and March – April 2024, March, April and May 2025.

[9] Gazete Duvar, Antalya GGM’deki 14 mülteci Van’a gönderildi: ‘İşkenceyi haber verdik, cezalandırıldık’, 23.04.2025, available here.

[10] Bianet, İstanbul’da gözaltına alınan 35 mülteciden haber alınamıyor, 13.02.2024, available here.

[11] Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı, X (Twitter), 18.02.2024, available here.

[12] Serbestiyet, “Geri Gönderme Merkezleri 5 yıldız standardında ise hodri meydan: Aktivistler ve avukatlar olarak bu GGM’leri heyet halinde gezelim”, 19.02.2024, available here.

[13] Information provided by a stakeholder, March 2024.

[14] Information provided by a stakeholder, Macrh 2024.

[15]  TİHEK, Ziyaret Raporları, available here; Information provided by multiple stakeholders, June 2025.

[16] Council of Europe Special Representative for Migration and Refugees, Report of the fact-finding visit to Türkiye, 10 August 2016, para IX.1(a).

[17] Information provided by a stakeholder, May 2023.

[18] Article 57(2) LFIP.

[19] Informatıon provided by stakeholders, May 2023 and March 2024.

[20] Information from a stakeholder, May 2022.

[21] Information provided by a stakeholder, March 2024.

[22] Information provided by multiple stakeholder April and May 2025

[23] Yenibirlik, 12.04.2024, Vali Gül, Arnavutköy Geçici Barınma Merkezi’ni ziyaret etti, available here

[24] Information provided by stakeholders, March 2024.

[25] Information provided by a stakeholder, March 2024 And May 2025

[26] Information provided by a stakeholder, May 2023.

[27] Evrensel Sayfalari, ‘İzmir Mülteci Dayanışma Platformu: Mülteciler insani olmayan koşullarda tutuluyor’, 2022 available in Turkish here

[28] Information provided by a stakeholder, April 2025

[29] Information provided by a stakeholder, March 2024.

[30] TİHEK, İzmir Karaburun İlçe Emniyet Müdürlüğü Nezarethaneleri Ziyareti Raporu, 2025/09, available here

[31] Information provided by a stakeholder, March – April 2024.

[32] Information provided by a stakeholder, March – April 2024.

[33] Global Detentıon Project, Türkiye: Submission to the Committee against Torture, 12 June 2024, available here

[34] Information provided by a stakeholder, March 2024.

[35] PMM, Faaliyet Raporu 2024; PMM Stratejik Plan 2024-2028.

[36] Information provided by multiple stakeholders, March 2025.

[37] Information provided by multiple stakeholders, March 2025.

[38] Information provided by a stakeholder, March 2024.

[39] Information provided by a stakeholder, March 2025.

[40] İçişleri Bakanımız Sayın Ali Yerlikaya İl Göç İdaresi Müdürleri Değerlendirme Toplantısında Konuştu, 16.01.2024, available here.

[41] Information by multiple stakeholders, April and May 2025.