Invalid Marriages

 REASONS FOR THE INVALIDITY OF MARRIAGE, NON-EXISTENCE, AND ABSOLUTE NULLITY 

A marriage contract, from the moment it is established between the parties, creates very strong legal, financial, and social consequences. However, the establishment of a marriage does not mean that it will remain legally valid for life. If the legislator determines that a marriage has serious deficiencies that impair social order, moral structure, or the free will of the parties, a special regime of invalidity has been foreseen for the dissolution of that marriage.

Articles 145 to 160 of the Turkish Civil Code, which regulate "Vulnerable Marriages," possess a unique character within family law, distinct from the logic of general contract law. While in contract law a void contract is considered never to have come into existence, in family law a void (invalid) marriage continues to produce all the consequences of a valid marriage until it is annulled by a court.

1.1. The Distinction Between "Nullity" and "Annullity" in Marriage

When determining the legal outcome of a flawed marriage, it is first necessary to clarify whether the transaction is void or null and void. This distinction fundamentally alters the procedure for filing a lawsuit and the rights of the parties.

A. Absence (Lack of Constituent Elements)

For a marriage to be legally valid, it must possess minimum "constituent elements." In Turkish law, the constituent elements of marriage are: the parties being of different genders (male and female) and the declaration of their intention to marry before an official marriage registrar .

• A marriage between two people of the same sex, or a union based solely on religious/customary law without a formal marriage officer, is considered null and void.
• In cases of nullity, since there is no legally binding marriage bond to be annulled, there is no need to obtain an annulment order from the court; anyone can invoke this nullity at any time.

B. Invalidity

The constituent elements are present; that is, a woman and a man have been married in front of a public official. However, the mandatory legal rules regarding the essence of marriage, the legal capacity of the parties, or their will have been violated. Here, the marriage has legally come into being, but it is defective. This defect manifests as either absolute nullity or relative nullity

1.2. Grounds for Absolute Nullity (Turkish Civil Code, Article 145)

According to Article 145 of the Turkish Civil Code, the most severe forms of disability, which directly affect public order and public health and cannot be corrected retroactively, of Absolute Nullity in a limited (numbered) manner. Marriage is absolutely void if any of the following four situations exist:

Grounds for Absolute Nullity (Turkish Civil Code, Article 145):

 ├── 1. One of the spouses is already married at the time of the marriage (Existing Marriage)

 ├── 2. One of the spouses being permanently incapacitated at the time of marriage due to a lasting reason

 3. One of the spouses having a mental illness severe enough to prevent marriage

 └── 4. The existence of a degree of kinship between spouses that legally prohibits marriage

1. Existing Marriage (Turkish Civil Code Article 145/1)

If, at the time of the marriage, one of the spouses is already in another marriage that has not been officially dissolved (either through divorce or death), the second marriage is absolutely void. Turkish law strictly prohibits two marriages (bigamy/polygamy).

2. Permanent Lack of Capacity to Discern (Turkish Civil Code, Article 145/2)

Marriage is considered nullity if one of the spouses, at the time of the marriage, continuously lacks the mental or physiological capacity to understand the consequences of their decisions. (Temporary deficiencies are grounds for relative nullity).

3. Mental Illness as an Impediment to Marriage (Turkish Civil Code Article 145/3)

If one of the spouses has a severe mental illness, as documented by an official medical board report, that prevents them from marrying, the marriage is invalidated.

4. Prohibited Degree of Kinship (Turkish Civil Code Article 145/4)

This refers to the situation where, after the marriage ceremony, it is discovered that the couple are actually related by blood through ancestry such as ascendants, descendants, siblings, uncles, aunts, nephews, or in-laws, which constitutes a strict prohibition against marriage (Turkish Civil Code Article 129).

1.3. Characteristics and Limitations of Absolute Nullity Actions

Since grounds for absolute nullity relate to public order, the initiation and conduct of the proceedings are subject to specific and strict rules:

• Authority to File a Lawsuit: A lawsuit for absolute nullity the Public Prosecutor . Additionally, any interested party (e.g., first spouse, heirs, parents) can request the filing of this lawsuit.
• No Statute of Limitations: There is no time limit for filing a lawsuit for absolute nullity. It can be filed at any time as long as the marriage continues, even if the marriage has ended due to death.
• Exceptional Circumstances (Protection of Good Faith – Turkish Civil Code Article 147): If the capacity to discern is subsequently restored, or if the mentally ill person recovers, the right to file a lawsuit passes solely to that spouse; the prosecutor cannot file a lawsuit. Furthermore, if the second spouse who marries a married person is acting entirely in good faith (unaware that the other party is married) and the first marriage ends in divorce/death while the annulment lawsuit for the second marriage is ongoing, the second marriage cannot be annulled.

 

We only had an Islamic marriage ceremony, not a civil marriage; is this marriage invalid?

No, it's not invalid, it's null and void. For a marriage to be considered invalid, there must first be a civil marriage ceremony performed before an official. Religious ceremonies performed without a civil marriage are considered null and void in the legal world and do not grant the parties the status of spouse.

I found out my spouse had schizophrenia before we got married; does this automatically invalidate our marriage?

No, no marriage is automatically annulled, even if it is deemed absolutely void. For a marriage to be declared invalid, a lawsuit for "Annulment of Marriage Due to Absolute Nullity" must be filed in the Family Court, and the court must issue an annulment decision. Until the court decision, your marriage remains legally valid.

Which court has jurisdiction and competence in absolute nullity cases?

In cases of annulment of marriage, the competent court is the Family Court (or the Civil Court of First Instance acting as the Family Court in locations where there is no Family Court); the authorized court is the court of the place of residence of one of the spouses or the court of the place where they last resided together for 6 months prior to the lawsuit.

 REASONS FOR RELATIVE NULLITY AND STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS 

While grounds for absolute nullity concern public order and grant the right to sue a wide range of parties, including the public prosecutor's office; for relative nullity aim entirely to protect the personal freedom of will and interests of the spouses. In these cases, the constituent elements and legal capacity were present when the marriage contract was concluded, but the will of one of the spouses to marry was impaired.

in Articles 148 to 153 of the Turkish Civil Code, are grouped under four main headings: temporary loss of capacity to discern, error, deception, and intimidation (threat). A marriage impaired by these grounds does not automatically become invalid; unless the spouse whose will was impaired files a lawsuit within the prescribed time to have the marriage annulled, the marriage continues in a fully valid manner.

2.1. Grounds for Relative Nullity

1. Temporary Impairment of Capacity to Discern (Turkish Civil Code, Article 148)

It is when one of the spouses temporarily lacks the capacity to understand and make reasoned judgments at the time of the marriage contract (at the wedding ceremony).

• Examples: Getting married while under the influence of excessive alcohol or drugs, during an accident or shock, or making a declaration of intent while under the influence of a strong medical condition.
• The spouse can request the annulment of the marriage once they regain consciousness.

2. Error (Mistake – Turkish Civil Code Article 149)

The law does not consider every mistake in a marriage as grounds for annulment, but limits it to two qualified circumstances:

• Error in Contract (Turkish Civil Code Article 149/1): Saying "yes" by mistake when one does not want to marry or absolutely does not want to marry the person they are marrying (Error in nature and person).
• Error Regarding Qualification (Turkish Civil Code Article 149/2): Being mistaken about a quality (qualification) in one's spouse that would make marriage unbearable for oneself. For example, believing one's spouse to be infertile and to have a clean record, only to learn the opposite. However, this misconception must severely impact the marital union to the point where cohabitation is impossible.

3. Deception (Fraud – Turkish Civil Code Article 150)

It is the act of being tricked into marriage through lies, forged documents, or deliberate silence by one's spouse or a third party.

Cancellation Conditions Due to Deception (Fraud):

  ├── Being directly deceived about one's spouse's honor and reputation (e.g., concealing a history of serious and shameful crimes)

  — Concealing a disease that poses a health risk to oneself or one's children

      (For example: Concealing infectious/fatal sexually transmitted diseases, serious genetic disorders)

4. Intimidation (Threat/Coercion – Turkish Civil Code Article 151)

It is being forced into marriage by posing an imminent and serious threat to one's own life, health, honor, or reputation, or that of a close relative (through force of arms, blackmail, family pressure, or death threats).

2.2. Right to Sue and Statute of Limitations (Turkish Civil Code, Article 152)

A relative nullity lawsuit, unlike an absolute nullity lawsuit, is not open-ended and can be filed by anyone. The legislator, in order to protect stability in marriage, has tied this right to very strict time limits.

• Only Spouses Can File a Lawsuit: The Public Prosecutor or heirs cannot file a lawsuit for relative nullity while the spouses are alive. The right to sue belongs only to the spouse whose will has been impaired.
• Statute of Limitations: The right to file an annulment lawsuit expires 6 months from the date the error or deception was discovered , or from the date the coercion (threat) ceased, and in any case, 5 years after the marriage

Critical Time Limit: A spouse who learns of infidelity in the sixth year of marriage can no longer file for relative nullity, even within the six-month period, because the five-year statute of limitations has expired; however, they can file for a general divorce.

2.3. Legal Representative's Right to Sue (Turkish Civil Code, Article 153)

Minors or those under guardianship who have reached the age of 17 can only marry with the permission of their legal representatives (parents/custodians). If a marriage has been secretly performed without this permission:

• A legal representative (mother, father, or guardian) can file a lawsuit for relative nullity to annul the marriage.
• Expiration of the Period: If the minor reaches the age of 18 during this period, if the person's legal guardianship ends, or if the woman becomes pregnant, the legal representative's right to file a lawsuit to annul the marriage is forfeited.

I found out my spouse had gambling debts before marriage and hid them from me. Can I have the marriage annulled?

Concealing financial status, debts, or salary is not considered a "fraud" (relative nullity) that directly and fundamentally undermines the marriage in the practice of the Supreme Court. While this situation may make cohabitation unbearable, it should be the subject of a general divorce case based on the grounds of "fundamental breakdown of the marital union," not a relative nullity case.

I was married at gunpoint. How long do I have to file a lawsuit to have this marriage annulled?

In marriages contracted under duress (threats), the 6-month period for filing a lawsuit from the date the fear and threat completely cease . The 6-month period does not run as long as the threat continues. However, if 5 years have passed since the date of the marriage in any case, your right to file for annulment expires.

If one of the spouses dies while a relative nullity case is ongoing, does the case become dismissed?

No, the lawsuit is not dismissed entirely. According to Article 159 of the Turkish Civil Code, the right to sue does not pass to the heirs, but the heirs can continue a lawsuit that has already been filed. If the plaintiff spouse's heirs continue the lawsuit and win, the surviving defendant spouse cannot become a legal heir of the deceased and loses any property bequests made before the marriage.

 LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE NULL AND VOID DECREE, PROPERTY REGIME, AND THE STATUS OF THE CHILDREN 

In general contract law, when a contract is deemed void, it is considered as if it never came into existence (ex tunc) from the moment it was made, and the parties return what they received according to the principles of unjust enrichment. However, this is not the case in family law. In order to protect the social structure, the good faith of the spouses in the process, and most importantly, the children, the legislator has established a very different regime of invalidity.

The consequences of annulment decisions, regulated in Articles 156 to 160 of the Turkish Civil Code , are based on the principle that "a marriage has all the consequences of a valid marriage until a court decision ." In other words, a legal marriage exists until the court issues an annulment decision, and the annulment decision has prospective (ex nunc) effect.

3.1. Consequences of Annulment of Marriage for the Spouses (Turkish Civil Code Articles 156-158)

When a court rules that a marriage is null and void due to absolute or relative invalidity, the spouses remain legally married until the decision becomes final. The marriage terminates prospectively upon the finalization of the decision.

• Preservation of Acquired Personal Status: Personal statuses acquired through marriage, such as citizenship, legal age (maturity), or surname, are preserved even if the marriage is annulled. However, the provisions regarding the status of a divorced woman also apply here; the woman regains her maiden surname.
• Inheritance Rights: As soon as the annulment decision becomes final, the spouses' right to inherit from each other ceases. Spouses cannot be legal heirs to each other.

The Effect of Spouses' Good Faith on Marital Property Regime and Alimony (Turkish Civil Code Article 157)

When deciding on the annulment of a marriage, whether the spouses were aware of the reason for the invalidity at the time of the marriage (whether they acted in good faith) is a decisive factor in the division of material rights

Distribution of Spouses' Rights After Annulment Decision:

 ├── [Good Faith Spouse]   ───> Participates in the liquidation of the property regime, as in a divorce, 

 │                           They can request financial/moral compensation and alimony.

 └── [Malicious Spouse]  ───> Cannot benefit from the annulment of the marriage, arising from the property regime.

                             They may lose their rights to participate in the value of the assets and may not claim compensation.

3.2. Legal Status and Paternity of Children (Turkish Civil Code Article 157/1)

Regardless of how void the marriage between spouses may be, whether absolute or relative, this void cannot in any way affect the children. The legislator has established a firm rule to protect the rights of children:

"Even if a court rules that the marriage is null and void, children born from that marriage are considered to have been born within the marriage, even if the parents were not acting in good faith." (Turkish Civil Code, Article 157/1)

• Preservation of Paternity: Children born within marriage do not lose their status. They remain registered in the father's population registry and are his legal heirs. Paternity remains valid unless a lawsuit is filed to deny it.
• Custody, Alimony, and Personal Relationships: In annulment proceedings, the children's situation is handled just like in a divorce case. The judge, considering the best interests of the child, grants custody to one parent. The days for the parent who does not receive custody to have personal contact with the child are determined, and child support payments are ordered in favor of the child.

3.3. Transfer of the Right to Sue to Heirs (Turkish Civil Code, Article 159)

The right to file a lawsuit for annulment of marriage is, as a rule, a right strictly personal to the individual. However, if the parties die after the lawsuit is filed, the rights of the heirs are protected by law

• Death During the Case: If a case of absolute or relative nullity has been filed and the plaintiff spouse dies while the proceedings are ongoing, the heirs of the deceased spouse can take over and continue the case from where it left off.
• Consequences of the Heirs Winning the Case: If the heirs continue the lawsuit and the court rules for the annulment of the marriage, and if it is proven that the surviving (defendant) spouse acted in bad faith, that spouse cannot inherit from the deceased spouse and loses their rights arising from testamentary dispositions (wills) made before the marriage.

If our marriage is annulled due to absolute nullity, how will the assets acquired during the marriage be divided?

If you married in good faith (for example, unaware that your spouse was already married or related to you), the marriage will be dissolved like a legal divorce, and the provisions of the community property regime will apply. However, if you married knowingly and in bad faith, you may lose your rights under the property regime.

Can I receive temporary alimony from my spouse while my marriage annulment case is ongoing?

Yes, you can. According to Article 160 of the Turkish Civil Code, provisional measures applied in divorce cases also apply in annulment cases. From the moment the lawsuit is filed, the judge is obligated to take provisional measures (interim alimony, housing allocation, etc.) regarding the spouses' housing, livelihood, management of assets, and childcare ex officio.

I was married off against my will by my father, and I filed a lawsuit for relative nullity. My husband passed away before the case was concluded. What will happen to my rights?

If your spouse passed away after you filed the lawsuit, you or your heirs may continue the case. If the court determines that you were in the right (that you were married under duress), the marriage will be annulled, and the legal claims of the party acting in bad faith (or their heirs) over you will be forfeited.

 PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW (PILA) AND THE FOREIGN ELEMENT DIMENSION

Cases of invalidation and annulment of marriage become a multifaceted international legal problem when one of the parties is a foreign national or the marriage took place abroad. At this stage, the questions of which country's courts have jurisdiction and which country's substantive law will be applied in resolving the dispute Law No. 5718 on Private International Law and Procedural Law (MÖHUK) .

The Turkish Code of Private International Law has both protected the national laws of the spouses in proceedings of annulment of marriage and has foreseen absolute barriers that protect Turkish public order.

4.1. Applicable Law to Annulment of Marriage (Turkish Private International Law Act, Article 13)

According to Article 13/1 of the Turkish Code of Private International Law, the capacity and conditions for marriage are subject to the national law of each party at the time of marriage. As a natural consequence of this rule, whether the marriage is void, whether absolute or relative, is also determined according to the national laws of the spouses at the time of marriage.

• Two-Way License Check: In Turkey, when an annulment of marriage between a Turkish citizen and a foreigner is requested, the court, while examining the grounds for annulment, bases its decision on the civil code of the foreign spouse's country and the Turkish Civil Code for the Turkish spouse.
• Annulments Arising from Formal Defects (Turkish Code of Private International Law, Article 13/2): The law of the country where the marriage took place applies to the formal requirements (procedure for performing the marriage ceremony). If the marriage was performed abroad and the official formal requirements of that country were not met, this situation can be the subject of a "validity arising from formal deficiency" lawsuit in Turkey.

4.2. The Barrier of Turkish Public Order in Marriages of Foreigners (Article 5 of the Turkish Private International Law Act)

One of the most dynamic mechanisms of international family law "Public Order" (Ordre Public) . According to Article 5 of the Turkish Code of Private International Law, if a provision of foreign law should apply but is clearly contrary to Turkish public order, it cannot be applied, and Turkish law shall apply directly in its place.

Public Order Filter in Foreign Elements:

[National Law of Foreign Spouses] ───> [Permits Polygamy / Child Marriage]

                                                    │

                                                    ▼

[Article 5 of the Turkish Code of Private International Law - Public Order Obstacle] ───> [Foreign Law is Disregarded]

                                                    │

                                                    ▼

[Turkish Civil Code Applies]  ───> [A Lawsuit for Annulment of Marriage by Absolute Nullity is Filed]

• Example of Polygamy: The national law of a foreign spouse (for example, the laws of some Middle Eastern countries) may permit the man to marry more than one woman. However, if this foreign individual enters into a second official marriage in Turkey (or attempts to transfer their multiple marriages from abroad to Turkey), Turkish courts will completely reject the foreign law. According to Article 145/1 of the Turkish Civil Code, the courts will rule that the second marriage is absolutely null and void.

4.3. International Jurisdiction, Duties, and Recognition-Enforcement Problems

In annulment cases involving foreign elements, where the case is filed and the fate of annulment decisions obtained abroad are of great importance in Türkiye.

A. International Jurisdiction of Turkish Courts (Article 41 of the Turkish Private International Law Act)

Article 41 of the Private International Law Act introduces a special jurisdiction rule for annulment of marriage cases involving Turkish citizens who do not reside in Türkiye or foreigners with ties to Türkiye:

Lawsuits for annulment of marriage filed by or against Turkish citizens who do not reside in Türkiye shall be heard in the court of the place where the person resides in Türkiye, or if that is not possible, in the court of their last place of residence in Türkiye; and if neither is possible, in the courts of Istanbul, Ankara, or Izmir.

B. Recognition of Foreign Court Judgments (Turkish Private International Law Act, Article 58)

If spouses have terminated their marriage with a "nullification/annulment" decision in a foreign court (for example, a German Family Court), this decision is not directly valid in Türkiye.

• In order for a foreign court's annulment decision to be registered in Turkish population records, a "Recognition Lawsuit" must be filed in Turkey.
• The court recognizes the foreign judgment after examining whether it violates Turkish public order and whether the parties were given the right to defend themselves. The moment the judgment is recognized, the marriage is considered retroactively annulled in Türkiye as well.

I married my foreign spouse in their home country. It turns out they are still legally married there. Can I file a lawsuit to annul the marriage in Türkiye?

Yes, you can. Bigamy is absolutely contrary to Turkish public order (Article 5 of the Turkish Private International Law Act). The fact that your spouse is a foreigner does not change this. You can request the annulment of the marriage due to absolute nullity in the Turkish Family Court, based on Article 145/1 of the Turkish Civil Code.

Would a "marriage annulment" decision issued by a foreign court be automatically valid in Türkiye?

No, it won't be directly valid. For foreign court decisions to have legal effect in Türkiye, a "Recognition" lawsuit must be filed in the Turkish Family Court in accordance with the provisions of the Private International Law Act, and the court must approve the foreign decision. Otherwise, you will still be considered married in Türkiye.

Which law applies in a case of annulment of marriage involving a foreigner with refugee status?

According to Article 4/c of ​​the Turkish Code of Private International Law, national law cannot be applied to legal proceedings involving stateless persons, refugees, and asylum seekers. Therefore, the law of their place of residence, or failing that, the law of the country where they actually reside, applies. Consequently, in a case concerning the annulment of a marriage of a refugee living in Türkiye, the provisions of the Turkish Civil Code apply directly.

 FOREIGNERS LAW, RESIDENCE PERMITS, DEPORTATION, AND CITIZENSHIP REVOCATIONS

Decisions regarding the annulment (nullification) of void marriages are not limited solely to family law and property division; when a foreign element is involved, the Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection (YUKK) and the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 come into play.

A foreign national's residence permit, visa status, deportation risks, and even acquired Turkish citizenship in Turkey are directly dependent on the nature (absolute or relative) of the annulment decision issued by the family court, and most importantly, whether the foreigner acted in "good faith .

5.1. The Effect of Annulment of Marriage on Family Residence Permit (Law on Foreigners and Citizens, Articles 34-36)

In Turkey, foreigners married to Turkish citizens are legally a "Family Residence Permit ." However, when this marriage is annulled (declared null and void) by a court decision, the foreigner's residence status becomes precarious.

1. Malicious (Coupled/Arranged) Marriages

If the reason for the annulment of the marriage, either absolutely or relatively, is due to false statements, forged documents, or a sham marriage entered into by the foreigner solely for the purpose of obtaining a residence permit or citizenship:

• The General Directorate of Migration Management immediately revokes.
• Residence permits previously granted to foreigners may be retroactively deemed invalid, and the foreigner may be subject to administrative fines for "visa/residence violation.".

2. Protection of Bona fide foreigners (Short-term residence permit)

According to Article 36 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection, foreigners married to Turkish citizens and residing in Türkiye with a family residence permit may switch to a "Short-Term Residence Permit" under certain conditions if their marriage is annulled

• 3-Year Requirement: If the marriage lasted at least 3 years before the annulment proceedings were initiated, and the foreigner was acting in good faith to the extent that they were unaware of the marriage's invalidity , they can apply for a short-term residence permit after their family residence permit is revoked.
• Exception for Victim of Violence: If the foreign spouse requests annulment of the marriage due to severe violence from the Turkish spouse (for example, a relative nullity lawsuit filed due to intimidation/threats), the requirement that the marriage must have lasted 3 years is waived. The foreigner can directly obtain a short-term residence permit.

5.2. Deportation Decisions and Entry Bans (Law on Foreigners and International Protection, Article 54)

The annulment of a marriage by a court ruling triggers the deportation process directly for a foreigner acting in bad faith. According to Article 54 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection, a deportation order is issued against a foreigner in the following cases:

• False Statements and Forged Documents (Law on Foreigners and International Protection, Article 54/1-h): Foreigners who have used forged documents in residence permit applications and whose marriage is confirmed as merely on paper (by agreement) by a family court decision will be deported.
• Loss of Legal Residence Rights: As soon as the annulment of the marriage becomes final, the family residence permit loses its validity, and the foreigner is usually given up to 10 days to leave the country. If the foreigner does not leave Turkey within this period or cannot obtain another legal residence permit (tourist, work, etc.), they will be apprehended by law enforcement, deported, and a ban on entering Turkey (restriction code) will be imposed.

5.3. Revocation of Acquired Turkish Citizenship (Law No. 5901, Articles 16 and 31)

According to Article 16 of the Turkish Citizenship Law, foreigners who have been married to a Turkish citizen for at least three years and whose marriage is still ongoing may apply for Turkish citizenship. However, if the marriage is subsequently declared null and void in a lawsuit, the fate of citizenship will be determined based on the foreigner's intentions .

The Effect of a Decision of Nullity on Citizenship (Article 16/2 of Law No. 5901):

 ├── [Foreigner Marrying in Good Faith]  ───> RETAINS Turkish citizenship.

 └── [Foreigner with Malicious Intent in Marriage] ───> Turkish citizenship will be REVOKED (Retroactive).

• Good Faith Preserves Foreign Citizenship: If a foreigner was unaware at the time of marriage that a situation warranting the annulment of the marriage (for example, if they were unaware that their spouse had a hidden mental illness or was already married), they will not lose the Turkish citizenship they legally acquired, even if the marriage is annulled .
• Revocation of Citizenship of a Foreigner Acting in Bad Faith (Article 31): If it is determined that the foreigner's marriage was solely for the purpose of obtaining citizenship, that they used forged identity/documents, or that they made false statements (committed fraud), the decision to grant citizenship will be revoked. The decision to revoke citizenship will have retroactive effect from the date of the decision, and the foreigner will be considered as never having been a Turkish citizen.

It was revealed that I married my Turkish spouse in an arranged marriage (for money), and the marriage was annulled. Will I be deported from Türkiye?

Yes. If it is established by a court decision that the marriage was entered into to deceive the official authorities (collusion), your family residence permit will be immediately revoked. In accordance with Article 54 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection, a deportation order will be issued against you, and you will be banned from entering Türkiye for a certain period.

I filed for annulment of my marriage, but my residence permit in Türkiye is about to expire. What should I do?

The filing of an annulment lawsuit does not automatically grant a foreigner legal right to reside in Türkiye. It is crucial to protect your legal rights to apply to the Directorate of Migration Management for a new type of residence permit, such as a "humanitarian residence permit" or "short-term residence permit," before your current residence permit expires, citing the ongoing lawsuit or, if you meet the requirements.

I became a Turkish citizen through marriage. My spouse filed a lawsuit citing absolute nullity, which they had concealed from me, and the marriage was annulled. Will my citizenship be revoked?

If you were unaware of this ground for absolute nullity at the time of your marriage and acted in good faith, the annulment of the marriage will not affect your citizenship under Article 16/2 of the Turkish Citizenship Law; you will remain a Turkish citizen. However, if it is proven that you were aware of this defect or acted fraudulently, your citizenship will be revoked.