Kazakh woman spends two days in Turkish “tourist jail” over passport rule

Tengrinews.kz – A Kazakh woman spent nearly two days in a deportation facility at Antalya Airport after making a common mistake: her passport was valid for less than 180 days, violating Turkey’s entry rules.

The traveler from Astana was stopped upon arrival and informed she would be deported. Her husband, Beibit, said that she had only 58 days left on her passport, short of the six-month minimum required.

“All her arguments were ignored — the return ticket, hotel booking, and even recent trips to Korea and Japan with the same passport,” he said.

According to him, airline staff in Kazakhstan checked her documents and issued a boarding pass without any issues, which made the situation more confusing.

Beibit contacted Kazakhstan’s embassies in Ankara and Antalya but was told they could only confirm her return flight.

Tourism experts stress this is not an isolated case. Many countries require passports to remain valid for at least three to six months beyond the planned return date. Some also demand two to four blank pages for visas and stamps, and airlines can deny boarding if requirements are not met.