In 2025, Turkish authorities detained 13,683 Uzbek citizens for illegal stay, placing Uzbekistan third in the ranking, behind only Afghanistan and Syria.

According to official statistics from Turkey's Directorate General of Migration Management, Uzbek citizens were the third-largest group of illegal migrants detained in Turkey in 2025. In 2024, the figure was 11,521, with Uzbekistan ranking fourth.

The increase has been ongoing since 2022: 4,817 Uzbeks were detained in 2021, rising to 7,553 in 2022. Since the start of 2026, 1,437 Uzbek citizens have been detained.

Afghan and Syrian nationals traditionally occupy the top two spots, but their numbers dropped significantly. In 2025, 44,157 Afghans and 22,515 Syrians were detained, compared to 65,815 and 50,641 respectively in 2024.

Raids targeting illegal migrants in Turkey intensified after the presidential elections in May 2023 and continue regularly. In major cities like Istanbul, daily checks result in the detention of dozens of foreigners, who are subsequently deported.

Source: ad.kun.uz