This ethnographic research examines Syrian civil society formations, focusing specifically on Syrian non-governmental civil society organizations (NGOs) in Istanbul. The primary objective is to explore the relationship between Syrian refugee NGOs and the Turkish state, emphasizing Syrians' learning process of civil society in Turkey and their experiences in the field. It seeks to understand how these NGOs adapted and evolved in response to the civil society environment in Turkey through engaging in participant observation and semi-structured interviews. The research also analyzes the basic dynamics and strategies of interaction between Syrian NGOs and state mechanisms. It aims to uncover how these NGOs navigate their relationships with the Turkish state and the implications this has on their operations and objectives. Furthermore, the research highlights the fundamental challenges faced by Syrian NGOs in Turkey and the role of Syrian immigrant NGOs in providing services and fostering a sense of belonging and solidarity among Syrian refugees. Adopting Foucault’s concept of “field of visibility”, it seeks to depart from conventional views that perceive these NGOs solely as charity organizations or integration facilitators. Instead, the research argues an alternative perspective that emphasizes Syrian NGO members' political subjectivities and multifaceted relationships with the Turkish state. Besides this, the research sheds more light on how Syrian refugees adopt legal and political strategies to find a place in Turkish civil society. In summary, this research argues that Syrian NGOs in Turkey are in the process of learning the concept of civil society within the Turkish context after escaping from the war-torn authoritarian state. It also delineates the experiences of these NGOs in civil society, enabling refugees to establish their own political participation and strategies for engaging with state power in Turkey. These Syrian NGOs play a significant role in creating a sense of permanence for refugees who experience political, economic, and legal liminalities in Turkey. The research contributes to the existing literature by emphasizing the political subjectivities of Syrian refugees within the civil society sphere of Turkey. This research provides an alternative perspective highlighting Syrian NGO members' political capacity and multifaceted relationships with the Turkish state, underscoring their potential to resistance. It might also contribute to wider literature by unleashing a discussion about the existent condition of civil society in Turkey regarding Syrian NGOs strategies of resisting the liminality in Turkey.