What happens if I am arrested abroad on a provisional arrest warrant before any formal extradition request is submitted?

Provisional arrest is a holding measure allowing states to detain you while the requesting country prepares formal extradition documents. Under most treaties, the requesting state has 40 to 60 days to submit the full extradition request; failure to meet this deadline typically results in mandatory release. During this window, you remain in custody or under restrictive bail conditions. Early legal intervention is critical to challenge the legality of detention, contest identity issues, and begin preparing substantive defences before the formal extradition hearing is scheduled.