A New Zealand woman identified as an international terrorist and her two children are expected to be deported from Turkey, after being caught trying to leave Syria.

The Republic of Turkey's Ministry of National Defence says the 26-year-old woman is an Islamic State terrorist.

"Three New Zealand nationals trying to enter our country illegally from Syria were caught by our border guards in Hatay's Reyhanli district," a ministry statement said.

"The captured terrorist was handed over to the Reyhanlı Public Prosecution Office."

Local police confirmed the woman was the mother of the two children found with her at the Turkey-Syrian border.

Police told Newstalk ZB they had been in contact with the NZ Embassy in Ankara.

They say the woman is likely to face deportation to New Zealand.

New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it is "aware of the situation".

Overseas media reports say the woman was wanted by Interpol with what is dubbed a blue notice.

A blue notice is an international alert, circulated by Interpol, to locate, identify or obtain information on a person of interest in a criminal investigation.

It differs from a red notice, to seek the location or arrest of a person wanted by a judicial jurisdiction or an international tribunal with a view to his or her extradition.