UN refugee registration halted in Türkiye

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will complete the registration process in Turkey on September 10, 2018.

The Turkish General Directorate of Migration (DGMM), as a national institution and with the Law on International Protection of Foreigners, will be responsible for registering and examining international protection cases. During the formation of this process, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has supported the Turkish General Directorate of Migration, which includes the registration of international protection applicants and their referral process. This means that UNHCR will stop registering foreign nationals who wish to apply for international protection in Turkey on 10 September 2018.

According to the Law on Foreigners and International Protection, foreign nationals who wish to apply for international protection in Turkey must apply to the Directorates of Migration Management (PDMM) in the provinces and cities after entering the country. The Directorate General of Migration Management (PDMM) of Turkey will register and review the applications for international protection submitted by individuals.

UNHCR will continue its support activities, including providing counselling services to refugees and asylum seekers in Turkey. If you are in need of support services or need advice on the asylum process, your rights and obligations in Turkey, you can contact UNHCR and its implementing partners. UNHCR will be in contact with applicants and, upon their consent, will have access to the information provided by them.

In this context:

1) Applicants for international human rights protection who have previously been registered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and referred to the satellite city:

• As stated in the referral letter issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, you must contact the Turkish General Directorate of Migration (DGMM) to apply for international protection.

• UNHCR and its partners will continue their support activities, including providing counselling services to asylum seekers and refugees in Turkey. If you are in need of support services or need advice on the asylum process, your rights and obligations in Turkey, you can turn to UNHCR and its implementing partners.

• UNHCR will be in contact with applicants and, after obtaining their consent, will have access to the information provided by them.

2) Applicants who have recently arrived in Turkey and have not yet registered with the Turkish Migration Directorate (PDMM):

• Please go to the immigration office and register as soon as you arrive in Türkiye.

• To register with the Migration Office and benefit from international protection from the Turkish Migration Office (PDMM), it is not necessary to have a letter of introduction from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Ankara. Simply go to the nearest PDMM office to register.

• After completing all the registration procedures at the Turkish Immigration Directorate (PDMM), your residence in Turkey will be considered legal and you will be issued an identity card with a foreign national identification number, which will enable you to enjoy the rights and services established under Turkish law.

• You can submit your application for international protection to the relevant authorities in any of the 81 provinces of Turkey. However, it is worth noting that permanent residence is not allowed in some cities of Turkey. If you submit your application in one of the non-permitted provinces, your file will be referred to one of the provinces where long-term residence is possible. The permitted provinces are shown in green on the map below.

• All support offices of the Turkish Migration Directorate (PDMM) are responsible for supporting needs and possible harms. Therefore, if you have special needs, please inform the interviewer at the Migration Directorate (PDMM). During the evaluations that the department makes of your case, your application will be prioritized according to your needs.

• UNHCR and its implementing partners in Turkey will continue to provide support services, including counselling, to applicants for international protection or refugees as before. If you are in need of support services or need counselling, you can contact UNHCR and its implementing agencies.

• UNHCR will be in contact with applicants and, after obtaining their consent, will have access to the information provided by them.

Source: ManiMedia