Month: April 2022

In addition to the information on UNHCR’s Help website, you can contact UNHCR Türkiye through our Counselling Line at 444 48 68 for more information on asylum procedures and/or to seek support for any medical or specific needs that require immediate support. Information and counselling are not yet available in Ukrainian, but English, Russian and Turkish are available. The Counselling Line runs Monday to Thursday from 09:00 until 17:00 and Friday from 09:00 until 16:00. You may also reach UNHCR via e-mail at [email protected].

You may also contact the Counselling Line (YIMER) of the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM) at 157, which runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week and does offer counselling in seven languages including Russian.

Asylum and International Protection in Türkiye

The State of Türkiye is the principal provider of protection in Türkiye . The Presidency of Migration Management (PMM) is the national institution responsible for procedures pertaining to foreigners present in Türkiye . The national legal framework covers foreigners who reside in Türkiye with a residence permit and those seeking asylum in Türkiye .

As a Ukrainian national or a national of a different country with refugee or permanent residence status in Ukraine, if you plan to seek asylum in Türkiye or plan to apply for a residence permit, you should approach the nearest Provincial Directorate for Migration Management in person for registration as soon as possible following your arrival in Türkiye . Registration is an important first step for foreigners in Türkiye as it forms the legal basis for your stay in Türkiye and allows you access to public services and assistance. During the registration with the Migration Management, please indicate if you or your family members have any urgent medical or specific needs.

Detailed information on the asylum procedures in Türkiye is available in Russian .

Staying safe while seeking asylum

There are many that will want to help you, but not everyone is who they say they are. There are persons who want to take advantage of your situation. For example, they may promise you accommodation, transport, or free food, and use this to pressure you into sexual acts, work, or services you do not agree with. Or they may want to harm you or take your belongings.

There are steps you can take to stay safe:

• Be alert and follow your own intuition about people you don’t know.
• Always hold onto your documents and do not hand over your documents to third persons. Take copies of them on your phone and send them to someone you trust.
• Do not hand over your communication devices (phones, laptops, etc.) to individuals offering support
• Be wary of people promising to help you get registered, relocated, or resettled to another country in exchange for money or any other favors.
• Do not follow persons who want to remove you from your family or others with whom you are traveling
• Use organized transportation by known providers, to the extent possible
• All UNHCR services are free of charge. Do not trust anyone or any organization asking you to pay for the services of UNHCR or its partners. If money or any other form of favours, including of a sexual nature, is requested from you, you should report and/or the nearest police station immediately.
• Keep in touch with your family and other people you trust.
• Know your rights and where you can access help.
• Seek reliable information from trusted sources.

Resettlement to third countries

Resettlement is a solution that enables vulnerable refugees to move from their country of asylum to another country, where they will receive protection and assistance with prospects of long-term residence. UNHCR works with the Turkish Government and third countries to find durable solutions in the form of resettlement for the most vulnerable refugees who are facing protection risks in Türkiye . Based on Türkiye ’s national legislation, Ukrainians are not currently considered for resettlement, as it is a solution currently opened for refugees coming from non-European countries, including but not limited to Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan. If you are pursuing other pathways to depart Türkiye , you will need to follow-up directly with relevant Embassies.

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For persons inside of Ukraine, UNHCR advises you to:

• Stay informed and connected (via radio, TV, Internet) and follow official advice for your security. Listen to official messages from emergency services, local authorities, and follow the instructions, including regarding curfews.
• Keep a copy (even digital) of your documents in a safe place. The replacement of lost documents will be easier if people can present a copy to the SMS later.
• For advice on how to provide emotional support to children during these difficult times, see pages such as this

UNHCR is doing its outmost to ensure that its services and assistance are continued and strengthened. For more information, please see our HELP page in Ukraine: https://help.unhcr.org/ukraine/

Please note that UNHCR is not involved in exit procedures or evacuations of any person from Ukraine.

 For Ukrainians traveling to or present in other countries, please see the below for more information about asylum procedures and where to go for help:

• In the Czech Republic: Please see the UNHCR HELP page: https://help.unhcr.org/czech/ and the government webpage page : https://www.mvcr.cz/clanek/informace-pro-obcany-ukrajiny.aspx (hotline number +420 974 801 802).
• In Hungary: Please see the UNHCR HELP page for Hungary: https://help.unhcr.org/hungary/ and the page of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee: https://helsinki.hu/Ukraine_Guide_2022_02_25_EN.pdf.
• In Moldova: You can contact UNHCR at: [email protected].
• In Poland: Please see the UNHCR HELP page for Poland: https://help.unhcr.org/poland/ and the Polish government website for Ukrainians (scroll down for additional languages and note their hotline at: +48477217575).
• In Romania: Please see the UNHCR HELP page for Romania: https://help.unhcr.org/romania/ and the website of our partner, the National Council for Refugees: https://www.cnrr.ro/index.php/ro/
• In Slovakia: Please see the UNHCR HELP page for Slovakia here: https://help.unhcr.org/slovakia/
• In all other countries: Please see the UNHCR HELP page https://help.unhcr.org/ and select the relevant country.

Address checks were initiated in December 2021 by the Turkish law enforcement to verify the addresses of Syrians nationals under temporary protection and other nationalities registered as international protection applicants.

Those who could not have been identified at their addresses have received SMS calling them to PDMMs for updating their address on the system. If you have received the SMS but could not have approached PDMMs by now, your ID may have been inactivated.

You can check the status of your ID through the official website

• If you have never registered your address with the authorities or if you are not living in the address you declared, you can book an appointment for address registry through the following link: https://randevu.goc.gov.tr/. Please select address registry (adres tescil) in this case.

Q: I received an SMS that my ID was inactivated due to the problems related to my address. What can I do now?

A: If you have received such an SMS, you are required to book an appointment to register your address with PDMM in your province through the following link: https://randevu.goc.gov.tr/. Please select address registry (adres tescil) in this case.

Q: What documents I need to take with me to PDMM for address registry?

A: You will be required to present your lease agreement, or a utility bill issued on your name. Notarized versions of these documents are not required. However, if the documents are assessed not to be authentic, PDMM may ask additional documents to verify that you are living in this address.

If you are sharing your address with another person/family who is already registered in the address you are currently residing, PDMM will ask for a letter of consent in which the current habitant confirms his/her agreement that you can live in the mentioned address.

Q: The address I am currently residing is seen as still occupied by another person that I do not know/ have no contact of. What should I do now?

A: In this case, it is necessary to first approach the Provincial Directorate of Population and Civil Registry (Nufus) to vacate the address. Please make sure that you present your lease agreement, or a utility bill issued on your name. Notarized versions of these documents are not required. However, Provincial Directorates of Population and Civil Registry (Nufus) may ask additional documents to verify that you are living in this address if they deem necessary.

After your process is completed at the Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs, you must approach PDMM for your address to be registered in the PDMM’s system. Depending on the workload at PDMM in your city, your processing can be completed on the same day. In cases where the same day processing is not possible on the same day, you will be informed by the PDMM officials.

Q: I approached PDMM to register my address but the address I am currently living could not be found in the system. What should I do now?

A: In this case, it is necessary to approach the minucipality to register your address). Once the municipality registers your address in the system, you will need to approach to PDMM to register your address in PDMM’s system (so-called GocNet). In this case, you do not need to approach Provincial Directorate of Population and Civil Registry (Nufus). Depending on the workload at PDMM in your city, your processing can be completed on the same day. In cases where the same day processing is not possible on the same day, you will be informed by the PDMM officials.

Q: I tried to book an appointment on the link but the appointment I received is weeks away. What shall I do in this situation?

A: The waiting period may be long due to high demand. PDMMs are trying to reduce waiting period and your appointment date may be moved to an earlier time. In this case, you may receive an SMS with a new date of appointment. Please be present at the PDMM with the documents required on this date.

This being said, if you or one of your family members have any vulnerabilities, please approach the PDMM in your province and explain your situation to them. They will then advise you accordingly. Bring with you any supporting documents that will help your case such as medical reports from the Turkish doctor/hospital or a disability card.

Q: I tried to book an appointment on the link but I’m still waiting for system to assign an appointment date. What shall I do in this situation?

A: The waiting period may be long due to high demand. PDMMs are trying to reduce waiting period and you will be assigned with an appointment date as soon as possible.

This being said, if you or one of your family members have any vulnerabilities, please approach the PDMM in your province and explain your situation to them. They will then advise you accordingly. Bring with you any supporting documents that will help your case such as medical reports from the Turkish doctor/hospital or a disability card from the Syrian authorities.

Q: I am under medical treatment and inactivation of my ID caused interruptions in the treatment. What can I do?

A: Please inform your situation to the PDMM officials along with the substantiating documents indicating your circumstances. PDMM officials may arrange an earlier appointment for your situation following an assessment.

Q: I obtained an appointment, but for some reason I could not show up at the date of the appointment? What shall I do in this situation?

A: In this case, you should book another appointment as soon as possible from https://randevu.goc.gov.tr/. Please be present at the PDMM with the documents required on your new appointment date.

Q: I am living in a district/ neighborhood which is recently closed for registration. Will I be able to register or update my address in my current residence?

A: If you have been living a closed district/ neighborhood prior to its closure (February 2022), you will be able to register your address in the same district/ neighborhood. In this case, you will be required to present your lease agreement, or a utility bill issued on your name prior to February 2022.

Q: I started to live in a closed district/ neighborhood after February 2022. Will I be able to register or update my address?

A: In this case, you will be required to move to another district or neighborhood which is open to registration. If you would like to change your city of residence, please inform PMM officials to advise you regarding the city transfer process. Please do not change your city without obtaining a travel permit from PDMM.

Q: I live in a city other than my city of registration and I received an SMS stating that my ID was inactivated because I could not have been identified at the address I declared. In this case, do I have to return to my city of registration for the address registry process?

A: In this case, please apply to PDMM in your city with your lease agreement, or a utility bill issued on your name. If you or one of your family members have any vulnerabilities forcing you to stay in the city you are currently residing, please explain your situation to PDMM officials at your city of residence. They will then advise you accordingly. Bring with you any supporting documents that will help your case such as medical reports from the Turkish doctor/hospital or a disability card from the Syrian authorities. PDMM officials will assess your situation and inform you accordingly.

If PDMM officials decide that you need to return to your city of registration, they will issue you a travel permit and refer you to your city of registration.

Q: I had updated my address upon the receipt of SMS, but my ID is still deactivated. What shall I do in this situation?

A: Please inform your situation to the PDMM officials along with your lease agreement, or a utility bill issued on your name. PDMM officials may re-activate your status immediately.

1. What happens if I don’t register my address?

A: Registering your address is a responsibility that you need to fulfill in order for you and your family to continue to have access to services and assistance extended by Turkish state. If you do not register your address, your temporary protection status will be inactivated and this will put you in an irregular status and bar your access to rights, services and the available assistance.

1. I received an SMS indicating that have not been identified at the address I declared, but I am a non-Syrian. Do I also need to update my address?

A: Yes. Registering your address is a responsibility that you need to fulfill in order for you and your family to continue to have access to services and assistance extended by Turkish State. If you do not register your address, your international protection status may be inactivated and this will put you in an irregular status and bar your access to rights, services and the available assistance. Therefore, please comply with the timeline mentioned in the SMS and update your address with PDMM as soon as possible.

Q: I registered my address, how can I check if my ID is reactivated?

You can check the status of your ID through the official website

Please do not forget that you can follow-up on the PMM or PDMM website in your city of registration to be informed of the developments.

PMM website: https://www.goc.gov.tr/

PDMM websites: https://www.goc.gov.tr/il-mudurlukleri