Civil matters

If you are divorced from your spouse, you can take your children with you only if you have documentation showing that you have sole legal custody of your children. In cases of shared custody, Parent will still need to obtain the other parent’s consent. Even if you have approached PDMM after the Court proceedings to make the necessary changes in your file or if the divorce decision is a recent one, please approach PDMM with all necessary document for counselling and guidance prior to moving to the border crossing for voluntary repatriation.

Yes, the voluntary repatriation and travel of your child is allowed only with your consent. If your wife is staying in Türkiye and you are returning to Syria with your children, a similar consent from your wife will also be required. Such consent may be provided in person at the PDMM in the presence of both parents or through a notarized consent document.

The child must be registered under the care of a relative or adult other than their family, and necessary documentation (e.g., a court decision on guardianship or trusteeship) certifying the child’s care by the adult is required. In addition, the trustee (kayyım) should be specifically authorized by the court to complete the voluntary repatriation procedures on behalf of the child. Where the accompanying adult is a guardian (vasi), authorization from the competent guardianship authority permitting the child’s departure from Türkiye should also be obtained.

A family can decide to return without their child/children. However, children cannot be abandoned in Türkiye without care arrangements and granting a court decision regarding custody arrangements. In this case, the child/children to be left in Türkiye shall either be taken under State protection, or the Court assigns a guardian for children to ensure their care and protection in the absence of parents. PDMM officials at the province and at border crossings will not allow departure of the remaining family members if children of family are left without care upon return of the rest of the family.

If your child is unregistered, you will not be allowed to return with your unregistered child. You should approach PDMM with the birth report from a hospital or with a birth notification form from Nufus to register your newborn child. Only after your child is registered and issued a registration document, you will be able to proceed to the border crossings for voluntary repatriation procedures.

Other important documents, such as vaccination records and education-related certificates (e.g., diplomas), can be obtained through the e-Devlet system prior to departure from Türkiye. It is also recommended to obtain a Formül A (International Birth Certificate) from the Civil Registry Office (Nüfus Müdürlüğü) before departure.

If you are officially divorced in Türkiye through a court decision, there must be a ruling on the custody of your children. If you have legal custody, you do not need your ex-husband’s consent to return to Syria with your children. Upon presenting the custody document or court ruling to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management (PDMM) or border authorities, no additional consent from your ex-husband will be required.

If your husband was registered in Türkiye under the same family file as you and your children, authorities will check the database for any available information about his whereabouts. If there is no evidence that your husband is outside Türkiye, you will not be permitted to leave with your children. You may seek legal assistance to apply to the court for a ‘declaration of absence’ regarding your husband. If granted, you may then proceed with your children’s return.

Voluntary repatriation shall be conducted on a voluntary basis. If you are being pressured to return, inform the authorities at the PDMM or border crossing during the repatriation process. You cannot be forced to leave. If you do not want your children to return either, do not sign a consent form, as your husband may use it to take the children with him.

You may apply to the court to become the child’s legal guardian. The court will assess your request and may appoint you as the guardian. If guardianship is granted, an additional court decision authorizing the child’s departure from Türkiye will be required before the child can travel to Syria.

Voluntariness is essential for voluntary repatriations to Syria. If an adult family member does not wish to return with the rest of the family, this must be communicated to the PDMM officials during the voluntary repatriation interview. This will allow the removal of the individual’s name from the voluntary repatriation form. The form generated by PDMM will only list the names of those returning to Syria, so please verify the names on the form. The remaining family member will retain their TP ID card, and PDMM will update the GocNet system accordingly.

Before leaving your current residence, it’s important to take care of a few key things to avoid future problems:

• Cancel or close all utility services such as electricity, gas, water, and internet.
• If you are renting, inform your landlord and return the property in good condition if possible.
• Keep copies of all final bills, cancellation confirmations, or receipts.

This will help ensure a smoother return and prevent legal or financial issues later on.