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 custody of your children. 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 return.

Yes, the voluntary return and travel of your child is allowed only with your consent. If your wife is staying and you are returning to Syria with your children, a similar consent from your wife will also be needed.

No child is allowed to return alone. Children whose parents are in Syria and wish to reunite with them can only return when the family arrives at the border, submits a petition, and the necessary checks are completed. The child is then handed over to the parents at the border. Separated children cannot return along with adults who are not their identified caretakers. The registration records of separated children are checked before returning to ensure proper care arrangements. 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 a notarized document) certifying the child’s care by the adult is required.  Please proceed to PDMM in your residence province if you consider voluntarily returning to Syria for necessary guidance and counselling.

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 return procedures.

Your children should have been registered and in possession of a TP ID card (kimlik). Other important documents like vaccination records and education-related certificates (e.g., diplomas) are accessible through the e-Devlet website which you can receive prior to departure from Türkiye. If there has been divorce in the family and the Court decided on the parent to have custody, such documents should be presented to PDMM prior to return. Once you returned to Syria these documents will no longer be accessible on e-devlet.

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 granted, you may need to obtain an additional court decision to take the child to Syria.