Temporary Protection Foreigners Get Work Permit Exemption

Minister of Interior Mustafa Çiftçi announced that foreigners under temporary protection have been granted a work permit exemption. The number of Syrians under temporary protection in Turkey is 2 million 259 thousand, with about a third of them born in Turkey. Minister Çiftçi stated that they are comprehensively evaluating voluntary return processes, the future of temporary protection, and regular migration mechanisms in light of the new conditions in Syria. Emphasizing the importance of registered employment for Syrians, like all foreigners in the country, Çiftçi explained that they have lifted the requirement for work permits and introduced a work permit exemption for foreigners under temporary protection, taking into account the labor needs met by Syrians.With over 1 million 434 thousand people having voluntarily returned since 2016, Çiftçi emphasized that the migration issue should now be addressed as a long-term social and demographic matter, rather than just a temporary population movement.