Resettlement and family reunification departures

The general procedure

PMM pre-identifies cases for resettlement consideration among the registered temporary protection caseload through the PDMM and makes referrals to UNHCR in lists. When UNHCR identifies the applicants most in need of resettlement from these lists, it presents them to third countries. The final decision is taken by the third countries. They examine the files and decide whether to accept the relevant applicants, especially after conducting security checks. IOM organises the implementation of health checks, the preparation of travel documents and the cultural orientation of those accepted for resettlement.[1]

As of 2021, PMM and European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has started to work together in terms of resettlement to the EU countries and to improve the resettlement referral mechanisms of PMM under the roadmap for cooperation.[2] The Roadmap on strengthening the asylum and reception systems in line with the Common European Asylum System and EU standards had been implemented for a period of 24 months between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2023[3]. EUAA’s collaboration to create a one-stop shop for the resettlement processes by providing all logistical supports to EU member states and some associated countries started during 2019- 2021 with a pilot phase, supporting 8 countries, this support continues under a more structured way starting from mid-2021 for 4 years period, providing logistical supports on medical checks, transportation, interpretation etc. There is ongoing work to relaunch the contact for another 4 years, after mid-2025[4].

Departure of temporary protection beneficiaries to third countries for the purpose of resettlement is subject to the permission of PMM.[5] A so-called “exit permission” must be issued in order for a beneficiary to be allowed to exit Türkiye to a third country either for the purpose of a temporary visit or on a permanent basis for the purpose of resettlement. There have been no issues regarding neither the exit permits nor travel permits, PMM was collaborative[6].

In practice, however, certain profiles of temporary protection beneficiaries are issued a “V91” code referring to “temporary protection holders in need of exit permission” (Ülkeden Çıkışı İzne Tabi Geçici Koruma Kapsamındaki Yabancı) and which prevent them from exiting Türkiye. “V91” codes are usually issued to highly qualified Syrians.

According to PMM statistics, a total of 21,568 Syrians had been transferred to third countries between 2014 and May 2023, mainly to Canada, the US, the UK and Norway.[7]

The 1:1 resettlement scheme

The EU-Türkiye statement of 18 March 2016 established a specific resettlement procedure (“1:1 scheme”), under which one Syrian national would be resettled from Türkiye to the EU Member States for each Syrian national returned from Greece to Türkiye, taking into account the UN vulnerability criteria.[8] Since 2021, the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has collaborated with PMM to facilitate resettlement in EU member states. Selection missions from member states that handle selection processes, conduct cultural interviews, and pre-departure orientation training. The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) Resettlement Support Center in İstanbul provides logistical support to the selection missions. However, certain countries in the EU, such as Germany, manage the entire resettlement process on their own. The German consulate in Istanbul is solely responsible for the resettlement procedure.[9]

As of December 2023, there are 39,647 persons that have been resettled under this “1:1 scheme”, with primary resettlement destinations being Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Sweden[10].

As of 7 December 2023, the following numbers of refugees had been resettled to the EU under the 1:1 scheme:

Source: IOM, Migrants’ Presence Monitoring Situation Report, December 2023

As of 7 December 2023, 365 Syrians have been resettled from Türkiye to EU countries under different regimes, mainly to Sweden, Austria, Belgium and Romania[11].  In total, from May 2023 to June 2024, 4,134 Syrians were resettled to the EU member states. Some countries froze their programme due to the housing crisis and lack of capacity in the reception centres, such as the Netherlands in 2023. In 2024, around 13 EU countries are expected to be a part of the resettlement efforts, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Italy, Finland, France, Norway, Ireland[12]. In 2023, Syrians from earthquake-affected locations were prioritized for resettlement interviews. 94% of the resettlement submissions made by UNHCR in 2023 were from the earthquake-affected region[13]. (Fore more details, see Content of International Protection: Resettlement)

[1] IOM, ‘Yeniden yerleştirme’, 2023, available here

[2] Information provided by a stakeholder, June 2023.

[3] Roadmap for Cooperation between the EUAA–PMM (2022-2023) Strengthening the asylum and reception systems in line with the Common European Asylum System and EU standards, available here

[4] Information provided by a stakeholder, April 2024.

[5] Article 44 TPR.

[6] Information provided stakeholders, March & May 2024.

[7] PMM, Temporary protection, available here

[8] Council of the European Union, EU-Türkiye statement, 18 March 2016, para 2.

[9] Information provided by a stakeholder, June 2023.

[10] IOM, Migrants’ Presence Monitoring Situation Report, December 2023

[11] IOM, Migrants’ Presence Monitoring Situation Report, December 2023

[12] Information shared by stakeholders, March – April 2024.

[13] UNHCR Türkiye bi-annual fact sheet, February 2024, available here