Khaberni - Turkey has recently started taking new steps to encourage the return of Syrian refugees, one year after the overthrow of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
In this context, it has been decided to stop providing free health services to Syrian refugees starting from the beginning of the new year 2026.
The Turkish newspaper reported that the return of Syrians will be gradual, as part of a package of new measures expected to be adopted by the relevant ministries and authorities in the coming days.
It is expected that following the cessation of free health services, the temporary protection status known as kimlik will be lifted from Syrian refugees. With this step, Syrians wishing to remain in Turkey will be required to apply for official residency.
The residency will be subject to stricter conditions, including owning a home or proof of residence with an appropriate rental contract, having a job, health insurance, and providing a bank statement.
Syrians who fail to obtain residency will be returned to Syria.
In this framework, the assistance provided by the United Nations will be used to support the process of returning Syrians, as the Turkish authorities consider providing financial amounts to the returnees and covering their return costs through these aids.
In the last year, about 600,000 Syrian refugees returned from Turkey to Syria, while Turkey still hosts about 2.37 million Syrian refugees under the temporary protection regime.
The "kimlik" is the temporary protection card that granted Syrian refugees in Turkey the right to temporary residence and legal protection, and allowed them to work and benefit from health insurance and other basic services.
This card is a fundamental document for regulating the legal presence of Syrians in Turkey, with newer issues starting with the number 98 and providing improvements in some services, including health insurance.
