The Presidency of Migration Management Met with International Students at an Iftar Dinner
04.03.2026
Presidency of Migration Management of the Ministry of Interior organized an iftar program for international students studying at universities in Ankara. The program held at the Ankara Vilayetler Evi was attended by Deputy Minister of Interior Mehmet Cangir, President of Migration Management Hüseyin Kök, General Director of Migration Policies and Visa Procedures of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Esin Çakıl, as well as institution managers and international students.
In a meaningful gathering where messages of unity and solidarity came to the fore, the Presidency of Migration Management met with students at the iftar table and attended to their guests closely. During the cordial discussions, Türkiye's hospitality was highlighted, and there was an opportunity to listen directly to the students' experiences and requests.
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Deputy Minister of Interior Mehmet Cangir: "Do not lose your heartfelt connection"
In his speech during the program, Deputy Minister of Interior Mehmet Cangir addressed the international students, stating that the structure they build their futures upon must stand on two solid pillars. Deputy Minister Cangir stated, “The first pillar of this bridge is our country, Türkiye, where you are currently receiving your university or graduate education. We would be delighted for you to remain here and pursue your careers in Türkiye by taking advantage of the facilities provided by the Presidency of Migration Management. However, wherever your route may lead you, our sincere request is that you always keep this pillar strong. Even if you return to your own country after graduation or go to a third country, do not forget this place; do not break your communication with each other or your heartfelt and physical bonds with Türkiye. I believe that this continuity will be extremely valuable for both you and us”.
Emphasizing that the second pillar of the bridge is the students' own homelands, Deputy Minister Mehmet Cangir continued his remarks as follows:
“Even if you consider this place your second homeland, it is a perfectly natural and noble goal to desire to return to your own lands and aim to serve there. However, even if you settle in your own country, I especially request that you maintain your economic, cultural, and social relations with Türkiye. Wherever you are, preserving these bonds will always keep the bridge of friendship between our countries alive”.
President of Migration Management Hüseyin Kök: “Fast Service for 415,000 Students”
Addressing the students in his speech, President of Migration Management Hüseyin Kök said, "Even though you are thousands of kilometers away from your homes, families, loved ones, and countries, as the Presidency of Migration Management, we are delighted to be standing by your side and hosting you in our country”.
Expressing his pleasure in sharing the iftar table with students studying at universities in Ankara, President Kök stated, “Today, we share an iftar table with you here, strengthening our friendship and, at the same time, building our common future together”.
Institutional Duties and Responsibilities
President Kök, outlining the duties and responsibilities of the Presidency of Migration Management, stated: “As you know, the Presidency of Migration Management is an institution responsible for carrying out a series of works and transactions, starting from the visa procedures of foreigners—including you, our esteemed students—continuing with border crossing and entry into the country, and extending to the issuance of residence permits based on the purpose of arrival in the country. Our Presidency carries out all these duties with a human-centered approach, based on law, human rights, and our cultural values shaped by the philosophy of ‘Compassion for the created, for the sake of the Creator’.”
President Kök, expressing their wish for students to establish great fellowships and friendships in Türkiye and to collect memories they will carry for years and pass down from generation to generation, said: “We want to lay the cement of the bridges concerning our future together”.
Türkiye’s Goal of Becoming an International Education Hub
President Kök stated that many countries in the world are in intense competition to attract international students, and that Türkiye aims to get the largest share of the international student market in this global race. President Kök stated: “International students, who represent a young, dynamic, and qualified population, are considered a strategic asset for countries in both the short and long term, as well as a group that generates high added value in terms of human resources, knowledge, and cultural interaction”.
Emphasizing the significance of the constructive role students play in international relations, President Kök noted that our country is taking decisive steps towards becoming an “international education hub” every passing day, under the instructions of the President of the Republic Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. President Kök stated that comprehensive works aimed at international students have been implemented in cooperation with all relevant institutions, particularly the Presidency of Migration Management and the Council of Higher Education; and within the scope of these efforts, students’ entry into the country, residence permit processes, and other official transactions have been significantly facilitated”.
Education Diplomacy and Voluntary Cultural Ambassadorship
President Kök emphasized that this approach carries strategic importance in terms of education diplomacy, beyond being merely a migration or education policy. Kök stated: “International students who receive their education in Türkiye become voluntary cultural ambassadors of Türkiye when they return to their countries or continue their careers in third countries; they contribute directly to our country's visibility and competitiveness in the fields of foreign policy, diplomacy, and trade”. “In this respect, international students play an important role in strengthening both Türkiye’s education diplomacy and its economic and commercial relations”.
Protocol Signed Between the Ministry of Interior and the Council of Higher Education (YÖK)
President of Migration Management Hüseyin Kök stated that they have facilitated students’ administrative works and transactions as much as possible during their stay in Türkiye, and that they continue to take all necessary measures to ensure that the education process is not interrupted and that students can make the best use of their time.
President Kök stated that the protocol signed between the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and the Ministry of Interior in 2023 is a significant milestone in the efforts carried out within this scope. Stating that, thanks to the protocol, residence permit transactions can now be carried out within university campuses, Kök said: “We are carrying out this process through the student affairs departments of your universities. We have also prepared a guide on this matter. In this guide, we have summarized the steps our students need to follow. You can easily access this guide, which we prepared in Turkish, English, German, Russian, and Arabic, on our website”.
415,000 Files Processed
President Kök explained that approximately 415 thousand files were received from 208 universities following the protocol signed with the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), and the necessary evaluations of these files were carried out by the Provincial Directorates of Migration Management. Kök used the expressions: “In short, approximately 415 thousand of our international students have carried out their transactions much more quickly and easily. In this regard, we place great importance on you utilizing the time and effort for your education that would otherwise be spent on bureaucratic transactions”.
Facilities Provided for Students
President Kök stated that residence permits are issued to international students in accordance with the duration of their education, saying: “For example, a student enrolled in a four-year undergraduate program is granted a residence permit for a duration of four years. Following graduation, students are granted the right to obtain a one-year post-graduation residence permit, enabling them to continue their master's or doctoral studies, search for jobs, or make their future plans. Necessary facilities are also provided within the framework of the relevant legislation for students requesting a work permit”.
Stating that a Foreigner ID Number (YKN) is assigned to international students during university enrollment, Kök said that thanks to this number, many official transactions such as opening a bank account, address registration, and similar procedures can be carried out even before the residence permit is finalized. Kök also added that address registration procedures have been simplified and accelerated for students.
YİMER 157 Call Center Provides 24/7 Service
President of Migration Management Hüseyin Kök stated that when there are questions within the Presidency’s field of activity, students can reach them both through the Provincial Directorates of Migration Management and the YİMER 157 Call Center, which provides 24/7 service.
President Kök emphasized that YİMER 157, within the Presidency of Migration Management, is a call center that provides accurate, fast, and reliable answers to all questions from foreigners in Türkiye and has received numerous international awards. Noting that YİMER 157 provides services in a total of 5 languages, namely Turkish, English, Arabic, Russian, and Persian, Kök stated that while the center operates as an information line during weekdays between 08:00 and 18:00 to answer questions from foreigners in Türkiye within the scope of the legislation, it also serves as an emergency hotline providing 24/7 service.
President Kök said, “By calling YİMER 157 and pressing 2, our international students can connect directly to a foreigner representative. In this way, we aim to prevent any grievances caused by a lack of information and ensure that you, our esteemed students, can quickly access accurate and reliable information”.
Noting that information can be quickly accessed on matters such as university enrollment processes, student residence permit application procedures and results, graduation processes, and the obligation to notify when calling YİMER 157, Kök stated that YİMER can also be reached via GÖÇBİL, which is a mobile phone app. He added that once the GÖÇBİL application is downloaded to mobile phones, they can be reached with a single touch in emergency situations.
Solution Centers in İstanbul and Ankara
President of Migration Management Hüseyin Kök announced that specialized offices for students have been established under the name of "Solution Centers" within the Provincial Directorates of Migration Management in İstanbul and Ankara, where international students reside in large numbers. He stated that in these centers, consultancy services are provided through expert personnel and rapid solutions are offered for any issues.
Multiple-Entry Visa Opportunity for Graduates
President Kök stated that international students who have studied and graduated in Türkiye are also provided with the opportunity to benefit from multiple-entry visa options if they wish to return to Türkiye in the future. Kök commented, “This implementation contributes significantly to strengthening the bond between Türkiye and graduates and to the establishment of sustainable relations”.
President Kök concluded his remarks by emphasizing that efforts are being carried out with determination in coordination with all relevant institutions, with the aim of increasing the number and quality of international students, enhancing Türkiye's competitiveness in this field, and transforming our country into a powerful attraction center in international education.
Ülkemizde eğitim gören uluslararası öğrencilerle iftar sofrasında bir araya gelerek Ramazan sevincini paylaştık. Ailelerinden ve vatanlarından uzakta olan gençleri soframızda ağırlayarak, birlik ve dayanışma ruhunu hep birlikte hissettik.
— Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı (@Gocidaresi) March 4, 2026
İçişleri Bakan Yardımcımız Sayın Mehmet… pic.twitter.com/qma65MsRNb
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