Voluntary, Safe, Dignified, and Orderly Returns Have Gained Momentum
15.08.2025
Following developments in Syria after 8 December 2024, voluntary returns have gained momentum. After 8 December 2024, a total of 411,649 Syrians returned to their country. Since 2016, the number of Syrians who have voluntarily returned has reached 1,151,652. The number of Syrians under temporary protection in Türkiye has become 2,543,711.
Every step of the voluntary, safe, dignified and orderly return process is being carried out in full cooperation with all relevant organizations, coordinated by the Presidency of Migration Management of the Ministry of Interior. Every detail of this process, from registration transactions to transportation planning, is being planned in a manner befitting human dignity.
One of the most important centres where Syrians who want to return to their country voluntarily, safely, with dignity and in an orderly manner carry out their transactions is the Voluntary Return Coordination Centre in the Arnavutköy Campus in İstanbul.
Syrians who have made online appointments for voluntary return complete all their transactions at the coordination centre. Following voluntary, safe, dignified and orderly return transactions, families set off by buses towards the border gates.
Syrians carrying out their voluntary return transactions at the Voluntary Return Coordination Centre in İstanbul Arnavutköy Campus shared their feelings. Expressing their gratitude to Türkiye, the Syrians are experiencing both the sadness of separation and the joy of returning to their homeland.
Syrians expressed their feelings with the following sentences:
How Does the Process Work?
For voluntary, safe, dignified and orderly return, the following transactions are carried out respectively:
1-Syrians who want to return voluntarily can make an appointment for the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management in the province where they reside through randevu.goc.gov.tr. The appointment is given on the same day by the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management in the province where they reside.
2-The Provincial Directorate of Migration Management in the province of residence issues a Voluntary Return Form, a Road Permit Document for travelling to the province where the border gate to be exited through is located, and, if necessary, a letter of consent.
3-Fingerprint verifications are carried out at the border gate. If possible, those with missing documents during document checks will have their documents completed at the border gate.
4-Those whose transactions have been completed by the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management at the border gate are allowed to exit the border gate after customs transactions.
● During this process, facilities are also provided for Syrians who want to return voluntarily so that they can take their belongings and vehicles with them.
● The procedures for Syrians who want to return voluntarily can be carried out either in the province where they are located, or directly at the border gate. It is very important that the transactions be carried out in the province of residence to ensure they are completed more easily.
Land Border Gates Where Exit is Possible for Voluntary Return:
1) Hatay Cilvegözü Land Border Gate
2) Hatay Yayladağı Land Border Gate
3) Hatay Zeytindalı Land Border Gate
4) Kilis Öncüpınar Land Border Gate
5) Kilis Çobanbey Land Border Gate
6) Gaziantep Karkamış Land Border Gate
7) Şanlıurfa Akçakale Land Border Gate
“There is much to learn from Türkiye”
Voluntary returns are monitored by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), meaning they are carried out under the supervision of a third party. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, stated at a press conference following his visit to our country in January, that Türkiye’s plan for voluntary returns was progressing very successfully, conveying this message to the world public. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, stated that the system established by Türkiye for voluntary, safe, dignified and orderly return efforts should serve as an example to other countries, adding, “There is much to learn from Türkiye”. Regarding Türkiye’s works on Voluntary, Safe, Dignified and Orderly Returns, Grandi said, "It has been prepared so comprehensively and meticulously that even a book could be written about this plan”.
© 2025 Presidency of Migration Management