YIMER 157 has been a trusted point of contact for foreigners in Türkiye for 11 years.
20.08.2026
YIMER 157 has earned trust with 27.7 million calls in 11 years.
YIMER 157's 11 Years of Success: 99% Resolution on the First Call
The Head of the Directorate of Migration Management, Muhammet Selami Yazıcı, visited the call center on the 11th anniversary of the establishment of the Foreigners Communication Center (YIMER 157). President Yazıcı stated that the center has handled 27,713,000 calls in 11 years, achieved a 99% resolution rate on the first call, and that services will be made even more effective with AI-supported solutions.
YIMER 157, operating under the Directorate of Migration Management of the Ministry of Interior, has been providing accurate, fast and reliable information for 11 years.
"Our Geographical Location and Our Tradition of Hospitality"
In a statement made during the visit, the Head of the Directorate of Migration Management, Muhammet Selami Yazıcı, stated that Türkiye has been a country that brings together different people and cultures for centuries, and that the main reasons for this include its geographical location, deep-rooted history, accumulated civilization, and the nation's centuries-old tradition of hospitality and hosting.
“Türkiye has been a country that has brought together different people and different cultures for centuries. There are, of course, many reasons for this. Our geographical location, rich history, and accumulated civilization are among the most important factors. And then there is our nation's centuries-old tradition of hospitality and hosting guests. Today, we continue to preserve all this human and cultural heritage with our strong institutions and understanding of the rule of law,” he stated.
“Every Foreigner is Protected Under Our Law”
President Yazıcı stated that every foreigner in Türkiye can live safely under the guarantee of the law, and noted that the diversity brought by different cultures makes significant contributions to social life, the economy, and the academic world.
"Our task is to manage this entire process correctly and effectively. YIMER 157 is an important part of this understanding," he said.
Service in 5 Languages
President Yazıcı, reminding that YİMER 157 started providing service on August 20, 2015, said that foreigners in Türkiye can receive quick and reliable information from the center on many issues falling within the scope of the Directorate of Migration Management, including visas, residence permits, international protection, temporary protection and voluntary return.
President Yazıcı stated that the center provides services in 5 languages: Turkish, English, Russian, Arabic, and Persian, and that those wishing to obtain information can reach YİMER 157 between 08:00 and 18:00 on weekdays, while the emergency assistance and reporting line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
27.7 Million Calls in 11 Years
Emphasizing the importance of foreigners entering the country legally, staying under appropriate conditions, and establishing strong ties between Turkey and their own countries, President Yazıcı stated that they offer services to foreigners not only by phone but also through calls, webchat, email, SMS, and social media channels.
President Yazıcı stated that there are approximately 3,620,000 foreigners with legal residency rights in Türkiye, and that YİMER 157 has handled 27,713,000 calls in 11 years.
Stating that a total of 42 million minutes of conversations were conducted during these calls, President Yazıcı said that a solution was achieved in 99 percent of cases on the first call, and that they receive an average of 10,000 calls per day.
Stating that a significant portion of the calls were related to residence permit processes, President Yazıcı said that they also provide guidance to foreigners on issues such as temporary protection, visas, and work permits.
Stating that their work has also been recognized internationally, President Yazıcı noted that they have received 10 international awards, including the European and World Call Center Awards.
Direct Access for International Students
Emphasizing that services for international students are also an important area of work, President Yazıcı stated that they see these students not only as a part of their educational lives, but also as important bridges in establishing cultural, economic, and diplomatic ties between Turkey and the world.
Stating that they aim to increase the number of international students to 1 million, President Yazıcı said that thanks to the protocol signed with the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), students can directly connect with a foreign representative regarding their issues when they call YİMER 157.
Stating that pressing "2" on the phone is sufficient for this, President Yazıcı said, "When we look at the incoming calls, we see that international students mostly request information about school registration processes, student residence permit applications and application results, and graduation processes."
15,854 Lives Were Saved
Stating that another important function of YİMER 157 is emergency assistance and reporting services, Mayor Yazıcı said, "Those who call YİMER 157 can quickly reach the emergency helpline by pressing 1. We receive reports on many issues such as the rescue of irregular migrants, migrant smuggling, human trafficking, forced prostitution, forced labor, forced detention, domestic violence, threats, illegal stays, fraud, missing persons reports, and natural disasters."
Stating that they evaluate emergency reports promptly and in coordination with law enforcement units to guarantee the right of every foreigner coming to the country to live a safe and dignified life, President Yazıcı gave the following information regarding the center's emergency assistance service:
"Thanks to the 1030 emergency assistance calls we have received so far, the lives of 15,854 people have been saved. This is not just a number for us. Behind each one is a human life."
"We Will Be More Effective With AI-powered Solutions."
Stating that they will make greater use of the opportunities offered by technology in the coming period, President Yazıcı said that they will make call management more effective with AI-supported solutions.
"Our goal is very clear: to enable foreigners to access the information they need faster, easier, and more accurately. To be able to reach them when they need it and provide them with more comprehensive information," he stated.
"YIMER 157 is not just a call center."
Mayor Yazıcı stated that YIMER 157 is not just a call center, but also an important communication channel where foreigners arriving in Türkiye can access accurate information and receive support when needed. "This is what is truly important for us. To further advance our understanding of migration management, based on law, human rights, and our civilizational values, through strong communication channels. As YIMER 157, we continue to work towards this," President Yazıcı concluded.
“The 11th Anniversary Cake Was Cut”
At the end of the visit, President Yazıcı, Deputy President Murat Karakaya, Director General of Harmonization and Communication Ahmet Dalkıran, Head of Harmonization Department Abdulsamet Korkut, and YİMER staff cut a cake to celebrate the center's 11th anniversary.
Following the ceremony, Mayor Yazıcı thanked the staff who have served at the center since its establishment and who have brought YİMER 157 to its current state with their achievements.
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