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Privately Sponsored Refugees in Turkey

The Government of Turkey has changed its policy on issuing exit permits. The new policy states that individuals who have not regularized their status within Turkey will not be given exit permits to leave the country.

Only family reunification cases accepted as Convention refugees by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and selected by the UNHCR for resettlement are eligible for exit permits, and only if the request for resettlement to a third country is also made by the UNHCR.

Therefore, as of May 25, 2004, CIC offices in Canada will no longer accept applications from private sponsors wishing to sponsor individuals in Turkey without:

1) evidence that the UNHCR has determined the person to be a Convention refugee in need of resettlement; and

2) evidence that the UNHCR has referred the case to the Canadian Embassy in Ankara for resettlement in Canada.

Canadian officials continue to negotiate, on a case-by-case basis, to obtain exit permits for refugees in Turkey who were already selected for resettlement to Canada.

However, no new applications will be accepted unless they are accompanied by the necessary UNHCR documentation.

Learn more about Turkey’s decision regarding exit visas.

Obtain more information on Convention refugees and the UNHCR.