Forced Migration in the OIC Member Countries:
Policy Framework Adopted by Host Countries
71
Figure 10: Top ten countries of origin of forced migrants residing in Turkey, 2015
Source: UNHCR, “Population Statistics,” accessed August 9, 2016,
Note: Forced migrants are defined as refugees and asylum seekers residing in Turkey as of 2015.
Tens of thousands of people from refugee-producing countries reside in Turkey on legal
residence permits as students, business visitors, family members of residents, and so forth out
of a total of 423,000 foreigners in total holding residence permits.18 (See Table 6.) As legal
residents, they do not fall under the protection regime. These individuals enter, usually by air,
with valid passports under visa liberalization regimes, and apply for residence permits in
Turkey as legally residing foreigners. Syrians and others who hold residence permits do not
benefit from temporary protection or any other protected status, but may change to this status
if their permit expires. Table 6 refers to the top nationalities holding residence permits as of
2014.
Table 6: Top nationalities granted residence permits in Turkey, 2015
Country Registered Residence Permits
Iraq 33,202
Syria 32,578
Azerbaijan 32,476
Turkmenistan 22,891
Russia 22,377
Total, all
nationalities
422,895
Source: Türkiye Cumhuriyeti İçişleri Bakanlığı Göç İdaresi Genel Müdürlüğü (DGMM), “Residence Permits,”
accessed August 25, 2016,
18 IOM, “Mixed Migration Flows in the Mediterranean and Beyond: Compilation of Available Data and Information, Reporting
Period 28 July – 10 August 2016,” updated August 11, 2016,