22.12.2024 10:30
The Minister of Trade, Ömer Bolat, stated that they have implemented new measures to facilitate the return of Syrian citizens to their country. Accordingly, a verbal declaration form for personal belongings and household items will not be required, and ease will be provided during the exit procedures for vehicles with local license plates that Syrian citizens have acquired in Turkey.
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The Ministry of Trade sent a circular to all customs and foreign trade regional directorates regarding the return procedures of Syrian citizens. The circular aims to address any disruptions that may occur during the returns and to ensure that the process is carried out smoothly. In this context, customs procedures will be conducted in coordination with other relevant public institutions to enable Syrians to quickly complete their exit procedures from the country. For this purpose, customs administrations will take all necessary precautions.
EASE OF EXIT FOR VEHICLES WITH LICENSE PLATES
In the return procedures of Syrians, no verbal declaration form will be required for personal belongings and household goods. The procedures will be carried out by preparing the "Facilitated Exit Form" mentioned in the circular. Facilitation has also been provided for vehicles with license plates brought from their countries by individuals with temporary protection status coming from Syria, which are registered by notaries. In this context, if a definitive exit is made with the vehicle, a document proving that the registration has been closed by the relevant notary will be presented to the customs administration. If the conformity of the vehicle's documents is confirmed, necessary procedures will be carried out in the Vehicle Tracking Program, and the vehicle's registration will be closed, allowing for a swift exit process.
If no record of the vehicle in question can be found in the program, upon presenting the document proving that the registration has been closed by the relevant notary and confirming the conformity of the vehicle's documents, registration will be made in the relevant program, and exit will be permitted.
VERBAL DECLARATION FORM FOR BUSINESSES ESTABLISHED IN TURKEY
The circular also took steps regarding the exit procedures for vehicles with local license plates acquired by Syrian citizens in Turkey. In this context, the "Facilitated Exit Form" will be prepared by presenting the document proving that the registration has been closed by the relevant notary in accordance with the provisions of the "Law on the Sale of Second-Hand Vehicles to Foreigners." In this context, exit procedures will be carried out for the vehicle registered in the relevant program after conducting a conformity check. The procedures for the transfer of businesses established by Syrians in Turkey will be completed by preparing a Verbal Declaration Form in accordance with the Customs Regulation.
REGULATION ON THE EXIT OF FOREIGN CURRENCY AND VALUABLE ITEMS
Regulations have also been made regarding the cash that Syrian citizens will take with them. According to the letter dated December 17, 2024, and numbered 3625550 from the General Directorate of Financial Markets and Foreign Exchange of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, if Syrian citizens take valuable items made of precious metals and stones, which are not for commercial purposes and exceed a value of $15,000, out of the country, it will not be required to declare these items upon entry or to document that they were purchased in Turkey until the same date (December 31, 2025). Additionally, for exits exceeding 25,000 Turkish lira in cash and documents that facilitate payment in this currency, as well as for exits exceeding 10,000 euros or its equivalent, it will be sufficient to declare them to customs administrations with a "Cash Declaration Form."
COORDINATED WORK WITH MINISTRIES
Trade Minister Ömer Bolat provided information about the efforts they are making regarding issues related to the Ministry of Trade to ensure that the returns of Syrians are carried out smoothly. Reminding that returns have accelerated after the fall of the Baath regime, Bolat stated that they quickly made the necessary arrangements at the customs gates opened to Syria. Bolat noted that customs gates have been strengthened in terms of infrastructure, technology, and personnel to ensure smooth transitions, and he stated:
"We are diligently continuing all kinds of work to ensure the safe, fast, and effective voluntary return of Syrian citizens. We are also working with other ministries to quickly overcome some obstacles encountered in practice. While carrying out customs procedures, we show maximum sensitivity in line with our humanitarian and legal responsibilities. In this context, as the Ministry of Trade, we have implemented customs regulations to allow returning Syrian citizens to take their belongings with them and to address their financial situations. Our other ministries are also working on the necessary procedures."
"OUR NEW CIRCULAR IS AIMED AT ACCELERATING PROCEDURES AND RETURNS"
Bolat stated that as Syria stabilizes, voluntary, safe, and dignified returns will increase, saying, "The circular we sent to our customs and foreign trade regional directorates aims to ensure that this process is carried out smoothly. We are simplifying the procedures as much as possible. Our circular is also aimed at speeding up the processes. Because many Syrian citizens want to take their household goods and vehicles they use in Turkey with them. Similarly, they want to return to their countries without losing their money, valuables, and other assets. At this point, the circular we published has a nature that facilitates the processes for them and helps overcome difficulties." he said.
Emphasizing that Turkey has been striving to fulfill the requirements of neighborly relations with Syria and being a great state from the very beginning, Bolat stated the following: "From the very beginning, while advocating for the territorial integrity and unitary structure of Syria, we have never approached the issue from a self-interest perspective. We have always acted with humanitarian sensitivities in this regard. Syrians are our brothers. Our President has also expressed this by saying, 'If half of our heart is in Antep, Hatay, or Şanlıurfa, the other half is in Afrin, Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and Damascus.' Just as we have been there for our Syrian brothers yesterday and today, we will continue to be there for them tomorrow as well. We will continue to take the necessary steps to facilitate their return to their countries and ensure that the process is carried out smoothly."
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