The Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq announced a series of new measures for Syrian citizens residing in its territory, aiming to rectify their legal status, exempt them from accumulated late fees, and facilitate the return of those unable to bear the travel expenses to their homeland.
An official decision was issued granting a grace period of 60 working days, starting from the date of the decision, to all Syrian citizens whose "residence permits have expired, or who entered the Kurdistan Region but have not initiated the application procedures for residency."
These citizens are required to visit the residency directorates in the governorates of the region to renew or obtain a one-year residency permit, according to Form (20), with full exemption from late fees.
Cancellation of Late Fees
The decision also allows Syrian citizens covered by Article (First) who wish to return to Syria to leave the region without paying any late fees, whether related to non-renewal or failure to obtain residency.
Those wishing to leave must visit the Residency Directorates to obtain a one-time exit stamp to officially return to Syria via Erbil International Airport.
The decision also indicated that Syrians wishing to return to their country, but who are unable to cover the cost of air travel due to financial circumstances, can visit the Residency Directorates to obtain an exit stamp and benefit from exemption from fines. They can also register their names on the land flight lists via the Fishkhabur border crossing, where the Kurdistan Regional Government will cover their return expenses.
The government also called on all Residency Directorates to form special committees to implement these facilities quickly and effectively.
Erbil is the largest host city for refugees
According to statistics issued by the United Nations by the end of 2023, Iraq hosts more than 300,000 refugees and asylum seekers, more than 90% of whom (approximately 270,000 refugees) are Syrians.
Approximately 91% of these refugees reside in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, while the remainder are distributed across the central and southern governorates of federal Iraq.
Of the Syrian refugees in the region, 34% live in nine designated refugee camps, while 66% reside in urban areas. Erbil is the largest host city, followed by Dohuk and Sulaymaniyah. In the rest of federal Iraq, approximately 27,000 Syrian refugees reside, most of them (55%) in the capital, Baghdad.
Faris Al-Rifai - Zaman Al-Wasl
Comments About This Article
Please fill the fields below.