Interior Ministry’s decision on Afghanistan and Pakistan

The Ministry of the Interior, with the circular published on June 28, 2021, had stipulated the new pandemic measures to be implemented at Turkish entrances until July 1, 2021.

According to this; It was decided to impose a mandatory quarantine period of 10 days for the people who came to our country from Afghanistan and Pakistan and for the people living in these countries in the last 14 days. It was said that if the PCR test applied on the seventh day of quarantine is negative, the mandatory quarantine application will be terminated. If the test is positive, it was emphasized that the health ministry should act as per the COVID-19 guide.

in the same circular; It was decided that compulsory quarantine will be enforced for people coming into our country from Afghanistan and Pakistan and those who have lived in these countries in the last 14 days in dormitories or housing facilities as determined by the governors. Serving as quarantine hotels.

Not only Afghanistan and Pakistan

In the circular dated 28 June 2021; It was decided that mandatory quarantine measures would be implemented not only for those coming from Afghanistan and Pakistan, but also for those who were in Bangladesh, Brazil, South Africa, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka in the last 14 days.

Stretching for the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan

The General Directorate of Provincial Administration of the Ministry of the Interior issued a new circular while this circular was in effect. Date 5 August 2021 and “Quarantine application for those coming from Afghanistan and Pakistan”In the circular titled “The justification for the change was explained as follows:

“A mandatory 10-day quarantine application has been introduced for people arriving in our country from Afghanistan or Pakistan, effective July 1, 2021, and an obligation to spend this quarantine period in quarantine hotels set by the governors against a fee. Decision has been taken.

As a result of negotiations with the Ministries regarding the current phase, it was considered that it would be appropriate to make the following changes in the quarantine application for certain groups of people coming into our country by 5 August 2021. Air from Afghanistan or Pakistan.

Hotel quarantine exemption

With the circular, it was decided that Afghan or Pakistani nationals holding a residence or work permit in Turkey, and Turkish Republic citizens arriving from Afghanistan and Pakistan would be exempted from the hotel quarantine application for a fee.

Domestic flight and public transport prohibited

According to this; A paid hotel reservation condition will not be required, provided that a valid residence or work document in Turkey is presented for air travel of persons in the specified group. Of these people, whose address of residence and first place of entry into the country is outside Istanbul or Ankara, will only be allowed to travel to their residence by private vehicle. They will not be allowed to take domestic flights or use public transport.

The same wave was not recognized for people from 6 countries

This stretch, which is granted to citizens of the Republic of Turkey by air from Afghanistan and Pakistan, with a residence or work permit, and to citizens of the Republic of Turkey from these countries, will apply to those arriving from Bangladesh. , Brazil, South Africa, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, which were under mandatory quarantine application with the previous circular. not recognized.

Special rules for civilian students of Afghanistan and Pakistan

With the circular, it was decided that Afghan or Pakistani university students continuing their higher education in Turkey would be subject to compulsory quarantine in the hostels of the credit and hostel institution, and not in hotel quarantine in exchange for a fee. This application will be effective from September 1, 2021.

latest data from ministry

According to the latest figures from the Ministry of the Interior, the General Directorate of Migration Management; 52 thousand 59 Afghans have a residence permit in Turkey. The number of short-term residence permits granted to Afghans is 39,700.

4 thousand 519 Afghan students are in Turkey with residence permit. According to 2019 figures from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, the number of Afghans who have obtained work permits is 1,446 and the number of Pakistanis is 369.