Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi announced on June 26 the cancellation of the requirement for Syrians under temporary protection to obtain work permits, replacing it with a work permit exemption system.
The minister said the government attaches importance to registering foreign labor in an organized manner, including Syrians under temporary protection.
The step comes into consideration of labor market needs and the workforce provided by Syrians, according to Çiftçi.
The statements came during a consultation and evaluation meeting on migration held at the Istanbul Disaster and Emergency Directorate (AFAD).
Çiftçi said the government is carrying out a comprehensive assessment of voluntary return processes, the future of temporary protection, and regular migration mechanisms, in line with new developments in Syria and needs on the ground.
Developments in Syria after December 8, 2024, contributed to accelerating the pace of voluntary return, according to the Turkish interior minister, who said the number of Syrians who have voluntarily returned to their country since 2016 has exceeded 1.434 million.
He added that the number of Syrians under temporary protection in Turkey currently stands at 2.259 million.
About one third of Syrians were born in Turkey, according to the minister, making migration an issue with long-term social and demographic dimensions, not merely a temporary population movement.
Syrians Lead Foreign Investors in Turkey
Syrian investors continue to strengthen their economic presence in Turkey, after topping the list of foreign investors establishing companies in May 2026, according to data from the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB).
The data showed that 840 new companies with foreign partnerships began operating in May, with Syrians accounting for the largest share through 425 companies. The figures reflect the continued economic weight of Syrian investors in the Turkish market.
The figures also showed that limited liability companies were the preferred choice for foreign investors, totaling 792 of the 840 new companies, compared with only 48 joint stock companies.
Turkey Loses a Third of Syrians in Five Years
Meanwhile, the number of Syrians under temporary protection in Turkey declined by 38.5% over the past five years, falling to about 2.296 million people.
According to data published by Turkey’s Anadolu Agency on April 11, the number of Syrians under temporary protection in Turkey peaked in 2021, reaching 3,737,369 people.
The figure has since declined, with males numbering 1,183,799 of the total number of Syrians under temporary protection, compared with 1,112,769 females.
At the provincial level, Istanbul topped the Turkish cities hosting the largest number of Syrians, with 405,016 people, followed by Gaziantep and then Şanlıurfa.
The provinces hosting the fewest Syrians were Hakkari, with only eight people, followed by Tunceli and Bayburt.
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