Following the recent agreement between Iraq and Türkiye, Iraqi citizens under 15 and over 50 could enter Türkiye without a visa.
With the entry into force on September 1, 2024, the new policy, with its age limits, aims to curb the number of Iraqis who can travel without visas as well. Despite the unilateral decision, Turks still need a visa to travel to Iraq, VisaGuide.World reports.
Further strengthen the already growing antipathy in Turkey towards immigrants.
The administration of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan intends to use these agreements to increase its efforts against the Kurdish PKK in Iraq. However, the Turkish opposition is concerned that this could lead to a new influx of refugees from Iraq, who might then attempt to reach Europe via Türkiye.
According to Turkish media reports, observers suggest that Turkish citizens may face even more significant challenges in securing EU or United States visas due to the recent agreement allowing Iraqis to enter Turkey freely.
Türkiye-Iraq Visa Agreement Raises Concerns About Increase in Asylum Seekers in Germany
Iraq is already a significant source of asylum seekers in Germany, with Iraqis the fourth largest group applying for asylum, after Syrians, Afghans and Turks. Last year, around 11,000 Iraqis sought asylum in Germany, and by July of this year, 5,000 applications had been submitted. Refugee organizations report an increasing number of Iraqi deportations from Germany.
The new agreements also formally sanction the Turkish military presence in Iraq, marking a notable achievement for Turkish foreign policy. On the other hand, the CHP, Türkiye’s largest opposition party and the latest winner in local elections, criticises visa-free travel as an additional strain on Türkiye, which has already hosted 300,000 Iraqis along with three million Syrians.
Iraq has historically been a major source of illegal immigration. An eight-year deal requires Ankara to prevent refugees from crossing the Aegean Sea to Greece and entering the EU in exchange for significant financial aid from Brussels. Since 2016, the number of boat refugees, including Iraqis, has decreased significantly.
Meanwhile, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency has reported an increase in child refugees on the so-called Balkan route, which stretches from Türkiye to the EU. Moreover, in recent years, thousands of Iraqis have tried to enter the EU through Belarus.