Sama
Iraq and Turkey have decided to lift visa requirements for civilians under 15 and over 50, according to an Iraqi delegation member in Ankara.
An Iraqi foreign ministry delegation, led by Undersecretary Omar al-Barzanji, met with Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Yasin Ekrem Serim in Ankara on Tuesday.
“We have agreed with the Turkish side to waive visas between the two countries for those under 15 and over 50,” Barzanji informed Rudaw.
Visas will still be required for individuals between the ages of 15 and 50.
Legally crossing into Turkey by land is only possible through the Ibrahim Khalil border crossing in the Kurdistan Region, which can take several hours, and the Zet border crossing in Erbil province. Additionally, there are multiple daily international flights between Iraqi and Turkish cities, except for Sulaimani, which Turkey has banned flights to since April 2023.
Currently, Iraqi and Turkish citizens need visas to enter each other’s countries, although Turkish nationals can enter the Kurdistan Region without a visa.
Barzanji also mentioned that both countries have agreed to exchange prisoners, including those convicted of minor offenses who will serve the remainder of their sentences in their home countries.
“The two sides emphasized the need for cooperation to prevent illegal immigration, extradite and repatriate convicts, and transfer sentenced individuals to serve their sentences in their home countries. They also discussed consular affairs, security, combating terrorism, and judicial cooperation,” according to a statement from the Iraqi embassy in Ankara.