Humanitarian concerns arise as Iraqi Kurdistan suspends entry visas for Syrians

In a move that has sparked humanitarian concerns, security sources in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have disclosed the suspension of entry visas for Syrian citizens. This decision follows years of facilitation by the region for Syrians seeking refuge or opportunities within its borders, a practice that is now abruptly halted.

The decision to suspend visa issuance, reportedly at the behest of the federal government in Baghdad, comes amidst broader efforts to regulate foreign labour in Iraq. With work visa issuance for Syrians already suspended two months ago, the latest development further restricts their ability to enter the Kurdistan Region, where many seek employment and refuge.

Security sources in Erbil told Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed, The New Arab's Arabic-language sister publication, that the Iraqi government aims to regulate foreign labour, particularly given the prevalence of undocumented Syrian workers in Iraqi cities. Measures such as prohibiting work and tourism visas for young adults aged 18 to 40 are intended to curb the illegal migration of Syrians from the region's cities to other Iraqi provinces for work.

While the decision may be seen as a security measure by some, others, like activist Aso Hawramani from the Kurdistan Region, condemn it as "inhumane." Hawramani highlights the plight of Syrians seeking medical treatment and protection under the United Nations in the region, painting a picture of vulnerability and desperation among those affected.

At the end of last year, the Syrian regime cancelled entry visas or security clearance for Iraqis wishing to visit Syria. At the same time, the Iraqi side did not reciprocate, as Syrians still needed a visa to enter Iraqi territory. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq used to provide facilities for Syrians to obtain visas for a fee of up to US$170, allowing residency in the region for one month, extendable for another month.

A Syrian can obtain residency in the Kurdistan Region for an entire year. Still, the authorities in Baghdad do not recognise this residency, and they arrest those who leave the region for other Iraqi cities.

Tens of thousands of Syrians reside in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, most of them young people working in various professions, and it hosts tens of thousands of Syrian refugees in several camps.

The United Nations Refugee Agency previously surveyed the opinions of Syrians in Iraq regarding their return to their country, and according to the survey, more than 92 per cent of them do not want to return, indicating the ongoing need for protection and support in their host countries.

Iraqi authorities in July 2023  deported three Syrian Kurdish refugees to Syria after they were arrested on residency issues, disregarding concerns about their safety in their home country. 

Syria grapples with 13 years of relentless conflict and severe economic downturns stemming from Bashar al-Assad's brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters during the onset of the Arab Spring in 2011. As a consequence, millions of Syrians have been displaced to neighbouring Iraq, Turkey, various European countries and other Arab nations.