Turkey retains a geographic limitation to its ratification of the 1951 United Nations Convention on the Status of Refugees, which means that only those fleeing as a consequence of events occurring in Europe can settle in Turkey on a permanent basis. All refugees entering Turkey from the Middle East, Asia, or Africa must obtain refugee status from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and a temporary residence permit (ikamet) from the Turkish government.

All refugees with an ikamet and UNHCR refugee status have access to free or partly paid medical/hospi…