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Despite Germany facing criticism over its visa rules that it has been applying to citizens of Türkiye and Syria affected by the earthquake, the authorities have said that the number of visas issued has significantly increased in the last week.
A Federal Foreign Office spokesperson revealed last week that since the visa rules were eased until February 24, Germany had issued 528 visas to Turkish and Syrian earthquake victims, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
According to the federal Foreign Office spokesperson on Friday alone, the country issued a total of 111 visas and that same stressed that most of the visas had been issued to nationals of Syria who will stay with their close relatives in Germany.
The announcement of the Foreign Office stating that the majority of visas have been issued to Syrian nationals was unexpected as just recently, the German authorities clarified that the fast-track temporary visas are available only to nationals of Türkiye.
The Foreign Office said for Info Migrants that Syrian earthquake victims remain subject to less simplified rules. However, it pointed out that as long as the requirements are met Syrian nationals will also be issued visas to temporarily stay with their families in Germany.
As for long-term stay visas, the German authorities have said that they have been able to arrange simplified procedures for Syrian applicants affected by the earthquake. In line with the new rules, earthquake victims from Syria can contact the German missions in neighbouring countries and make an appointment.
“The number of appointments available regarding family reunification for Syrian nationals eligible for subsidiary protection is being increased at the visa sections in Istanbul and Beirut, which deal with most applications submitted by Syrian nationals,” Federal Foreign Office stressed.
On the other hand, the case is not the same for those filed by Turkish earthquake victims.
Germany has already sent additional staff to its foreign missions in Türkiye and has stressed that applications filed by earthquake victims facing homelessness and who need medical treatment are being processed as soon as possible.
In order to be able to get a German visa through the accelerated procure, Turkish nationals must prove that they have been strongly affected by the earthquake, and they must also prove to have close relatives in Germany who hold German citizenship or a permanent German residence permit.
They must also prove that their place of residence was in one of the affected provinces, and their relatives in Germany have to sign a declaration of commitment.
Regarding the documents, the German authorities explain that Turkish earthquake victims must present an application form, a valid passport, health insurance, a biometric photograph, the declaration of commitment signed by a relative residing legally in Germany, proof of residence, and a document proving the relationship with the person issuing the invitation, among others.
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