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Following the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria and the current devastating situation in some parts of these two countries, four European countries have decided to ease the visa rules for those facing homelessness and in need of medical care.
Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany are the EU countries that have already announced their plans to facilitate visa rules and accelerate the processing time for Turkish and Syrian citizens affected by the earthquake.
The Swiss authorities have just recently said that the visa applications filed by earthquake victims will be prioritised. The Swiss Secretariat for Migration said on Sunday that all victims who have close family ties in Switzerland would be able to obtain a visa through less strict measures and join them temporarily.
The same explained that those who have had their homes destroyed and want to join their family members in Switzerland would need to hold a passport and pointed out that the procedures for granting visas for earthquake victims will remain in alignment with Schengen law.
Apart from easing the visa rules, Switzerland has also decided to deploy additional staff to Türkiye so that the country’s consulates can process visa applications as quickly as possible, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Belgium has taken the same decision too. The Belgian Minister for Asylum and Migration has said that she has already instructed the Immigration Office to accelerate the visa application procedures for Turkish and Syrian nationals affected by the earthquake.
“Many Belgians want to help their relatives in Türkiye and temporarily take care of them at home. I have instructed the Immigration Office to speed up the visa application procedure,” Minister de Moor wrote on her Twitter account.
This means that relatives of earthquake victims will be able to take them in and temporarily take care of them.
Just like the two countries mentioned above, the Netherlands also announced that the country has decided to ease the visa rules for Turkish and Syrian citizens who have been affected by the earthquake.
The Dutch government said that it would prioritise visa appointments made by earthquake victims, allowing them to stay with their relatives in the country.
While Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands have already decided to ease the visa rules for Turkish and Syrian earthquake victims, Germany has said that it is planning to do so.
“We want to help ensure that families in Germany can temporarily take in relatives affected by the earthquake if they no longer have a roof over their heads or need medical treatment,” Minister Baerbock said.
According to the German authorities, the country wants to make it possible for all earthquake victims needing medical treatment and facing homelessness to join their families in Germany.
The German host families wishing to take in close family members must submit a declaration through which they promise to pay all the living expenses for the earthquake victims. Moreover, they must prove that they hold German citizenship or a permanent right of residence.
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