Turkey denies easing visa requirement for Iraqi citizens

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Fatih Yildiz, the Turkish Ambassador to Iraq, refuted reports of visa changes for Iraqis wanting to visit his country, but he is “sharing” Iraqi demands for the removal with Ankara.

“I am receiving your questions regarding whether visa application for Iraqi citizens has changed. There is no change in visa regime,” tweeted Yildiz on Tuesday.

The denial was a response to reports in Iraqi media that the pre-visa requirement had been changed to a visa-on-entry system.

“A source familiar with Turkey said that Turkey has officially lifted entrance visa for Iraqi tourists, effective in the beginning of September,” reported SNG news agency on Tuesday.

SNG went further by reporting that Turkey has “instructed” borders crossings to “facilitate” entrance procedures for their Iraqi “brothers.”

Yildiz added that “I am sharing your requests with Ankara regarding visa removal in order to facilitate your journeys to Turkey.”

Iraqis say they are eager to visit Turkey because of value tourism, as the lira continues to decline and the dinar remains solid against the dollar.

Crossing into Turkey by land is only possible at Ibrahim Khalil in the Kurdistan Region, which can take more than half a day. Several international flights are available daily between Iraqi and Turkish cities with the exception of Sulaimani.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in early August that Ankara was eager to reopen consulates in Mosul and Basra.