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Türkiye mulls electronic work visas, joint migrant database for Uzbek citizens
A Visa application centre in Istanbul, Turkiye. 26th August 2022.
Reuters
Uzbekistan and Türkiye are negotiating new measures to ease legal labour migration, including an electronic work visa system for Uzbek nationals and a shared database of irregular migrants.
The discussions took place in Ankara as part of a broader effort to strengthen bilateral cooperation in employment, data sharing, and migration management.
At a meeting between the Uzbek delegation and Türkiye’s Deputy Interior Minister Mehmet Aktaş, officials reviewed proposals to allow Uzbek citizens already residing in Türkiye under other visa categories to obtain work permits without leaving the country.
Turkish employers in the Antalya region also indicated interest in hiring between 500 and 1,000 Uzbek nationals for seasonal hotel work through the state employment agency Özel İstihdam Bürosu.
The Turkish side proposed the creation of a joint electronic database to monitor irregular migration and facilitate cooperation between the two countries’ migration authorities.
Uzbek officials confirmed that Ankara had expressed readiness to share technical expertise and support database integration. ‘Part of one Turkish family’
Anadolu Agency
Earlier this year, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that the people of Turkic nations, including those from Central Asia, could “count themselves as Turkish”, highlighting Türkiye’s ambition to strengthen ties with member states of the Organisation of Turkic States.
While his comments did not imply changes to citizenship or visa policy, analysts note that the shared linguistic and cultural background provides a supportive environment for new migration initiatives.
Officials expect a memorandum of cooperation between the two interior ministries to be drafted soon, outlining the procedures for visa issuance and data exchange.
Implementation may begin in early 2026, potentially streamlining labour mobility and deepening bilateral cooperation across migration and employment sectors.
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