Iranians in Turkey Confront Forced Return as War Disrupts Precarious Stability
Tens of thousands of Iranians have long sought economic opportunities and relative stability in neighboring Turkey, but the ongoing war now threatens to force many to return to their homeland under difficult circumstances. These individuals live on temporary residency permits, creating a fragile existence that has become increasingly untenable as conflict escalates.
Precarious Lives on Temporary Permits
For years, short-term residency permits have allowed Iranian nationals to pursue work and stability in Turkey, but this arrangement remains inherently precarious. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, nearly 100,000 Iranians lived in Turkey in 2025, with approximately 89,000 entering since the war began and around 72,000 departing, as reported by the United Nations' refugee agency.
Many Iranians maintain temporary status rather than seeking refugee protection, as the system often encourages short-term permit applications over international protection claims. Sedat Albayrak of the Istanbul Bar Association’s Refugee and Migrant Rights Center notes that some individuals have relied on these temporary arrangements for over a decade.
Personal Stories of Struggle and Separation
The human impact of this precarious situation is starkly illustrated through individual stories. Sadri Haghshenas, who sells borek pastries in Istanbul, recently had to send her 20-year-old daughter Asal back to Tehran after visa renewal difficulties. "I swear, I cry every day," Haghshenas said. "There is no life in my country, there is no life here, what shall I do?"
Her family moved to Turkey five years ago with tourist visas renewable every six months to two years, but financial constraints prevented them from hiring a lawyer for their daughter's visa application this year. Asal was detained at a checkpoint and spent a night in an immigration facility before being sent back to Iran to avoid deportation proceedings.
Economic Pressures and Impossible Choices
Nadr Rahim, who came to Turkey eleven years ago for his children's education, now faces the prospect of returning to Iran due to war-related economic pressures. His motorcycle salesroom in Iran has generated no income since the conflict began, and international sanctions combined with internet outages make transferring funds extremely difficult.
His family only has resources to remain in Turkey for a few more months, despite his children having grown up in Turkey without fluency in Farsi. "If the war continues, we will have no choice but to return," Rahim stated, highlighting the difficult adaptation his family would face.
Women Bearing Double Burdens
A 42-year-old Iranian woman who arrived eight months ago exemplifies the particular challenges faced by women. She and her daughter registered as university students to obtain study visas, with the mother attending morning classes to maintain legal status before working service jobs until 3 a.m.
They share a room with six other people at a women's boarding house, and she can only send small amounts of money to her parents in Iran. "I have a bad life in Turkey, and my parents have a bad life in Iran," she said anonymously. "I came to Turkey with so much hope, to support my parents and build a future. But now I feel hopeless."
From Temporary Refuge to Another
Some Iranians find themselves moving between temporary refuges as options narrow. A 33-year-old freelance architect from Tehran traveled to Turkey during Iran's violent crackdown on protests in January, planning to return when the situation calmed. Instead, the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran that began in February changed her plans.
Unable to work for her usual clients due to internet blackouts and facing the end of her 90-day visa-free stay, she cannot afford longer-term options in Turkey. She has decided to travel to Malaysia instead, where she will receive free accommodation in exchange for building shelters during a month of visa-free stay, with no clear plan beyond that temporary arrangement.
Broader Implications and Uncertain Futures
The situation highlights broader challenges facing Iranian migrants in Turkey:
- Most Iranians in Turkey have temporary status rather than refugee protection
- Economic pressures from the war and sanctions are depleting resources
- Internet blackouts in Iran complicate communication and financial transfers
- Legal pathways for longer-term residence remain limited and expensive
- Families face separation and difficult choices about returning to uncertain conditions
As the war continues, more Iranians may be forced to return to their homeland despite having built lives in Turkey, creating a humanitarian challenge with significant personal costs for thousands of individuals and families caught between two difficult realities.
