Accepting citizenship applications for Kurds according to Decree 13 in Jazira 

On April 6, 2026, centers for accepting applications for Syrian citizenship opened in the cities of Qamishlo, Çil Agha, Derik, and Hasakah in Jazira region, for those covered by the provisions of Legislative Decree No. 13 of 2026, for a period of one month (until May 6).

According to the Ministry of Interior of the interim government, the first phase focuses on receiving applications and verifying documents and proofs according to legal principles, in preparation for completing citizenship granting procedures.

In the city of Qamishlo, applications are received at the Martyrs of March 12 Stadium, while in Çil Agha, they are received at the city's Civil Affairs Center.

The registration process is managed by joint committees consisting of a varying number of members depending on the city. In Çil Agha, for example, the committee guides applicants regarding required documents and receives applications. It includes 5 members from the interim government, 2 members from the legal team of the Syrian Red Crescent, in addition to 6 members from the Autonomous Administration committees.

The head of the Çil Agha Center Committee, Jalal Ahmed Al-Ahmad, told ANHA agency that work at the center will continue for a full month, and applications are received daily from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

For his part, legal advisor and member of the Syrian Red Crescent legal team, lawyer Omar Daman, explained that applications are divided into two types: individual applications for those who have not obtained citizenship, and family applications covering family members whose records were withheld (maktoumi al-qayd), whether inside Syria or abroad.

He pointed out that the required documents include a certificate of identification from the village/town chief (mukhtar), a residency permit, a personal photo matching the identification certificate, in addition to an electricity or water bill, or any official document issued by a court if available, to complete the application file.

Meanwhile, a member of the Autonomous Administration committee tasked with receiving applications, Younis Hajji, stated that the committee is working to fill out citizenship application forms to ensure an organized process and to enable all those covered by Decree No. 13 to obtain Syrian citizenship.

He added that the first phase of implementing the decree includes the category of those with withheld records, and does not include those previously classified as "foreigners," pending the completion of this phase.

He concluded by affirming that the committee will continue its work and provide services to citizens until the last day of the registration period.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Interior of the Syrian interim government announced the start of accepting applications for Syrian citizenship for those covered by the provisions of Legislative Decree No. 13 of 2026, concerning the granting of citizenship to Kurds who were deprived of it, effective Monday, April 6, as part of the first phase of implementing the decree.

Nine locations were designated to receive applications in the cities of Hasakah, Darbasiyah, Qamishlo, Çil Agha, Derik, Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and Damascus.

It is worth noting that the head of the Syrian interim government, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, issued Decree No. 13 of 2026 on January 16, which states that Syrian Kurdish citizens are an authentic part of the Syrian people, and that their cultural and linguistic identity is an integral part of the diverse and unified Syrian national identity.

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ANHA

DERIK

CIL AXA

QAMISLO