Damascus, Dec. 11 (SANA)The Consular Affairs Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates announced on Thursday that the Syrian Consulate in Istanbul has completed 26,152 transactions during October and November of this year—an unprecedented record for the mission.
Mohammed Yaqub al-Omar, Director of the Consular Affairs Directorate, told SANA that this milestone reflects the results of a comprehensive modernization plan carried out by the ministry throughout the year. The upgrades included infrastructure improvements, streamlined procedures, and enhanced service capacity, all of which significantly boosted the consulate’s operational performance to meet the needs of the Syrian community in Turkey.
According to al-Omar, the steady month-to-month increase in completed applications underscores the growing level of trust among Syrians abroad and the consulate’s expanding efficiency. Over the two-month period, the consulate issued 8,907 regular passports and 1,562 expedited passports, bringing the total to more than 10,000 passports.
In the area of certifications, the consulate processed 9,960 general certifications and 3,034 educational certifications. It also completed 1,281 powers of attorney and handled 1,161 requests for official documents from Syria. Additionally, 77 other services were provided under the “To Whom It May Concern” category. al-Omar emphasized that these figures reflect the ministry’s commitment to providing high-quality services to Syrians abroad.
He attributed the consulate’s impressive performance to major structural and procedural upgrades. The certifications hall was expanded from just 12 square meters to 100 square meters, and a new waiting area was built to reduce congestion and improve workflow. As a result, the daily passport-processing capacity jumped from roughly 70 passports per day to up to 500, significantly accelerating service delivery.
Al-Omar added that the modernization efforts also boosted the productivity of other departments. The number of powers of attorney completed per day doubled from 25 to 50, thanks to improved task distribution and a larger staff. The consulate also increased its daily capacity for certifications to 1,000 transactions, resulting in faster and smoother services for visitors. To support this expansion, the ministry assigned 25 additional employees to strengthen various sections.
He stressed that these achievements are not merely numerical successes, but evidence of the ministry’s firm commitment to serving Syrian nationals abroad professionally and efficiently. The goal, he said, is to enhance trust in the consulate’s ability to deliver reliable and timely services.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates continues to prioritize support for Syrian communities abroad by enhancing consular services, facilitating travel documentation, improving legal and commercial services, and ensuring that citizens receive assistance according to the highest professional standards.
