Wrongly written ID names to be changed without court decision

ANKARA

Turkish ID holders whose names have been wrongly written on their cards, or whose names violate the surname code, will be able to change them without needing a court decision, according to a draft regulation announced by Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım on June 28, daily Habertürk reported.

The bill aims to ease the name changing process of ID holders, allowing changes to be made with the decision of a provincial or district board of governors. According to the current rules, court approval is required for such name change demands.

The regulation also aims to bring about similar changes to ease other paperwork processes. Accordingly, citizens who have three names will have all three of them written openly on their ID cards.

It also suggests that birth notification actions will be made at health institutions where the birth occurred, and if done in a timely manner no payments will have to be made.

Meanwhile, the draft also suggests that the records of people not processed for a long time, as well as those who are likely to be dead based on their age, will be closed.

In addition, foreigners who hold residency permits will be able to get ID numbers and will be formally be registered as “foreigners.” However, in order to receive ID numbers without holding a residency permit, foreigners will need to apply to the Interior Ministry, according to the draft.