Seven interesting alternatives to irregular migration for Iraqi Kurds

Seven interesting alternatives to irregular migration for Iraqi Kurds

What are the options for Iraqi Kurds looking for a better life, without risking their life and savings migrating irregularly from Iraq to Europe? Learn about four legal avenues to Europe and three employment and livelihood opportunities available in Iraq.

Legal alternatives to irregular migration to Europe

It is important to consider the options in Iraqi Kurdistan to improve the economic situation of potential migrants, as thousands of Iraqis lost their savings migrating irregularly to Europe.

There are safer and more secure ways than irregular migration to improve lives and livelihoods. For example:

• There are many organisations offering free trainings, cash for work programmes and job placement services in Iraqi Kurdistan.
• There are also ways to enter Europe legally which are cheaper, safer and more secure. Thousands have lost their lives on irregular journeys to the continent, consider the legal options first and foremost.

Resettlement

Asylum is a means to seek international protection from persecution and serious harm in your own country. Once you are in a safe country, such as Turkey, you can apply for resettlement to a European country. This process is legal, much cheaper and safer.

In 2016, 4,333 Iraqis were resettled from Turkey to other countries such as The Netherlands, Germany and the United States. Migrants who are offered resettlement can fly to their destination country with the assurance of a residency permit. The UN resettled 125,800 refugees in 2016.

More information about resettlement with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) here.

Family reunification

For the past 20 years, family reunification has been one of the main reasons for immigration into the EU. It enables those living legally in Europe to be joined by their family.

In other words, if a direct family member has refugee status or legal permanent residency in a European country, it is possible that a spouse, parent or child might be able to join them. The migrant’s relative must apply for their family members to join them.

European countries may impose a waiting period and some conditions before allowing family reunification, such as accommodation, sufficient resources and health insurance. More information about legal residents’ rights here.

Student visas

Those accepted into a European university and who can pay the fees can apply for a student Schengen visa allowing them to study, travel and work (part-time). It’s holder is allowed to follow studies in the Schengen Area without having the country’s citizenship or an immigrant visa.

Tuition fees can be cheaper than irregular migration. A bachelor’s degree at the University of Amsterdam, for example, costs around 9,000 euros. On the other hand, the irregular journey to Europe may cost up to 20,000 USD.

More info about student Schengen visa application here.

Work visas

A Working visa is an authorisation from a country within the Schengen Area allowing its holder to work for a company or institution in the Area as well as reside alone or with his/her family without the country’s citizenship.

Migrants can travel legally to Europe if they have found a job in advance that can provide a work visa. These jobs usually require specialist skills that are needed in the destination country. Most jobs are advertised online and can be applied for from Iraq.

All information about employment Schengen visas here.

Alternative options for Iraqi Kurds

Despite what one may think, there may be as many employment and business opportunities for Iraqi Kurds in Iraq as in Europe, as far as irregular migration is concerned. Below are just a few inspiring examples.

Career fairs in Iraqi Kurdistan

There have been Career Fair platforms in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq since 2013. Career Fairs connect businesses that are looking for new employees with job seeking university graduates and internship seekers.

In June 2018, the University of Kurdistan – Hewler successfully held a Career Fair in Erbil, gathering more than 20 companies from the telecommunications, humanitarian, automotive, food and beverages, and oil and gas sectors. In total, it brought together more than 100 job opportunities.

Looking for other networking and business opportunities? Why not attend the next TEDx Nishtiman event? In 2018, it attracted more than 6000 youth volunteers from all over the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. “I was inspired by the event today and it made me rethink about all the plans I had in my head and maybe it’s time to start applying them in reality,” a newly graduated attendee concluded after the event.

Web-based employment and training

If finding conventional jobs in Kurdistan is difficult, migrants can consider alternative livelihood options and acquire new skills on the internet. There are organisations that offer free support such as IOM MAGNET, which provides vocational training and job placements via a website for returnees in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Returnees considering re-migration, may find IOM’s job placement database to be a useful resource.

Vocational training programmes

Various NGOs are running vocational training and cash for work programmes. There, participants are paid to help upgrade schools and build roads and/or are trained in new skills to help them find jobs.

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) operates a Job Seeker Support Centre near Erbil, which has offered employment services to over 10,000 people since 2015.

Another example, the Middle-Eastern incubator Five One Labs conducted an intensive training for 40 young entrepreneurs from Iraqi Kurdistan and Syria in May and September 2018 in Erbil. Five One Labs will continue providing this type of training all over the country.

Conclusion

• There are wiser ways to improve one’s life than trying to migrate irregularly to Europe from the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
• There are 4 main legal avenues to Europe: student visas, working visas, family reunification and resettlement to a European country.
• One can find a job or launch a successful business in Iraqi Kurdistan.
• Vocational trainings, employment and business related events, as well as online job opportunities are among the opportunities Iraqi Kurds may seize.

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