Turkic states plan ID-only travel for citizens, says OTS chief

Citizens of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) may soon enjoy easier travel across member countries using only national ID cards, according to a statement made by OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev.

During an informal summit of the Council of Heads of State held in Budapest on May 21, Omuraliev highlighted that the initiative, already in effect between Azerbaijan and Türkiye, is aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties and easing mobility within the Turkic world, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

The OTS secretary general said the mentioned initiative allows citizens of OTS member states to travel using just their identity cards. “We plan to extend this arrangement to include other member countries shortly.”

Notably, the Organization of Turkic States includes Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan as full members, with Hungary, Turkmenistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus participating as observers.

By Khagan Isayev