İZMİR, Türkiye – The Dominican Republic continues to strengthen its consular presence in the Republic of Türkiye with the official opening of the Honorary Consulate of the Dominican Republic in İzmir. This initiative aims to bring consular services closer to Dominican citizens residing in the city and in the provinces of the Aegean region.
The Honorary Consulate was officially inaugurated on September 11, as part of a commemorative reception marking the 163rd anniversary of the Restoration of the Dominican Republic. The event was held in İzmir and attended by local authorities, diplomatic representatives, business leaders, members of the Dominican community, and special guests.
The event was attended by the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Elvis Alam Lora, who highlighted the importance of this new honorary representation as a significant step toward strengthening services for Dominican citizens and expanding opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.
The commencement of operations of the Honorary Consulate marks further progress in the efforts of the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Ankara to facilitate access to consular services and strengthen ties with the Dominican community residing in Türkiye.
The Honorary Consulate Brings Consular Services Closer to the Dominican Community
As of Saturday, September 12, 2026, the Honorary Consulate of the Dominican Republic in İzmir began operating as a point of contact and coordination for Dominican citizens residing in İzmir and the provinces of the Aegean region, in close cooperation with the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Ankara.
This new representation aims to facilitate access to consular services, reduce the difficulties associated with travel, and strengthen assistance and guidance for Dominicans residing in this part of Türkiye. To this end, during scheduled consular service days, authorized teams from the Embassy of the Dominican Republic will travel to İzmir to provide services according to the needs of the community and the arrangements established by the consular authorities.
Among the services that may be provided during these service days are:
-Passport and identity document procedures.
-Biometric procedures and fingerprinting.
-Procedures related to residence permits.
-Visa services.
-Other consular procedures and services, in accordance with applicable regulations and the relevant authorities.
These services will be provided during previously established periods and with the participation of consular officials authorized by the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Ankara.
A Commitment to the Dominican Community
Ambassador Elvis Alam Lora emphasized that the opening of the Honorary Consulate in İzmir reflects the Dominican Republic’s commitment to continue to strengthen the protection and assistance provided to its citizens abroad.
He also highlighted the importance of having coordination mechanisms closer to Dominican communities, particularly in regions where traveling to the Turkish capital may pose a challenge for those seeking to complete consular procedures.
The new honorary representation will help strengthen communication channels between the Embassy, the Honorary Consulate, and Dominican citizens, facilitating access to information about available services and promoting more accessible and efficient assistance.
Statement by Honorary Consul Recep Özekinci
The Honorary Consul of the Dominican Republic in İzmir, Recep Özekinci, expressed his satisfaction with the commencement of consular operations and underscored the importance of this new representation for the Dominican community.
“We are extremely pleased to have begun providing services to our citizens on September 12, immediately following the official opening reception held on September 11. It is particularly important to us that Dominican citizens residing in İzmir and throughout the Aegean region can access consular services in this city without having to travel to Ankara, with the assistance of authorized consular officials from our Embassy during the designated periods.”
Özekinci also emphasized that the Honorary Consulate aspires to play an active role in strengthening relations between the Dominican Republic and Türkiye, particularly through İzmir and the Aegean region.
“Our goal is not only to facilitate consular services for our citizens, but also to contribute to the development of economic, commercial, cultural, and tourism relations between Türkiye and the Dominican Republic, particularly from İzmir and the Aegean region.”
Jurisdiction of the Honorary Consulate
The jurisdiction of the Honorary Consulate of the Dominican Republic in İzmir comprises the following provinces:
İzmir
Manisa
Aydın
Denizli
Muğla
Afyonkarahisar
Kütahya
Uşak
The Honorary Consulate will serve as an important link between the Dominican community in this region and the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Ankara, helping to strengthen institutional communication, consular guidance, and the coordination of services for Dominican citizens.
Strengthening Bilateral Relations
In addition to its consular support function, the opening of the Honorary Consulate in İzmir represents an opportunity to promote bilateral cooperation between the Dominican Republic and Türkiye.
İzmir and the Aegean region have significant strengths in the commercial, industrial, tourism, cultural, and services sectors, offering opportunities to expand exchanges and promote new collaborative initiatives.
In this context, the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Ankara and the Honorary Consulate in İzmir will continue working to promote closer relations between the two countries, foster institutional and business contacts, and contribute to strengthening economic, commercial, cultural, and tourism ties.
With the commencement of operations of this new representation, the Dominican Republic reaffirms its commitment to bring its services closer to Dominican citizens abroad, strengthening its institutional presence in Türkiye, and continuing to build bridges of cooperation and friendship between the two nations.
