Among the migrants fleeing civil wars are children who have lost their parents. Such children are often placed in institutional care, yet little is known about their experiences transitioning out of care as they become young adults. This study examined the post-care trajectories of Syrian migrant women transitioning from institutional care in Türkiye, highlighting how gender, migration status, and structural inequalities intersect to shape their pathways to independent adulthood. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten young women transitioning from care. Four main themes emerged from the interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings: (1) Constant changes in residences and insecure residences indicate settlement problems; (2) lack of education/vocational skills, employment inequality, lack of insurance, and difficult working conditions leading to temporary/precarious work; (3) lack of institutional support and limited relationships with families of origin/close circles indicate a lack of social capital; and (4) restrictions on Syrians are bureaucratic barriers that prevent young people from accessing travel and work rights and benefiting from aftercare services. This study reveals that existing gaps in social work practice and child welfare legislation in Türkiye, especially regarding access to education, vocational training, secure housing, employment support, and social capital development, create significant barriers for young migrant women leaving institutional care. These shortcomings contribute to persistent instability and exclusion, highlighting the need for gender-sensitive, inclusive, continuity-oriented aftercare policies.
