The EU to facilitate Schengen visas for Turkish citizens
04 June 2024
Turkish citizens are the second-largest group of Schengen travel visa applicants, with over 1 million requests and a 30% surge in applications in 2023.
At the same time, Türkiye has experienced a disproportionately high rate of Schengen visa rejections compared to other countries like Algeria, India, and Morocco. Between 2019 and 2023, the rejection rates for Turkish applicants rose by a 15% average, although the EU claims "There is no significant change in the rejection rate from last year to this year."
To address the issue, Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan recently announced one-on-one discussions with member state officials and new engagements with EU institutions to accelerate visa processes, particularly for business professionals and students. The EU has confirmed ongoing efforts at the Brussels level to streamline certain visa procedures.
 | Yakup Can Yargıç As of today, numerous issues have significantly hindered the ability of Turkish citizens to travel to Europe. The basic fees for Schengen visas have increased from €80 to €90 for adults, giving leeway for private travel companies to charge exorbitant prices for documents and services. Even many Turkish academics and journalists receiving invitations from European institutions have faced challenges in obtaining visas. Those who managed to obtain them often faced restrictions on duration and entry. There have also been reports of difficulties in obtaining visas for truck drivers, which creates bottlenecks in transporting goods between Türkiye and the EU. This stands in stark opposition to citizens of nearly all EU member countries who have the privilege of entering Türkiye with only their ID cards. The EU and Türkiye’s Visa Liberalisation Dialogue has been ongoing for 11 years, yet Türkiye has made little progress in meeting the criteria required for visa liberalisation. The new efforts in Brussels bring hope that the lengthy Schengen visa application process can at least be made easier. |
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