Schengen Visa Process to Ease for Turkish Citizens: Major Step in EU-Türkiye Dialogue
Turkish citizens will soon find it easier to secure multiple-entry Schengen visas, thanks to a new facilitation initiative led by the European Commission, Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday.
For the first time, Turkish nationals applying for Schengen visas will benefit from streamlined procedures, making it easier to obtain multi-entry permits. The development follows ongoing negotiations between Türkiye and the European Union that began in 2024 and marks a significant step in easing long-standing visa hurdles faced by Turkish travelers.
Under the updated framework, first-time applicants will gain quicker access to multiple-entry visas, while subsequent applications will see increasingly longer validity periods. This process aims to counter widespread issues such as short-term visa approvals and frequent rejections—even for applicants with strong travel histories.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry welcomed the European Commission’s move and emphasized that Türkiye’s relevant institutions will continue to coordinate with EU bodies to improve the Schengen visa process further.
Persistent Advocacy by Turkish Officials
Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat highlighted that the visa issue has been persistently raised with European authorities at all levels. "Visa liberalization is the rightful expectation of Turkish citizens under international agreements," Bolat told Anadolu Agency. He noted that Türkiye sees over 1 million Schengen visa applications annually, with an average rejection rate of 15%.
During the recent Türkiye-EU High-Level Trade Dialogue Meeting in Ankara on July 1, Turkish officials reiterated the urgency of easing visa procedures for students, academics, businesspeople, and other professionals.
Bolat hailed the EU Commission’s response as a breakthrough that not only supports Turkish mobility but also strengthens cooperation in trade, culture, education, tourism, and investment. He also expressed hope that negotiations would soon begin to modernize the EU-Türkiye Customs Union to include services and e-commerce, pending approval from the European Council.
EU Perspective: A Gesture of Goodwill
Thomas Hans Ossowski, head of the EU Delegation to Türkiye, described the visa facilitation as a "demonstration of goodwill" by EU member states. He pointed to the so-called "cascade reform" as a meaningful upgrade, stressing that true progress lies in reviving the stalled visa liberalization dialogue.
"All EU candidate countries except Türkiye currently benefit from visa-free travel," Ossowski noted, urging the revival of talks to address growing demand and long consulate delays. He revealed that Türkiye submitted nearly 1.2 million Schengen visa applications last year—a 10% increase from 2023—with 65% resulting in multiple-entry visas, above the global average. Türkiye’s rejection rate of 14.5% also remains lower than the worldwide norm of 16%.
Calling Türkiye a “great country” with unmatched “hospitality, respect, and empathy,” Ossowski pledged to continue efforts to strengthen bilateral ties.
December Talks Mark Turning Point
In a key milestone, Türkiye hosted the first comprehensive meeting on Schengen visa policy in Ankara in December 2024. Regular meetings were scheduled between Turkish officials and EU embassy representatives to address visa challenges methodically. Since then, detailed consular consultations have tackled various issues, laying the groundwork for the current reforms.
As the facilitation process gains momentum, both sides appear poised to enter a new phase of engagement, with hopes of eventual visa liberalization still on the table.
Source: Anadolu Agency
