"Good news for Turkish citizens regarding Schengen."

18.07.2025 13:31

The Minister of Trade, Ömer Bolat, announced that for individuals applying for a visa for the first time, there will be the possibility of granting long-term multiple-entry visas for up to 6 months for their second applications, and subsequently for 1, 2, 3, and 5 years. Bolat also stated that the European Commission has prepared a new document regarding the facilitation and acceleration of Schengen visas for Turkish citizens and sent it to the member countries.

The Minister of Trade, Bolat, talked about the history of the Schengen visa application and explained the difficulties experienced in this application in recent years.

Bolat noted that in recent years, there have been negative experiences such as long appointment times for obtaining the Schengen visa, issuance of very short-term visas, or rejection of visa applications, and stated that they have continuously raised these issues at every platform with the EU, in the EU Commission, the EU Council, in Brussels, and in bilateral meetings with member countries.

Bolat expressed that since they took office in June 2023, they have been progressing with a positive agenda with the EU Commission, stating that a high-level trade dialogue has been initiated, important meetings have been held in Brussels and Ankara, and they have started to eliminate the barriers in between.

AFTER CHINA, TURKEY IS THE COUNTRY WITH THE MOST VISAS ISSUED

Bolat conveyed that they have always told EU officials and member countries, "Visa liberalization is the right of the citizens of the Republic of Turkey according to international agreements," and continued his words as follows:

"Secondly, while waiting for the process of lifting the visa barrier, it is necessary to provide visa facilitation for Turkish citizens traveling to EU countries for tourism, trade, transportation, and education purposes, and long appointment times should be shortened." We said, "The human resources and equipment at the embassies and consulates of EU countries in Turkey need to be increased, facilities need to be expanded, and the computer systems need to be renewed and developed; we are always ready for cooperation on this matter."

Bolat recalled that during this process, EU officials have always told them, "After China, the country with the most Schengen visas issued in the world is Turkey. We issue over 1 million visas a year, and the visa rejection rate is an average of 15%."

A NEW DOCUMENT ON SIMPLIFICATION AND ACCELERATION IN SCHENGEN VISAS HAS BEEN PREPARED

Trade Minister Bolat stated that they have always conveyed the urgent need for facilitation for students, academics, business people, managers, engineers, technicians, and transporters regarding visa requirements, and mentioned that they had serious discussions at the Turkey-EU High-Level Trade Dialogue Meeting held in Ankara on July 1.

Recalling that officials told them, "As the EU Commission, we have prepared a new facilitation and visa acceleration process. This will be released very soon," Bolat used the following expressions:

"We are pleased to see that the EU Commission has prepared a new document on facilitation and acceleration of Schengen visas for the citizens of the Republic of Turkey as of yesterday and has sent it to the member countries. This anticipates that especially for our citizens who have previously obtained a visa, traveled regularly, and returned to Turkey, since they do not pose any migration and security risk, long-term and multiple-entry visas will be granted for first-time applicants in their second applications, first for up to 6 months, then for up to 1 year, then for up to 2 years, and then for up to 3 years and 5 years. This is an important and positive development for our citizens in terms of tourism, business, trade, investment, education, academia, and NGO meetings."

THE EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES HAVE NO EXCUSE LEFT

Trade Minister Bolat emphasized that from now on, the embassies or consulates of the 25 countries included in Schengen have no excuse left.

Stating that arrangements need to be made in consulates and embassies to speed up this process, Bolat made the following statements:

"That is, we urgently expect them to make improvements in building equipment, human resources, and computer and technical equipment. We can now comfortably express that the EU Commission has positively responded to our requests on this matter as the Government of the Republic of Turkey. It has initiated the process of granting multiple-entry and long-term Schengen visas with an official document it prepared and sent to the member countries. This is an important development that will enhance cooperation in trade, education, culture, tourism, and investment between Turkey and EU member countries. Because a visa is a physical barrier. It hinders the movement of people. The process in this regard has now been softened and accelerated."

WORK WILL CONTINUE FOR FIRST-TIME APPLICANTS

Minister Bolat stated that they will also work on and make requests for those who will apply for a visa for the first time in the upcoming process, saying, "(In the upcoming period) a facilitation and acceleration process will be achieved for those who will apply for the first time. I believe this. As long as we comply with these regulations."

In this context, Bolat stated that positive discussions between Turkey and the EU will continue and concluded his remarks as follows:

"We expect negotiations to be opened regarding the expansion of the Customs Union and now modernizing it to include the services sector and e-commerce. The EU Commission has already made its recommendation on this matter. The issue is currently with the Council of EU Ministers. As soon as approval is given from there, we, as the Turkish side, are already ready for negotiations. The EU Commission is also ready."

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