An IMGW News Report
The Turkish government has welcomed the European Commission’s decision to ease Schengen visa procedures for Turkish citizens – though the changes apply only to those who have previously held visas and complied with the rules.
In a statement on Friday, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said: “We welcome the Implementation Decision of the EU Commission dated 15 July 2025, which envisions improvements in Schengen visa procedures for our citizens. Together with the relevant institutions and the EU Commission, we will continue our efforts to improve the Schengen visa application processes for our citizens.”
For years, Turkish citizens have voiced frustration over the complexity and cost of securing Schengen visas. Under the new measures, applicants with a clean visa history will benefit from longer and multiple-entry permits.
Trade Minister Ömer Bolat outlined the phased approach: “For those who have obtained a visa for the first time, the possibility will be introduced to issue long-term and multiple-entry visas in their subsequent applications – initially up to six months, then one year, two years, three years, and eventually up to five years.”
The Commission said returning applicants posed a lower risk in terms of migration and security than first-time applicants.
According to EU statistics, Turkish nationals submitted 1,173,917 Schengen visa applications in 2024, of which 993,875 were approved, including 645,583 multiple-entry visas. Turkey ranked second after China (1,779,255 applications), followed by India (1,108,239).
Although a candidate for EU membership since 1999, Turkey’s accession process has stalled due to democratic backsliding, human rights concerns, and foreign policy disputes. EU reluctance over visas also reflects unease at the rising number of asylum claims by Turks: in 2024, nearly 47,000 lodged asylum applications, accounting for 5.1 per cent of all claims within the bloc.
