Türkiye welcomes European Commission's initiative to improve multiple-entry Schengen visas
Turkish citizens will be able to obtain multiple-entry Schengen visas more quickly and easily for the first time, Turkish Foreign Ministry sources announced Friday.
Under negotiations with the EU since 2024, a facilitation process has been initiated by the European Commission that will allow Turkish nationals to obtain their first multiple-entry Schengen visas more efficiently.
Under the framework, subsequent applications will allow for multiple-entry visas with progressively longer validity periods.
The anticipated enhancements aim to prevent difficulties faced by Turkish citizens during the Schengen visa process, including frequent rejections of short-term visas and the issuance of visas with shorter validity periods upon renewal, even for those who previously held multiple-entry visas.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry welcomed the initiative, noting that relevant Turkish institutions will continue to work in coordination with the European Commission to improve the Schengen visa application procedure for Turkish citizens.
Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat told Anadolu that they have consistently raised the issues on every platform within the EU, including the EU Commission, the EU Council, Brussels and in bilateral meetings with member states.
Bolat noted that they have consistently told EU officials and member states that "visa liberalization is the right of citizens of Türkiye under international agreements."
He stated that EU officials repeatedly emphasized Türkiye's high volume of Schengen visa applications, noting that over 1 million visas are issued annually with an average rejection rate of 15%.
Bolat underlined that Türkiye has consistently called for urgent visa facilitation for students, academics, businesspeople, and other professionals, most recently during the Türkiye-EU High-Level Trade Dialogue Meeting in Ankara on July 1.
- Significant step
Bolat said the EU Commission's official response to Türkiye's requests, by initiating the process, marks a significant step toward easing visa procedures and enhancing cooperation in trade, education, culture, tourism, and investment.
He emphasized that positive discussions between Türkiye and the EU will continue, adding that Ankara expects negotiations to begin on expanding and modernizing the Customs Union to include the services sector and e-commerce, noting that both sides are ready to start once the European Council gives its approval.
Thomas Hans Ossowski, head of the EU Delegation to Türkiye, said in a press briefing that “all these changes that we introduced now are also a demonstration of goodwill of member states, of Schengen States, towards travelers from Türkiye, Turkish citizens coming to the European Union.”
Stating that easing the visa process through the so-called "cascade reform" is an important improvement, he added: “The only solution lies in an effective and successful visa liberalization dialogue,” to address long consulate wait times and the rising demand for Schengen travel.
Ossowski noted that nearly 1.2 million visa applications from Türkiye were issued last year, a 10% increase compared to 2023, and said 65% of the visas issued were multiple-entry, exceeding the global average. He also pointed out that Türkiye's visa rejection rate stood at 14.5%, which is lower than the global average of around 16%.
He stated that all EU candidate countries except Türkiye benefit from visa-free travel, adding: "So it is urgent, it is urgent to re-engage in this process of visa-free travel between Türkiye and the Schengen space and the European Union.”
Calling Türkiye a “great country” with exemplary “hospitality, respect, empathy,” Ossowski emphasized that he will continue efforts to strengthen relations between the EU and Türkiye.
- 1st comprehensive talks on Schengen visas held in Ankara
In December 2024, the first comprehensive meeting on Schengen visas was held in Ankara, where it was agreed to hold regular meetings on visa matters according to a set schedule with embassies in Ankara.
Within this framework, the consular units of Schengen countries' missions in Türkiye held consecutive detailed talks with the ministry, addressing each issue individually.
