In 2023, only 867,545 visa applications submitted by Turkish citizens were accepted. This marks a significant challenge for Turkish nationals seeking entry into the Schengen area. The financial burden is notable, with around 68 million euros spent on approved visas. Unfortunately, nearly 13 million euros were lost due to approximately 170,000 visa denials, according to Schengen.News.
Turkey ranked as the second-largest source of Schengen visa applications in 2023, with over one million submissions. This brought the total expenditure to 84 million euros. Despite the high number of applications, the rejection rates have drastically impacted Turkish citizens. Data from the Schengen Statistics Portal reveals that the total cost of rejected visa applications for Turkish residents has reached 619 million euros between 2014 and 2023.
The number of rejected visa applications for Turkish applicants has seen a sharp increase, tripling from 35,971 in 2014 to 169,514 in 2023. Consequently, the share of rejected visas rose from 4.4 percent to 16.1 percent over the same period. This trend highlights a growing challenge for Turkish nationals in securing Schengen visas.
Since the commencement of visa liberalisation talks between Turkey and the European Union in 2013, Turkish nationals have invested substantial amounts in Schengen visas, totalling 619 million euros. Germany, in particular, rejected the highest number of visa requests from Turks in 2023, with 55,495 denials, accounting for 32.7 percent of all rejections. Greece followed with 36,112 rejections (21.3 percent), and France with 19,586 denials (11.5 percent), as reported by Schengen.News.
The financial implications of these rejections are significant. In 2023, Turkish nationals spent 4.4 million euros on rejected visa applications to Germany, 2.9 million euros to Greece, 1.6 million euros to France, 1.1 million euros to the Netherlands, and 875,000 euros to Italy. As of June 11, 2024, the cost of Schengen visa applications will increase by 12 percent. This price hike means that Turkish nationals will see their visa application expenses rise from 84.4 million euros in 2023 to approximately 95 million euros.
Interestingly, some countries exhibited higher approval rates for Turkish visa applicants. In 2023, Portugal approved 93 percent of visa applications from Turkish nationals, followed by Italy at 91.1 percent, Slovakia at 88.8 percent, Poland at 86.6 percent, and Spain at 86.5 percent. On the other hand, Denmark, Estonia, and Lithuania had the lowest approval rates, with Denmark granting visas to only 55.8 percent of applicants, Estonia to 57.5 percent, and Lithuania to 63.9 percent of Turkish applicants.
In addition to these challenges, it’s important to note that Turkey has faced a persistent double standard in its relationship with the European Union. Since 1999, when Turkey was officially recognised as a candidate for full EU membership, the process has been marked by numerous delays and setbacks. Despite significant efforts to align with EU standards, the promise of full membership has yet to be realised, and this has been seen by many as a sign of the EU’s inconsistent approach towards Turkey.
This rising trend of visa rejections poses a significant obstacle for Turkish citizens, affecting their travel plans and financial stability. The increasing costs and high rejection rates indicate a need for reassessment and improvement in the visa application processes to better facilitate legitimate travel and exchange between Turkey and Schengen countries.
