Turkish citizens applying for Schengen visas face significant challenges as they struggle to find available appointments across European countries.
Applicants are often subjected to long waiting periods and sometimes incur additional costs due to the difficulty in securing an appointment.
Those who do manage to obtain an appointment have to endure extensive delays. The process of obtaining a visa from consulates has become increasingly difficult, and citizens frequently have to absorb extra costs to facilitate their applications. Moreover, the chances of receiving only short-term visas are rising, and many applicants are being rejected.
In addition to the logistical challenges, Turkish citizens face high application fees. The visa fee stands at 80 Euros, with an additional service charge by intermediary agencies ranging approximately between 30-40 Euros.
Appointments Remain Elusive
Other than Germany, appointments are regularly unavailable and only sporadically open. When they do open, the available dates are typically one to two months in the future. Germany, on the other hand, revised its appointment system in March, making it mandatory to join an online queue to secure an appointment.
According to information from intermediary agencies, finding an appointment has been a prolonged and challenging ordeal. The difficulty is so severe that even offering extra payment does not guarantee securing an appointment.
Extra Payments Not Sufficient
According to a report by Serkan Üstün from Sözcü, application centers offer various premium services such as VIP, Premium Lounge, and flexible early appointments for additional fees. While these services are designed to provide convenience, the overwhelming demand makes even these premium appointments hard to obtain, and they are often fully booked.
Short Visa Validity Periods
While rejection rates are currently lower compared to six months ago, they can fluctuate significantly.
Even when visas are granted, they are often not for extended durations, leaving many applicants with shorter validity than needed.
This ongoing situation indicates a growing issue for Turkish citizens who need timely and effective access to Schengen visas, impacting both personal and professional travel plans within Europe.
Meanwhile, at the second Turkiye-EU High-Level Dialogue Meeting on science, research, technology, and innovation in Istanbul, Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır emphasized the critical need to remove artificial barriers to facilitate the collaboration of Turkish researchers, engineers, and innovative firms with their European counterparts, highlighting the vital importance of visa exemptions for these dynamic contributors to Europe’s innovation and technology ecosystem.
