Schengen visa application process continues to be a problem. Increasing and deteriorating situation with delays and waiting periods, rejections made on null reasons, approvals coming after travel dates, issues in application processes, visas limited strictly with the travel dates impede intersocietal dimension of the EU-Türkiye relations. IKV Chairperson Ayhan Zeytinoğlu evaluated the issues through newly published 2023 Schengen statistics.

“As IKV, we follow the Schengen visa process, which is one of the painful fields of the EU-Türkiye relations. We shared problems faced by Turkish citizens with the EU and convey our demands for a solution. Besides, we call for completion of the six remaining criteria as soon as possible in the visa liberalization process. According to 2023 Schengen visa statistics, Türkiye is the second country behind China in terms of number of Schengen visa applications with a total number of 1.055.885 applications. With these applications, 612.841 multiple entry Uniform Schengen Visas were given while the rejection rate was 21.7%. Average rate of rejection was 15.7% in 2022, which indicates 6 points of increase. Number of applications from Türkiye went up 36.5%.

When we merely consider €80 fee for visa application, Turkish citizens paid 85€ million in 2023. The total cost increases up to an amount between €120 million and €150 million if spendings for banking, translation and notary procedures and additional fees for process acceleration are considered. This situation creates non-tariff barriers for citizens of Türkiye, which is a candidate country and an associate for the Customs Union.

-The highest number of applications were received by Greece, Germany, France and Italy in 2023.

-The rate of rejection was 21.7% with 6 points increase.

-Estonia, Denmark, Finland and Belgium were the countries with the highest rejection rates.

-The least rate of rejections belongs to Slovakia, Italy, Slovenia and Portugal.

The details for approval and rejection rates of the countries as follows: The highest number of applications were received by Greece, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Portugal, Hungary and Austria in order. Greece received 254.377 applications, and these applications were made in Greek missions in Istanbul, Edirne, İzmir and Ankara. The least rate of rejection was for the applications made in Edirne (2.3%) and İzmir (7.2%). Germany received 253.472 applications. Rejection rate for applications made in Ankara was 27.1%; 21.5% for İstanbul and 13.1% for İzmir. Estonia has the highest rate of rejection with 42.5%; Denmark with 39.4%; Finland with 31.3%; Belgium with 27.5%; Germany with 22%; Croatia with 21%; Spain with 20.8%; Czech Republic with 20.6%. Countries with the least rejection rates are listed as Slovakia with 6.6%; Italy with 8.7%; Slovenia with 10.92%; Portugal with 11.94%; France and Greece with 14.6%; Hungary with 14.9% and Sweden with 19.22%. 2023 rejection rates have not been announced by some countries such as the Netherlands, Norway and Poland.