In 2023, Turkey ranked as the second-largest applicant for visas to European Union countries, following China. According to European Commission data, the number of visa applications from Turkey exceeded 1 million, marking a 37% increase compared to the previous year. These applications accounted for nearly 11% of all Schengen visa applications.
Visa Rejection Rates
- 21.7% of applications from Turkey were rejected.
- In comparison, despite strict Western sanctions, the rejection rate for Russian applicants was 19.7%, lower than Turkey’s.
- Notably, the rejection rate was significantly lower in 2014, standing at just 4.4%, when approximately 883,000 applications were made.
Most Popular and Most Restrictive Countries
The countries receiving the highest number of visa applications from Turkey were:
- Greece
- Germany
- France
- Italy
Countries with the highest rejection rates for Turkish applications included:
- Estonia: 42.5%
- Denmark: 39.4%
- Finland: 31.3%
- Belgium: 27.5%
Countries with the lowest rejection rates were:
- Slovakia: 6.6%
- Italy: 8.7%
- Slovenia: 10.9%
- Portugal: 11.9%
- Greece and France: 14.6%
Economic Impact of Visa Applications
Turkish applicants spent a total of €84.4 million solely on application fees in 2023. When factoring in additional costs such as bank fees, translations, notarizations, and expedited processing, the total expenditure is estimated to be between €120 million and €150 million.
Policy Changes in Turkey
In a move to restructure the visa application process, the Turkish Grand National Assembly has passed a proposal to transfer visa processing responsibilities from intermediary companies to the Foundation for Strengthening the Foreign Ministry Organization.
- In 2023, intermediary companies generated ₺4.4 billion in revenue from visa services, while the Turkish Treasury recorded ₺1.1 billion in income.
This shift aims to centralize the process, potentially increasing transparency and reducing costs for applicants.
