Schengen Visa Refusal Rate for Turks Rises Slightly in 2025

Turkey’s Schengen Visa Refusal Rate Edges Upward in 2025

In 2025, Turkish citizens seeking to travel to Europe faced a slightly higher Schengen visa refusal rate, reaching 14.6%. This marks a small increase from the previous year’s 14.5%, according to data released by the European Commission. Despite this marginal rise, Turkey remains a significant source of Schengen visa applications, with over 1.26 million applications filed in 2025. This trend highlights the ongoing demand for travel to Europe among Turkish nationals, even as they navigate an increasingly stringent visa process.

Application Volume and Global Standing

The number of Schengen visa applications submitted by Turkish citizens in 2025 was 1,268,376, an increase from the 1.17 million applications filed in 2024. This volume places Turkey as the second-largest source of Schengen visa applicants globally, following China, which recorded 1.8 million applications. The sustained high number of applications underscores the strong desire for European travel for purposes ranging from tourism and business to education and family visits.

Financial Impact of Refusals

The rising refusal rate has a notable financial consequence for Turkish applicants. It is estimated that between 2024 and 2025, Turkish citizens lost approximately €13.6 million in non-refundable visa application fees due to rejected applications. This figure does not account for additional costs, such as those incurred by unofficial brokers who charge high fees for securing visa appointment slots, which have become increasingly scarce. Reports from May 2026 indicated that some individuals paid as much as €1,000 to secure faster appointments, adding another layer of financial burden to the visa application process.

Greece as a Primary Gateway

Within the Schengen Area, Greece continued to be the main entry point for Turkish travelers in 2025. Greek consulates processed 310,920 applications from Turkish nationals, a rise from 296,377 in the previous year. Greece also issued the highest number of approved visas for Turkish citizens, indicating its central role in facilitating travel for this group. This concentration of applications in Greece means that decisions made by Greek consulates have a significant impact on the overall approval rates for Turkish applicants.

Varied Refusal Rates Across Member States

While Greece serves as a major gateway, refusal rates can vary considerably among different Schengen member states. Malta, for instance, reported a significantly higher refusal rate of 34.8% for Turkish applicants in 2025. Denmark also maintained a higher rejection level, contributing to the overall statistics. These differences highlight that local consular practices and specific screening criteria in each member state can influence the outcome of an application, even for applicants with similar profiles.

Multiple-Entry Visas and Ongoing Stalemate

Out of the approximately 1 million visas issued to Turkish citizens in 2025, a substantial 736,556 were multiple-entry visas. This indicates that many successful applicants are granted permission for repeated travel, offering some flexibility for future trips. However, the broader issue of visa liberalization for Turkish citizens remains unresolved. Turkey continues to fall short of meeting the required benchmarks for visa-free travel to the EU, leaving negotiations in a persistent stalemate. This lack of visa-free access means that Turkish citizens must continue to navigate the application process for each trip to the Schengen Area.

Broader Context of International Travel Screening

The increased scrutiny of Schengen visa applications for Turkish citizens occurs within a wider global trend of tightened international travel screening. In early 2026, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced strengthened screening and vetting processes for foreign nationals seeking entry or immigration benefits. While not specific to Turkey or Schengen visas, such measures reflect a global policy environment where security reviews and eligibility checks are becoming more rigorous across various visa systems. This broader context suggests that applicants from many countries may face more detailed examinations of their applications.

Impact on Travel and Future Outlook

The Schengen visa landscape for Turkish citizens in 2025 presented a picture of high demand coupled with slightly increased rejections and financial pressures. Greece remains a key destination for processing applications, while other member states show more varied outcomes. The ongoing political discussions regarding visa liberalization continue without a clear resolution, meaning the current application process will likely persist. For Turkish travelers, understanding the varying requirements and potential challenges across different Schengen countries is essential for planning international journeys.

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