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Turkish citizens across all social strata—from business professionals to students and tourists—are encountering unprecedented obstacles in obtaining Schengen visas, while intermediary agencies exploit the situation through questionable practices that have transformed visa applications into a lucrative industry.
According to a report by Turkish daily Sozcu, travel agency officials have highlighted a concerning trend: despite a marked increase in the number of people wanting to travel abroad post-pandemic, Schengen visa quotas have significantly decreased. This imbalance has created a severe bottleneck in the application process, affecting citizens from all walks of life in Türkiye.
The situation has worsened as in the past, Turkish citizens who struggled with the visa process could at least secure appointments and receive clear feedback on applications. Now, they face extreme difficulty even obtaining appointment slots, with subsequent visa rejections frequently lacking substantive justification. What makes this particularly frustrating for applicants is that the official criteria for visas have not changed, yet rejection rates have climbed without transparent explanations.
The waiting periods have reached extraordinary lengths across different countries. The United States currently schedules visa appointments approximately two years in advance, while Germany requires at least a six-month wait. According to the reporting, Italy has been identified as the country creating the most significant obstacles for Turkish visa applicants, though specific details about Italian visa practices were not elaborated in the original information.
Firuz Baglikaya, head of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB), has drawn attention to how certain agencies are capitalizing on this desperate situation. He explains that following the pandemic, many consulates transferred visa processing responsibilities to intermediary institutions, which now operate with considerable autonomy and minimal oversight.
These intermediary agencies have developed various mechanisms to extract additional fees from visa applicants. Services marketed under labels such as "Premium Lounge" and "VIP application" promise expedited processing or preferential treatment. What makes these practices particularly problematic, according to Baglikaya, is that these transactions often occur without proper documentation. The agencies retain the power to arbitrarily cancel appointments and implement other practices that generate unjustified profits at the expense of already frustrated applicants.
The severity of the situation has prompted TURSAB to take action. Baglikaya announced that the organization will convene with agencies next week to initiate legal proceedings against these exploitative practices, though specific details about the nature of these proceedings were not provided in the original reporting.
The European Union delegation to Türkiye has also weighed in on the visa application issues, providing important clarifications and warnings to potential applicants. The delegation emphasized that contrary to what some intermediaries might suggest, there have been no changes to the documentation requirements for visa applications since 2021. This statement directly counters any claims that might be used to justify additional services or fees.
The EU delegation clearly stated that the official Schengen visa application fee stands at €90 ($120.) This transparent declaration serves as an important reference point for applicants who might otherwise be charged considerably more through various intermediary schemes.
Perhaps most significantly, the delegation issued a stark warning about unauthorized intermediaries operating throughout Türkiye. These entities charge disproportionately high fees while providing services that are not necessary for obtaining a Schengen visa.
The delegation explicitly stated that applicants do not require the assistance of these intermediaries to successfully apply for and receive Schengen visas. Moreover, the delegation cautioned that many of these intermediaries frequently engage in outright fraudulent activities, suggesting that, beyond being unnecessary, their services may be harmful to applicants.
The ongoing visa crisis represents more than just an administrative challenge. It reflects broader tensions between Türkiye's increasing demand for outbound travel, whether for business, education, tourism, or family connections, and Europe's increasingly restrictive border control policies.
Turkish citizens find themselves caught in a bureaucratic limbo that has real consequences for business relationships, educational opportunities, and personal connections. The exploitation by intermediary agencies adds financial injury to this already difficult situation, with applicants often paying substantial premiums merely for the opportunity to apply for a visa, and they may ultimately be denied without a clear explanation.
Baglikaya's announcement of forthcoming legal action suggests that Turkish authorities recognize the severity of the situation and are prepared to intervene to protect citizens from predatory practices. Meanwhile, the EU's warnings about fraudulent intermediaries indicate awareness of the problem at the European level as well, though concrete solutions to the underlying visa availability issues were not addressed in the provided information.
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