(TURKEY) — Turkish citizens have stepped up efforts to secure EU citizenship and residency-by-investment options as Europe tightens travel access and the United States introduces more complex vetting that affects Turkish nationals.
Demand has climbed for long-term pathways that reduce reliance on short-stay visas, including the Golden Visa route in the European Union, amid historically high Schengen rejection rates and new screening measures that immigration lawyers say are slowing or complicating U.S. cases.
EU: Cascade rule and Schengen visa trends
On July 15, 2024, the European Commission adopted an implementing decision introducing a “cascade rule” for Turkish citizens that aims to reward what the EU calls “bona fide” travelers with longer-term multiple-entry Schengen visas.
Under the cascade rule:
– Turkish citizens who have previously used at least two Schengen visas correctly within the last three years can obtain a one-year multiple-entry visa.
– Subsequent applications can move to three-year and then five-year multiple-entry visas.
Even with that pathway, rejection rates for Turkish applicants were reported between 14.5% and 16.1% in 2024, reinforcing interest in options that offer longer-term travel stability inside Europe.
“It will be much easier and much faster for Turkish citizens. It is urgent to re-engage in this process of visa-free travel in the Schengen space and the EU.”
— EU Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Hans Ossowski, July 18, 2025
Surge in residency-by-investment interest — Greece focus
Rising visa uncertainty has fed a sharp rise in EU residency-by-investment applications, particularly in Greece, which has become a focal point for Turkish applicants seeking a foothold in the Schengen area.
Key figures and features:
– Applications from Turkish investors for Greece’s Golden Visa increased by 46% between March 2024 and March 2025.
– In 2024 alone, 1,356 Turkish nationals filed for Greek residency, making Turkey the second-largest source of applicants for the program.
– Greece’s program is notable for a €250,000 real estate investment threshold (higher in some areas), a 5‑year residency permit, and a pathway to citizenship after 7 years.
This interest accelerated as other EU states tightened investor routes:
– Spain and Portugal moved in 2025 to restrict or terminate real estate routes in their Golden Visa programs.
– As a result, investors redirected toward jurisdictions such as Greece, Hungary, and Italy.
U.S. policy shifts and enhanced vetting
Turkish nationals have also been affected by a more restrictive, security-focused turn in U.S. immigration adjudications, reflected in Department of Homeland Security and USCIS announcements.
Important developments:
– On December 2, 2025, USCIS Director Joseph Edlow issued policy memorandum PM-602-0192, ordering a “hold and review” on certain benefit applications and a re-review of green cards from “countries of concern.”
– On Dec 3, 2025, Edlow stated:
“USCIS has halted all asylum decisions until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible. The safety of the American people always comes first.”
While Turkey is not subject to a full travel ban under current U.S. proclamations, it has been flagged for enhanced vetting in late 2025 following national security concerns. Presidential Proclamation 10998 targets 39 other nations, but Turkey is listed as a country where “country-specific factors” are used as “significant negative factors” in discretionary adjudications.
Practical effects reported by immigration firms:
– Turkish nationals being “yanked out of line” for naturalization interviews for secondary screening.
– Lengthened timelines and increased uncertainty in citizenship and other benefit cases.
– Administrative changes affecting work authorization timelines, including a reported reduction of U.S. work permits from 5 years to 18 months in Dec 2025.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem also announced on Dec 22, 2025 an increased “exit bonus” of $3,000 for voluntary self-deportation for those whose status is revoked or expired, paired with a warning:
“Take advantage of this gift and self-deport because if they don’t, we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will never return.”
How Turkish citizens are responding — two parallel tracks
For many Turkish citizens, the policy mix has created a two-front reality:
1. Seeking longer Schengen validity where possible (via the cascade rule and multiple-entry visas).
2. Pursuing permanent or semi-permanent status through residency-by-investment programs (e.g., Greece’s Golden Visa) to reduce repeat exposure to consular decisions.
Reasons for these choices:
– Schengen rejection rates between 14.5% and 16.1% in 2024 encourage paths that minimize repeated short-term visa applications.
– Greece’s €250,000 threshold and 5-year permit provide predictable multi-year access and a route to citizenship after 7 years.
– Spain and Portugal’s 2025 policy changes narrowed available investor routes, intensifying demand for remaining programs.
In the U.S., the late-2025 posture emphasizes:
– Compliance and documentation.
– The impact of a “hold and review” process that expands scrutiny of cases tied to “countries of concern.”
– Risks to travel and employment planning when processing becomes less predictable.
Policy sources and further information
Official information referenced is available from:
– European Commission migration and home affairs: European Commission Migration Home Affairs
– USCIS updates: USCIS Newsroom
– DHS announcements: DHS Press Releases
Key takeaways
- The cascade rule offers a structured path for repeat Turkish visitors to obtain longer multiple-entry Schengen visas (1 year → 3 years → 5 years).
- Persistent Schengen rejection rates (between 14.5%–16.1% in 2024) have driven stronger demand for residency-by-investment, notably Greece’s program (€250,000, 5-year permit, citizenship after 7 years).
- U.S. immigration policy changes in late 2025 (USCIS memo PM-602-0192, enhanced vetting, shortened work permits, and new DHS incentives) have added uncertainty for Turkish nationals seeking U.S. benefits.
- Turkish applicants are balancing short-term visa improvements in Europe with longer-term residency and citizenship strategies to hedge against travel friction and shifting political conditions.
“It will be much easier and much faster for Turkish citizens. It is urgent to re-engage in this process of visa-free travel in the Schengen space and the EU.”
— Thomas Hans Ossowski, July 18, 2025
Facing high Schengen visa rejection rates and intensified U.S. security screenings, Turkish citizens are pivoting toward residency-by-investment programs, particularly in Greece. While the EU’s new ‘cascade rule’ offers easier access for frequent travelers, the underlying instability is driving a 46% surge in Greek Golden Visa applications. Meanwhile, new U.S. restrictions and enhanced vetting procedures are adding significant delays and uncertainty for Turkish nationals seeking American benefits.
