Key Takeaways
• 50,000 Turkish students missed studying abroad in 2024 due to Schengen visa delays and high rejection rates.
• In 2024, 1.17 million Schengen visa applications were submitted from Türkiye with a 14.5% rejection rate.
• Starting June 11, 2025, Schengen visa fees will increase to €100, making applications more costly for students.
In early 2025, reports confirmed that Schengen visa delays stopped about 50,000 Turkish students from studying abroad in 2024. These students, many of whom had already been accepted to universities across Europe, faced long waits and high rejection rates for their visa applications. The problem has caused frustration among students, sparked protests in Türkiye, and created new tension between Türkiye 🇹🇷 and the European Union (EU) 🇪🇺.
Why Are Turkish Students Facing Schengen Visa Delays?
The Schengen visa is a travel document that lets people visit most countries in Europe for up to 90 days. For Turkish students, getting this visa is the first step to studying at European universities. In 2024, the process became much harder. Students reported waiting months for a decision, even after submitting all required documents and proof of funds. Some received rejections for reasons as simple as a misspelled name, raising concerns about how carefully applications were being reviewed.
Key facts:
– 50,000 Turkish students could not study in Europe in 2024 because of Schengen visa delays and rejections.
– Many students had already paid university fees and provided proof of having more than €6,200 in their bank accounts.
– Protests broke out in November 2024 outside the Italian Consulate in Istanbul, with students demanding faster and fairer visa processing.
How the Schengen Visa Process Works for Turkish Students
To study in Europe, Turkish students must follow a step-by-step process to apply for a Schengen visa:
- Application Submission: Students gather documents such as their university acceptance letter, proof of money to cover living costs, and travel insurance. They submit these to the consulate or a visa application center.
- Processing: The consulate reviews the application. Processing times can vary, but in 2024, many students waited months for a response.
- Decision: The consulate either approves the visa, rejects it, or asks for more information. If rejected, the student loses the application fee and may not get a clear reason for the denial.
- Appeal or Reapply: Students can appeal the decision or submit a new application, but this often means more waiting and more fees.
- Travel and Enrollment: If approved, students must arrive in Europe before their university’s deadline to keep their spot.
For more details on the Schengen visa process and requirements, the official Schengen visa website provides up-to-date information.
The Numbers Behind the Crisis
The scale of the problem is clear from recent statistics:
- In 2024, 1.17 million Schengen visa applications were submitted from Türkiye.
- The rejection rate for Turkish applicants was 14.5% by May 2025, down from 16.1% in 2023. However, the large number of applications means thousands are still denied.
- 170,000 Turkish applicants lost over €13.6 million in non-refundable visa fees in 2024 due to rejections.
- Nearly 200,000 Turkish applicants were denied Schengen visas in 2023.
- Over 1 million applications were submitted from Türkiye in 2023, with a significant number of Turkish citizens later seeking asylum in the EU.
What’s Causing the Delays and Rejections?
Several factors have combined to create this situation:
- High Demand: More Turkish students want to study abroad, leading to a surge in applications.
- Limited Resources: EU consulates in Türkiye are struggling to keep up with the volume, causing backlogs.
- Security Concerns: The EU is cautious because over 103,000 Turkish citizens sought asylum in the EU after getting Schengen visas in 2023.
- Political Tensions: Talks about allowing Turkish citizens to travel to Europe without a visa (visa liberalization) have stalled. The EU says Türkiye has not met six key criteria, so the talks are on hold.
Voices from Both Sides
Turkish Government
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan
has criticized the current visa system, saying it limits Turkish citizens’ freedom to travel and damages relations with the EU. The Turkish government wants the EU to make the process easier and restart visa liberalization talks.
European Union
The EU says it has not added new restrictions for Turkish applicants. Officials admit there are problems with transparency and waiting times, but they insist that the main visa rules are needed for security reasons. Nacho Sanchez Amor, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on Türkiye, has called for more resources to speed up visa processing but also pointed out that Türkiye needs to meet the remaining criteria for visa-free travel.
Turkish Students and Advocacy Groups
Students and advocacy groups have been very vocal. Many say the delays and rejections are unfair and hurt their futures. The protests outside the Italian Consulate in Istanbul in November 2024 showed how serious the problem has become. Students say they did everything right—submitting full applications, paying fees, and providing proof of funds—yet still faced months of waiting or unclear denials.
The Human Cost: Missed Opportunities and Financial Loss
The delays and rejections have real consequences for Turkish students:
- Missed Deadlines: Many students missed university enrollment deadlines because their visas did not arrive in time. This means losing a place at a university, sometimes after years of preparation.
- Lost Money: Visa application fees are non-refundable, even if the application is rejected. In 2024 alone, Turkish applicants lost over €13.6 million in fees.
- Emotional Stress: The uncertainty and repeated rejections have caused stress and disappointment for students and their families.
- Disrupted Plans: Some students have had to give up on studying abroad altogether, while others are forced to delay their education by a year or more.
Policy and Political Implications
The Schengen visa delays have become a major issue in Türkiye-EU relations. The Turkish government argues that the visa regime is unfair and politically motivated. The EU, on the other hand, points to security and migration concerns, especially after the rise in asylum claims from Turkish citizens.
The European Parliament’s 2024 Türkiye Report called for more resources to handle the surge in applications and to address fears of system abuse. However, the report also noted that visa liberalization talks remain frozen until Türkiye meets all EU criteria.
The Impact of Rising Visa Fees
Starting June 11, 2025, the Schengen visa application fee will increase to €100. This change will make it even harder for Turkish students and other applicants, especially those who already struggle to pay for their education and travel costs. The higher fee may discourage some from applying at all.
Background: A Long-Running Issue
Visa liberalization for Turkish citizens has been debated for years. The EU set a list of criteria that Türkiye must meet to allow visa-free travel. While Türkiye has made progress, six criteria remain unmet, including issues related to security, migration management, and human rights.
Over the past decade, the number of Schengen visa applications from Türkiye has steadily increased. This reflects a growing desire among Turkish citizens, especially young people, to study, travel, and work in Europe. However, rejection rates and processing delays have also risen, often linked to political tensions and concerns about migration.
What Are the Main Requirements for a Schengen Visa?
To apply for a Schengen visa, Turkish students must provide:
- A valid passport
- An acceptance letter from a European university
- Proof of enough money to cover living expenses (often more than €6,200)
- Travel insurance
- Proof of accommodation
- A completed Schengen visa application form
Consulates may also ask for extra documents or information. If any part of the application is missing or incorrect, the visa can be delayed or denied.
What Can Turkish Students Do If Their Visa Is Delayed or Denied?
If a student’s visa is delayed or denied, they have a few options:
- Appeal the Decision: Some consulates allow appeals, but this can take more time and may not always succeed.
- Reapply: Students can submit a new application, but this means paying the fee again and waiting for another decision.
- Contact the University: Some universities may allow students to defer their admission to the next semester or year.
- Seek Help from Advocacy Groups: Student organizations and legal aid groups may offer advice or support.
What Are the EU and Türkiye Doing to Fix the Problem?
Both sides say they want to improve the situation, but progress has been slow.
- The EU says it is working to make the process more transparent and to reduce waiting times. Some officials have called for more staff and resources at consulates to handle the high number of applications.
- Türkiye continues to push for visa liberalization and has urged the EU to restart talks. However, the EU insists that all criteria must be met first.
- Civil society groups and students are keeping up the pressure with protests and public campaigns.
Looking Ahead: What Might Change?
Several developments could affect Turkish students and others applying for Schengen visas in the near future:
- Visa Fee Increase: The higher fee starting in June 2025 may reduce the number of applications or put more financial strain on students.
- Possible More Resources: The EU may send more staff to consulates in Türkiye to help process applications faster.
- Continued Protests: Students and advocacy groups are likely to keep demanding change, especially before the next academic year.
- No Major Policy Changes Expected Soon: Unless Türkiye meets the remaining EU criteria, visa liberalization talks are unlikely to restart in the near future.
Practical Tips for Turkish Students Applying for a Schengen Visa
If you are a Turkish student planning to study in Europe, here are some steps to improve your chances:
- Apply Early: Start your application as soon as you get your university acceptance letter.
- Double-Check Documents: Make sure all your documents are complete and accurate. Even small mistakes can cause delays.
- Keep Proof of Funds Ready: Have clear evidence that you can support yourself financially during your studies.
- Stay in Touch with Your University: Let them know about any visa delays. Some may offer help or allow you to defer your admission.
- Be Prepared for Delays: Processing times can be long, so plan for possible setbacks.
- Know Your Rights: If your visa is denied, ask for the reason in writing and find out if you can appeal.
Where to Find Official Information
For the most reliable and up-to-date information on Schengen visas, visit the official Schengen visa website. You can also check with the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Union Delegation to Türkiye for updates on visa policies and negotiations.
Conclusion: The Need for Change
The Schengen visa delays have stopped thousands of Turkish students from reaching their dreams of studying abroad. The problem is not just about paperwork—it affects real lives, future careers, and international relations. As reported by VisaVerge.com, the situation has created frustration and financial loss for students, while also putting pressure on both the EU and Türkiye to find solutions.
Until there is real progress on visa liberalization and more resources for processing applications, Turkish students will continue to face uncertainty. For now, careful planning, complete applications, and early action are the best ways to improve the chances of success. But many hope that, in the future, studying abroad will become easier and more accessible for all Turkish students.
Word count:
1,522
Learn Today
Schengen visa
→ A permit allowing short-term travel (up to 90 days) across most European countries for study or tourism.
Visa liberalization → The process to remove visa requirements, enabling citizens to travel without visas between countries.
Consulate → An official office representing a country abroad to process visas and assist its citizens.
Rejection rate → The percentage of visa applications denied by authorities during the review process.
Proof of funds → Documentation showing applicants have enough money to support themselves while studying abroad.
This Article in a Nutshell
In 2024, Schengen visa delays blocked 50,000 Turkish students from Europe, fueling protests and financial loss. Processing times soared, with many rejected for minor errors. The EU and Türkiye face rising tensions as visa fees increase and students struggle to study abroad amid complex political and security concerns.
— By VisaVerge.com
