- Türkiye has launched new efforts to fulfill the final six EU visa-free criteria out of seventy-two total benchmarks.
- Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz emphasized that personal data protection and anti-terrorism laws remain key priorities for alignment.
- The success of the visa-liberalization dialogue depends on European political will alongside Ankara’s technical and legal progress.
Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz said on August 8, 2026 that Türkiye had launched fresh work on the final six EU visa-free criteria. The country has cleared 66 of 72 benchmarks. The last six remain.
Yılmaz said government agencies have started coordinating on the outstanding requirements, and he said officials have built a new approach for consulting European institutions through the Foreign Ministry. He also put the next step on Brussels.
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"We need to see political will in Europe on this issue. They also have steps they need to take," Yılmaz said.
The visa-liberalization file has been stuck for years. The EU set the benchmarks in 2013, and the dialogue began in December 2013. Nearly 13 years later, the endgame still rests on those final conditions.
Six items are still on the list. One touches anti-terrorism law. Another covers personal data protection, which Yılmaz identified as a priority. The rest reach into Europol cooperation, anti-corruption measures, criminal cooperation with all EU member states, and the 2016 readmission agreement on returning irregular migrants.
Six benchmarks still stand between Ankara and visa-free travel
| Remaining benchmark | What Türkiye is working to do |
|---|---|
| Anti-terrorism legislation | Bring the definition of terrorism closer to European standards |
| Personal data protection | Align national law with EU standards |
| Europol agreement | Conclude operational cooperation with the EU law enforcement agency |
| Anti-corruption measures | Implement recommendations from GRECO |
| Legal cooperation | Work with all EU member states on criminal matters |
| Readmission agreement | Fully implement the 2016 deal on returning irregular migrants |
The broader visa picture already changed once. In July 2025, the EU introduced a cascade visa regime for Turkish citizens. Under that system, bona fide travelers can move gradually toward multi-entry Schengen visas valid for one to five years.
That did not end the wait. It only shortened part of it.
Demand for Schengen travel remained heavy in 2025. Türkiye was the second-largest source of Schengen visa applications worldwide, with 1.2 million filings and a rejection rate of 14.6%. The old process still carried delays, paperwork, and costs.
If the remaining benchmarks fall into place, Turkish citizens holding biometric passports would be able to enter the Schengen Area for short stays without a visa. The limit would stay at 90 days within a 180-day period.
The Foreign Ministry now has the lead on the next round of consultations. Yılmaz said the effort depends on Europe as well as Ankara. That warning now frames the talks ahead.
