EU eases Schengen visa rules for Turks, envoy urges further moves.

The European Union has eased Schengen visa rules for Turks, allowing for faster and easier multiple-entry visas. Turkish citizens who have used visas correctly can now receive a six-month visa as early as their second application, with longer-term visas available. The EU ambassador to Ankara urged the revival of negotiations on visa-free travel for Turks, which has been frozen for years due to issues such as human rights and democratic backsliding.

The European Union has recently announced a significant easing of Schengen visa rules for Turkish citizens, aiming to streamline the visa application process and facilitate travel between Turkey and the Schengen Area. The new regulations, effective as of July 15, 2025, introduce a "fast-track" system for multiple-entry visas, allowing Turkish citizens with a proven travel history to receive visas more quickly and conveniently.

Under the new rules, Turkish citizens who have used their visas correctly can apply for a six-month visa as early as their second application, provided they applied within one year of the expiry of their previous visa. For longer-term visas, the validity period increases based on the duration of the previous visa used, with a maximum of five years for a visa valid for three years or more [2].

The EU ambassador to Ankara has urged the revival of negotiations on visa-free travel for Turks, which have been stalled for years due to issues such as human rights and democratic backsliding. The ambassador noted that the new visa regulations are a step in the right direction but emphasized the need for further progress in this area [2].

The easing of Schengen visa rules for Turkish citizens is expected to have significant economic implications. According to the Economic Development Foundation (IKV), Turkish citizens have paid 775 million euros in Schengen visa application fees over the past 15 years. The new regulations aim to reduce these costs and simplify the visa application process, making it easier and more affordable for Turkish citizens to travel to the Schengen Area [3].

The new visa rules also reflect a broader trend in EU policy to ease travel and promote people-to-people contacts with strategic partners in Asia. This is part of the EU's overall approach to intensify relations with these partners and facilitate international connectivity [1].

References:
[1] https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/now-a-milestone-for-indonesian-travellers-know-in-details/
[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/SchengenVisa/comments/1m2hg1r/new_rules_alleviation_for_turkish_citizens_living/
[3] https://ftnnews.com/travel-news/news-from-turkey/schengen-visa-barriers-cost-turkish-citizens-775-million-euros/