The refusal rate of Schengen visa applications increased to 50%
Firuz B. Bağlıkaya, President of the Turkish Travel Agencies Association (TÜRSAB), stated that there is a systematic barrier to visa applications, saying: “In addition to these obstacles, the refusal rates given to our citizens who have applied for a visa have also increased significantly. While the rate of visa applications that were rejected in 2022 exceeded 15 percent, this rate increased to around 50 percent in 2023.
Baglikaya said that the problems for Turkish citizens to obtain a Schengen visa for tourist trips to EU member countries continue to increase.
Stating that the freedom to travel is being tried to be restricted due to the visa ban, Bağlıkaya emphasized that travel agencies that organize trips abroad also suffer a serious loss of business.
THE FEE FOR VISA APPLICATIONS IS REDUCED TO 200
Recalling that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made serious efforts to resolve the issue since last year and that the issue has been placed on the agenda of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Bağlıkaya said that despite the recommendation taken by the AKMP, the EU countries did not take any steps towards a solution.
Noting that the quota for visa applications has been reduced to a fifth, Bağlıkaya said, “Although 1,000 quotas for visa applications were granted before, this number has been reduced to 200.”
“Unfortunately, there is a systematic barrier to visa applications. In addition to these obstacles, the refusal rate granted to our citizens who applied for a visa has also increased significantly,” Bağlıkaya said, adding: “Although the rate of visa applications that were rejected in 2022 exceeded 15 percent, this rate increased to around 50 percent in 2023. We do not find it appropriate to restrict travel from any country for tourism purposes to any part of the world.”
APPLICATION FEE 80 EURO BUT…
Reminding that travel agencies have to make long-term plans and sales, especially international tours, they make hotel and flight payments in this context, Baglikaya said:
“Appointment periods that used to take 1 week or 10 days later are being delayed due to the shortening of quotas. Intermediary institutions direct our citizens and agencies to the VIP visa application because normal visa appointments cannot be made or appointments have been made very far away recently. Normally, although the visa application fee is 80 euros, they demand numbers starting from 300 euros and rising to much higher levels for visa applications through the ‘VIP application’ system. These exorbitant amounts, which are requested to expedite the visa process or to get an appointment, are not reimbursed in the event of a visa refusal.
As TÜRSAB, we met with the consulates of France, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands and Spain, and shared the problems our agencies had with Schengen visas with the authorities of the relevant countries and requested a solution.
In addition, we communicate with the British and American consulates and pass on our applications to facilitate the visa process. The entire industry expects this issue to be resolved immediately.” (AA)