The European Union has eased rules for Turkish citizens traveling to its Schengen Area, the bloc’s ambassador to Ankara said on Tuesday, while calling for the urgent revival of long-stalled visa-free negotiations.
Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat confirmed the European Commission has issued new guidelines to streamline Schengen visa procedures for Turks, sharing the measures with EU member states. The rules allow longer-term, multiple-entry visas for nationals who have previously traveled to the Schengen Area without overstaying.
“These changes will make it much easier and faster for Turkish citizens,” Ambassador Thomas Hans Ossowski told reporters, stressing that the measures are not a permanent solution. Eligible travelers can now receive six-month visas on their second application, followed by one-year, three-year, and five-year multiple-entry visas.
Turkey, an EU candidate since 1999, has seen its accession talks stall amid disputes over customs union expansion, maritime issues with Greece and Cyprus, and EU policies on refugees. The European Commission said it is ready to restart formal visa liberalization talks after the summer, focusing on six remaining benchmarks.
Bolat described the new visa facilitation as a “major step” for tourism, trade, education, and investment, urging upgrades to consular infrastructure to accelerate implementation.
He also reiterated Turkey’s push for modernization of the EU-Turkey Customs Union, including services and e-commerce. Turkey’s total trade with Europe reached $327 billion in 2024, including $149 billion in exports and $178 billion in imports.