Rejection of Turkish citizens' Schengen visa applications rise from 4% to 19% in seven years

The rapid increase in the rejection of Turkish citizens' applications for Schengen visa has continued in 2021, reaching 19%, Turkish daily Cumhuriyet reported.

According to the report, the applications are mostly rejected on grounds that the applicants "may not return to their home country" because of the ongoing economic crisis in Turkey and over concerns for the increasing political repression.

Earlier in July, it had been stated in an official report that the rejection rate that was 4% in 2014 rose to 12.7& in 2020.

The report, prepared by a MEP for Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is expected to be discussed in the European Parliament.

The Turkish authorities claim that the Schengen Information System is "misused", and that applications are rejected even in cases when the applicants have provided documents for the reason of their trip, round trip reservation and proof of accommodation.

The Turkish authorities stress that in many cases Turkish professionals and businesspersons have been impacted by the situation and could not make essential business trips to European countries.

The rapid increase in visa rejections are made even more dramatic as the increase follows a Visa Liberalization Dialogue launched in 2013.

The dialogue aims to lift Schengen visa requirement for Turkish citizens during their short stays in the Schengen Area.