ANKARA, July 18, 2025 — The European Union has relaxed Schengen visa procedures for Turkish citizens, according to a statement by EU Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Hans Ossowski, who also called for renewed talks on visa liberalization.
Speaking in Ankara, Ambassador Ossowski announced that Turkish nationals who have previously complied with visa conditions will now benefit from a more streamlined process.
“Turkish citizens who have used their visas properly will be eligible for a six-month visa on their second application, followed by multiple-entry visas valid for one, three, and even five years,” he said. “The process will be significantly faster and easier for them.”
The ambassador emphasized the need to urgently restart negotiations on granting visa-free travel for Turkish citizens within the EU’s Schengen Zone.
Ossowski added that the European Commission is prepared to resume official talks after the summer, signaling a potential breakthrough in a long-stalled process that holds major implications for EU-Turkey relations.
