Turkish sources refute Schengen visa claims amid fresh hurdle

Turkish diplomatic sources have refuted allegations that Germany, Italy and Spain have shuttered visa applications for Turkish citizens until the end of May, attributing the latest problem to a backlog of appointments.

"The relevant embassies have conveyed that due to the surge in visa applications, appointments may be deferred to later dates, and they are actively working to mitigate this challenge. However, there is no indication of a closure of applications," stated the sources in an announcement on April 29.

Several reports indicated that the arduous process of obtaining Schengen visas persists for Turkish citizens seeking to travel to European countries. Consulates are scheduling appointments several weeks or even months in advance, with many applicants getting the earliest available appointment dates three months away.

Germany, Spain, France, Italy and the Netherlands rank among the countries receiving the highest number of applications, and even with flawless document submissions, rejections are not uncommon, the Turkish media reported.

With issues with Schengen visas remaining unresolved, reports circulated in certain media outlets on April 29 claimed that visa applications for Turkish citizens have been halted.

The news alleged that Germany, Spain and Italy have closed Schengen visa applications from Türkiye until the end of May, sparking outcry among citizens on social media platforms.

Speaking to daily Hürriyet, European officials stated that the complexity of visa procedures stems from heightened demand, citing the same reason with the Turkish sources.

They clarified that there is no cessation of applications, although some technical glitches have been experienced on intermediary firms' websites due to...