
Schengen States That Approved the Most Turkish Visa Applications in 2024
Schengen States That Approved the Most Turkish Visa Applications in 2024
Turkish nationals submitted over 1.1 million Schengen visa applications in 2024, making them the second-largest applicant group after citizens of Russia. Historically, countries such as Greece and Germany have remained top destinations for Turkish travelers—and that trend continued in 2024.
However, visa approval rates varied widely across Schengen states, with some countries approving a significantly higher percentage of applications than others.
Greece and Germany Top the List for Visa Volume
According to official 2024 Schengen visa statistics, 75% of all applications from Turkish citizens were submitted to just five countries:
- Greece: 296,377 applications (25.24% of total)
- Germany: 215,506 applications (18.36%)
- France: 151,640 applications (12.92%)
- Italy: 117,432 applications (10.00%)
- Netherlands: 97,006 applications (8.26%)
These countries were also among the top issuers of Schengen visas to Turkish nationals:
- Greece approved 264,312 visas
- Germany approved 170,260
- France approved 129,947
- Italy approved 106,193
- Netherlands approved 84,240
While high volumes don’t always translate to high approval rates, these countries remain preferred destinations for Turkish travelers due to business ties, tourism, and family connections.
Countries with the Highest Visa Approval Rates for Turkish Applicants
Although Greece and Germany received the most applications, Turkish citizens had a greater chance of visa approval in several smaller Schengen countries.
Top 3 Countries by Approval Rate for Turkish Applicants in 2024:
- Romania: 95.51% approval (14,764 approvals out of 15,458 applications)
- Slovakia: 93.3% approval (2,744 approvals out of 2,941 applications)
- Portugal: 91.3% approval (1,975 approvals out of 2,163 applications)
These countries had fewer overall applications but demonstrated a much more favorable stance toward Turkish visa applicants, possibly due to fewer backlogs, less scrutiny, or targeted mobility policies.
Countries with the Highest Visa Rejection Rates for Turkish Applicants
While many Turkish applicants saw high approval rates, others faced considerable challenges, especially in countries with tighter border controls and stricter evaluation criteria.
Top 5 Schengen Countries with Highest Rejection Rates for Turkish Nationals in 2024:
- Denmark – 35% rejection (3,664 out of 10,561 applications)
- Lithuania – 31.5% rejection (960 out of 3,044 applications)
- Estonia – 29.9% rejection (600 out of 2,006 applications)
- Sweden – 29.86% rejection (5,422 out of 18,160 applications)
- Croatia – 28.25% rejection (1,315 out of 4,655 applications)
These figures suggest that Turkish citizens applying for Schengen visas in northern or Baltic states were significantly more likely to face refusal, despite the EU-wide visa code being harmonized.