Turkish holiday-makers and business travellers are facing record-long waits—and soaring costs—to obtain Schengen visas, with Germany singled out as the hardest mission to book. A survey by Istanbul’s TÜRSAB travel-agents association shows average lead-times for a German appointment have ballooned to 65 days, double the 2024 figure.
The shortage has spawned a lucrative black market: unofficial brokers advertise guaranteed slots for up to €400, compared with the official €80 visa fee. The German Consulate in Istanbul has issued a fresh warning that “no third party has privileged access” and that using intermediaries “exacerbates congestion for everyone.”
For corporates, the delays mean last-minute project travel from Türkiye is increasingly unworkable unless visas are planned at least three months out. Some firms are rerouting meetings to Dubai or Belgrade, where Turks enjoy visa-free entry, to keep projects on schedule.
German officials blame surging post-pandemic demand and staffing shortages. A new outsourcing contract will add 25 submission counters in Ankara and Izmir by February 2026, but travel associations say relief is needed sooner. Meanwhile, compliance teams should remind employees that paying for appointments violates consular rules and can result in application rejection or long-term blacklisting.
The shortage has spawned a lucrative black market: unofficial brokers advertise guaranteed slots for up to €400, compared with the official €80 visa fee. The German Consulate in Istanbul has issued a fresh warning that “no third party has privileged access” and that using intermediaries “exacerbates congestion for everyone.”
For corporates, the delays mean last-minute project travel from Türkiye is increasingly unworkable unless visas are planned at least three months out. Some firms are rerouting meetings to Dubai or Belgrade, where Turks enjoy visa-free entry, to keep projects on schedule.
German officials blame surging post-pandemic demand and staffing shortages. A new outsourcing contract will add 25 submission counters in Ankara and Izmir by February 2026, but travel associations say relief is needed sooner. Meanwhile, compliance teams should remind employees that paying for appointments violates consular rules and can result in application rejection or long-term blacklisting.
