Record-Breaking day at Turkish-Greek-Bulgarian border

July 13, 2025, marked a historic day at Turkiye’s border crossings, as the number of passengers and vehicles entering the country broke all previous records. Edirne Governor Yunus Sezer announced that due to the high influx of expatriates returning to Turkiye for the summer holiday, the four border gates connecting to Bulgaria and Greece experienced unprecedented traffic.

According to Governor Sezer, a total of 62,263 passengers and 14,730 vehicles entered Turkiye through the Edirne border gates on July 13. These figures represent the highest number of daily entries ever recorded.

Expatriate Season in Full Swing

Speaking after the June public safety meeting at the Edirne Governor’s Office, Governor Sezer said the “expat season” began on June 22, with Turkish citizens from across Europe returning to the homeland. “This year, although the season started a week later than usual, the intensity is the same,” he stated.

From June 22 to July 13, 632,744 passengers, 162,050 vehicles entered Turkiye via Edirne's land border gates.

The daily average for vehicle entries stood at 7,366.

Over 5.7 Million Crossings in First Half of 2025

In the first six months of 2025, border gates in Edirne recorded: 2,310,301 vehicles, 5,748,166 passengers entering or exiting the country.

Preparations Underway for Return Traffic

Governor Sezer emphasized that preparations for the return of expatriates to Europe are also underway. “We’ve completed the additional and mobile checkpoints at the İpsala Border Gate. We’re currently continuing to install mobile units at the Hamzabeyli Border Gate as well,” he noted. The goal, he added, is to minimize wait times and ensure a smooth return process.

More Records Likely in Coming Weeks

Officials anticipate that traffic will peak again towards the end of July and into early August as expatriates begin their return journeys. Authorities are taking all necessary precautions to manage the increased flow. Experts suggest this year’s border traffic may surpass all previous years.