Thousands of Turkish students trapped in visa gridlock, urge urgent reform

A growing number of Turkish students seeking education abroad are facing significant delays in obtaining visas, prompting nationwide concern and a new advocacy campaign.

The Association of Overseas Education Consultants (YEDAB) has launched the “I Want My Student Visa Now” initiative to draw attention to the crisis and demand systemic solutions.

Each year, thousands of Turkish students are accepted into international undergraduate, graduate, and Erasmus exchange programs. However, visa bottlenecks—especially for Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Poland—have left many stranded, unable to even book an appointment. YEDAB reports delays of two to four months for basic processing, with some students forfeiting scholarships or losing their university placements.

“This is no longer a bureaucratic hiccup—it’s a full-blown mobility crisis,” YEDAB Chair Osman Yilmaz told Hurriyet, noting that nearly 1,000 students lost university spots last year due to appointment delays.

Accordign to turkiyetoday, the situation has also created a breeding ground for fraudulent “visa agents” exploiting the backlog. In a recent scam, two Istanbul students were conned out of ₺7,940 by individuals falsely claiming to represent iDATA, the official visa intermediary for Germany and Italy. iDATA has since warned the public to avoid unofficial channels.

YEDAB has proposed four urgent measures:

Prioritize student visa applications at consulates and address staffing shortages.

Expand the operational capacity of authorized visa intermediaries.

Mobilize students to share their experiences on social media for visibility.

Encourage diplomatic intervention by Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

With more than 10,000 Turkish students accepted into Erasmus annually—and thousands more heading to Germany and Italy—YEDAB warns that without action, international academic access for Turkish students may continue to deteriorate.