20.10.2022 — Facts, News

Current information on visa problems / Turkey

How the slow issuing of visas for Turkish drivers affects the “supply chain” – a guest article by Vahit Yüksek, Business Manager TURKEY – Barth + Co Spedition GmbH & Co. KG in Hallbergmoos

In the Corona crisis, Turkey has consolidated itself as a production location for any goods. The TOP3 sectors still include the automotive and clothing industries. In the current year (January-September ’22), exports from Turkey to the FRG amounted to approx. 14 billion USD. Due to Turkey’s strategically advantageous location, 40% of these goods are transported overland (Speditionsverband UND).

For a smooth “supply chain”, loading space and driving personnel are needed to transport the merchandise. The latter is dependent on the granting of visas by the German consulates in Turkey: Driving personnel from Turkey require a visa for transit, similar to a tourist. However, this is only valid for three to six months at a time, which means two to four applications a year for drivers.

The key figures of the Turkish Association of Freight Forwarders (UND) clearly show that the issuing of visas for drivers in international transport has become more difficult: Schengen cancellations have increased from 4% to almost 13% within 6 years (2014-2020). These refusals are independent of whether they are new requests or requests for drivers who have been working with visas for several years. Appointments for visa applications usually take up to 30 days. The processing fee for a visa application is € 60.00 to € 80.00.

For the companies this means, with a 13% cancellation rate mostly without any justification and refund, considerable additional costs which have to be calculated on the freight.

In a connected world where we all depend on fast and reliable delivery of goods/spare parts, the overall processes should be simplified, not made more difficult. The inexplicable rejection of VISA applications for Turkish drivers brings additional costs and shortages of goods to the German market – the sufferer is the German economy!