As the Youth Organizations Forum (GoFor), we have published a policy document on the visa issues faced by young people. We presented the policy document to members of the German Federal Parliament.
Click to view the policy brief.
As the Youth Organizations Forum (GoFor), we have published a policy document on the visa problems faced by young people in Türkiye, which have deepened in recent times. The document addresses the discrimination and rights violations caused by the visa issues.
The visa issue, which has taken on new dimensions with the COVID-19 pandemic and the refugee crisis, restricts young people’s freedom of movement in several ways, including difficulties in securing appointments, extensive documentation requirements during the application process, and high rejection rates. Currently, 20.7% of visa applications from Türkiye are denied, wasting both the financial and non-financial resources of young applicants.
The difficulties and obstacles related to visas reduce participation in EU education and support programs such as Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), creating a contradiction in Türkiye-EU relations. Young people who could contribute to society through initiatives like volunteering face significant challenges and are even outright prevented from doing so.
The visa issue hinders young people’s right to education and participation, while disrupting the advocacy efforts of youth organizations
The visa issue restricts the participation of young people in Türkiye in youth mobility projects. Youth mobility offers valuable opportunities for fostering intercultural dialogue and active citizenship among young people. In this context, mobility projects are a cornerstone of youth work. However, young people in Türkiye who wish to participate in Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) projects face significant visa challenges, preventing them from joining exchange programs they have been accepted into.
Amid the growing trend of anti-democratization in Türkiye, violations of youth rights are deepening. The visa issue negatively impacts the international advocacy capacity of youth organizations in the country. These organizations strive to amplify their advocacy by raising the issues of young people and youth organizations in Türkiye on international platforms. Yet, they are often unable to attend meetings hosted by the United Nations, the Youth Partnership, and the Council of Europe due to visa obstacles.
An increasing number of young people in Türkiye are choosing institutions abroad for undergraduate and postgraduate studies. However, even an official acceptance letter from a foreign university does not always guarantee a swift visa process. In some cases, young people are forced to put their education on hold because they cannot secure a visa despite being accepted, resulting in a violation of their right to education.
We presented the policy document to members of the German Federal Parliament
We were invited to the Youth Space Conference organized by the German Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the German Youth Council at the German Federal Parliament, as the National Youth Council of Türkiye. GoFor’s General Coordinator, Hasan Oğuzhan Aytaç, and Program Manager, Ezgi Gedik, attended the conference and presented the policy document on visa issues to members of the German Federal Parliament. They highlighted key recommendations from the document and discussed the discrimination and rights violations faced by young people in Türkiye with Social Democratic Party (SPD) MP Derya Türk-Nachbaur and the Greens MP Max Lucks.
In this context, GoFor’s policy recommendations regarding the visa issue are as follows:
- Visa processes for EU countries and other countries involved in EU youth programs should be harmonized; a standard, simplified, and streamlined visa process for young people should be implemented.
- Special visa categories should be created for different learning mobility programs, such as education, internships, volunteering, and exchange programs. The fees for these visa categories should be kept at a minimum.
- The required visa documents for exchange programs, formal education programs, internships, and international meetings that involve invitation/acceptance letters should be simplified. Detailed documents like bank account statements and population registration records contribute to discriminatory practices.
- The validity periods of visas should be extended for young people participating in long-term education programs, internships, or volunteer activities.
Click to view the policy brief.
Contributing organizations:
- Young Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans Intersex Youth Studies and Solidarity Association
- Youth Services Centre
- Voluntary Services Association
- Lykia Scouting and Nature Lovers Culture Association
