EU Plans 5-Year Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa for Trusted Travelers

The European Union's plan to grant trusted travelers multi-entry Schengen visas valid for 5 years or longer is set to provide significant relief in travel procedures for Turkish citizens. Application processes, which have become more difficult due to appointment issues and rising rejection rates, are expected to become more predictable with the new regulation.

Haitham Ahmet Alamarioğlu, CEO of Level Immigration & Properties, commented on the matter, stating that the regulation will increase short-term travel but demand for residence-by-investment programs will remain strong for strategic reasons.

"Travel costs and bureaucracy will decrease"
Under the plan, multi-entry visas valid for 5 years or longer are envisaged for "trusted travelers" with a clean travel history. According to Alamarioğlu, this application will offer significant advantages particularly for frequently traveling business professionals and investors.

"Instead of reapplying before each trip, eligible travelers will be able to move more freely within the Schengen Area. This will reduce both costs and administrative burden as well as waiting times. While not equivalent to visa-free access, it will boost tourism and business travel, strengthening economic and personal ties between Turkey and Europe," he said.

Operational convenience for business
Emphasizing that long-term multi-entry visas will provide planning and operational flexibility for the business world, Alamarioğlu noted that faster movement will be possible for meetings, trade fairs, investment discussions, and commercial contacts.

Alamarioğlu, stating that increased predictability will strengthen cross-border cooperation, noted that reduced administrative burden, visa fees, and processing delays for frequently traveling professionals will be a significant gain.

"Demand for Golden Visa will not decline"
Alamarioğlu, noting that long-term Schengen visas will have limited impact on interest in residence-by-investment programs, stated that investor motivations are more comprehensive.

"Long-term Schengen visas provide a practical solution for short-term travel. However, they do not provide residence rights, asset diversification, family security, or a pathway to citizenship. Programs such as the Greece Golden Visa Program are evaluated by investors not solely as a mobility tool, but as part of real estate investment, rental income, and long-term life planning," he said.

Appointment pressure may ease
Recalling that recent appointment difficulties and rising rejection rates have created serious pressure on the system, Alamarioğlu noted that the new regulation could alleviate this congestion.

Alamarioğlu stated that eliminating the obligation for frequent travelers to reapply every few months will reduce appointment demand, and this could shorten waiting times and restore confidence in the Schengen system.

According to Alamarioğlu, the regulation will increase travel demand in the short term while leading investment decisions to be shaped with a more strategic and long-term perspective. "More predictable mobility will allow investors to get to know European markets more closely. However, for investors who have experienced rejections or uncertainty in the past, interest in residence-by-investment programs will remain strong," he concluded.