Business · Trade · 5 hrs ago
Turkish truckers face visa limits and long border queues on EU routes
Turkish transport groups say truck drivers face visa limits and long border queues on routes carrying trade between Turkey and the European Union.
Under the Schengen rule, Turkish drivers can stay in the area for no more than 90 days in any 180-day period, including time spent waiting, loading or resting.
Drivers who run out of days can be turned back, fined or barred from entry, disrupting deliveries.
The groups say delays put time-sensitive food and medicine shipments at risk and have reported 150 drivers turned back in Croatia, Bulgaria and Germany in the past 10 days.
They want professional drivers to receive special status and an exemption from the 90-day limit, arguing that drivers are not tourists.
Separately, Ukraine’s war has redirected freight through Hungary, where a yearly permit quota ran out and an additional 10,000 permits were obtained; the sector expects another 10,000 to 15,000.
Border queues have reached 16 kilometres and waits more than 10 days, while the groups say repairs and limited capacity are slowing crossings; they are calling for EU action and improved border capacity.
Turkish road freight operators say visa limits and border queues are disrupting trade with the European Union.
Professional truck drivers are subject to the Schengen rule allowing stays of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period.
Drivers can use up their permitted time while waiting at borders, loading or unloading, and taking required rest breaks.
An industry group says 150 drivers recently reported being turned back from Croatia, Bulgaria and Germany.
Queues at the Kapıkule crossing have reached 16 kilometres, with waits of up to 10 days.
- Who
- Turkish truck drivers and road freight operators moving goods between Turkey and the European Union.
- What
- They face visa limits, border queues, returns, fines and possible entry bans that disrupt deliveries.
- When
- The article was published on 22 October 2026. The reported visa rule allows stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
- Where
- On EU routes, including the Serbia-Croatia border and the Kapıkule-Hamzabeyli crossings.
- Why
- Drivers’ permitted stay can run down during border waits, loading and unloading, or required rest; infrastructure constraints also contribute to queues.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Schengen system began with seven countries and an area of 1.6 million square kilometres.
An EU Commission strategy document acknowledged drivers’ need to move, according to Aras.
Turkey-EU goods trade was 217.6 billion euros, according to figures cited by Aras.
Turkish transport industry groups called on the EU to address visa restrictions and border delays.
- Schengen stay limit
- 90 days in any 180-day period
- Recent turn-backs
- 150 drivers reported to UND in the previous 10 days
- Turkey-EU goods trade
- 217.6 billion euros in 2025
- Hamzabeyli queue
- Up to 16 kilometres
- Kapıkule-area wait
- Up to 248 hours, or 10 days
- Daily vehicle loss
- Up to 200 euros per truck
What people are saying
A TIR driver is not a tourist.
The load is ready, the customer is waiting, but the driver cannot cross the border.