Turkish prosecutors on Tuesday ordered the detention of 60 suspects accused of using automated software to capture visa appointments and charging applicants hundreds of euros in extra fees, the Euronews news website reported.
The operation comes as Turkish citizens face a costly and often frustrating process to visit Europe’s Schengen travel area, with scarce appointments, long waits and uncertainty over whether their applications will succeed.
Securing an appointment is only the first hurdle. Applicants must assemble extensive paperwork that can include bank statements, employment records, proof of accommodation and travel insurance. Requirements vary depending on the destination and the applicant’s circumstances.
Prosecutors say the suspects exploited that difficulty by using programs known as bots to reserve limited appointment slots as soon as they became available, making it harder for people to book directly and pushing them toward paid intermediaries.
Some companies allegedly demanded an additional €300 to €400 per application for bot-assisted booking.
The İstanbul-led operation covered eight provinces and targeted both visa consultancies and people suspected of supplying the software. The reports did not specify how many of the 60 suspects had been detained.
Companies under investigation advertised guaranteed visas or appointments on social media and websites. In some cases, prosecutors allege, customers paid but received neither the promised service nor a full refund.
Investigators expanded the inquiry after finding indications that some businesses had continued operating following an earlier crackdown, while others sought to take their place. The suspected offenses include fraud, cybercrime, money laundering and the unlawful handling of personal data.
Preliminary financial examinations identified about TL 370 million ($7.5 million) in payments linked to visa and consultancy services. Investigators are still determining how much involved unlawful transactions and the total losses suffered by customers. They are also examining whether passport images and applicants’ identity and contact details were passed to third parties.
The latest raids follow an August operation in the same investigation, after which a court jailed 37 people pending trial. Financial inspectors examining that phase identified approximately TL 918 million ($18.5 million at current exchange rates) collected from more than 41,000 people between January 2024 and July 2026.
Visa delays have become a recurring source of tension between Ankara and European capitals, affecting family visits, tourism, study and business travel. Germany’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged in June that demand in Turkey far exceeded its capacity. About 14.6 percent of Schengen visa applications lodged in Turkey were rejected in 2025, according to European Commission figures.
The appointment trade had already drawn regulatory scrutiny before the criminal investigation. In June the Trade Ministry suspended advertisements by six brokerage companies promising guaranteed appointments or approvals while it examined whether consumers had been misled.
European diplomatic missions have urged applicants to avoid unofficial intermediaries. VFS Global, which processes applications for several governments, says it gives agents no privileged access and that consulates control appointment availability and visa decisions.
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