Turkish EU citizenship applications surge 2025: Seeking freedom via ancestry
Explore why Turkish EU citizenship applications are surging in 2025. As visa rules tighten, Turks with Bulgarian and Romanian roots are leveraging ancestry for freedom of movement.
Closed doors lead to open borders. As the EU tightens visa rules, Turkish nationals are digging into their family trees. A growing number are seeking citizenship in Bulgaria and Romania to regain the freedom of movement that's increasingly slipping away.
Turkish EU Citizenship Applications Surge Amid Visa Crackdown
According to reports from Istanbul on December 31, 2025, the demand for EU passports among Turks with Bulgarian or Romanian roots has hit a new high. As EU member states make travel visas harder to obtain, many see ancestry-based citizenship as a vital "insurance policy" against future restrictions.
The Ancestry 'Insurance Policy'
Applicants like Gokay Temizsoylu, who applied for Bulgarian citizenship this summer, represent a broader trend. They aren't just looking for a vacation; they're securing their right to work and live within the bloc. This shift comes as traditional routes, like 'Golden Visas,' become scarcer or more expensive across Europe.
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