Turkish Students Successfully Challenge Italian Visa Rejections in Court
Turkish Students Win Court Case Against Italy Over Visa Rejections
A group of Turkish students has successfully challenged Italy’s visa refusals in court, securing a significant legal victory after months of delays and denials that disrupted their plans to study at Italian universities.
According to Hürriyet Daily News, approximately ten students received a favorable ruling from the Lazio Regional Administrative Court (TAR). However, one student’s appeal was dismissed due to concerns about a perceived asylum risk.
Court Orders Visa Approvals Without Interviews
In its decision, the court instructed that several students must be granted their visas without the need for an interview, while others had their applications ordered to be reassessed within five days.
Importantly, the court emphasized that visa denials cannot be repeated for the same reasons, and further underscored that refusals must be based on concrete evidence, not suspicion—a move aimed at ensuring fair treatment of Turkish students.
Nearly 1,000 Turkish Students Affected by Visa Delays
This legal action follows a troubling trend: nearly 1,000 Turkish students accepted into Italian universities have been unable to enroll due to delayed or denied visa applications.
The issue, which escalated in 2023, led to public protests outside the Italian Consulate in Istanbul last November. Students expressed frustration with prolonged processing times, vague rejections, and the threat to their academic futures.
"We are stuck in limbo," students said during protests, calling on authorities to intervene urgently to resolve the backlog.
Italy Pledges to Speed Up Visa Process, But Concerns Remain
Following the backlash, Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani acknowledged the problem and pledged to accelerate visa procedures. However, despite the promise, many students continue to face uncertainty, raising questions about the effectiveness of the measures taken so far.
Wider Visa Issues Impact Afghan and Iranian Students
Turkish students are not alone in their struggle. Students from Iran and Afghanistan have also reported similar difficulties obtaining student visas to study in Italy.
In December 2024, a group of around 150 Afghan students revealed that they had been waiting months for a visa appointment. In response, the Italian embassy claimed that no appointments were available at the time.
Similarly, Iranian students voiced concerns over extended delays, citing the negative impact on their mental health, finances, and education plans.
Conclusion
The recent court ruling in favor of Turkish students sets a precedent for challenging arbitrary or unjust visa denials. It also highlights the growing frustration among international students facing bureaucratic obstacles to pursuing education in Italy.
While the legal win offers hope to many, the broader issue of visa accessibility and fairness for students from countries like Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan remains unresolved.
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