[REVISION HISTORY]

Seasonal Turkish diaspora return migration

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2026-08-20 11:37 UTC → 2026-08-22 08:39 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Turkish migrant workers and expatriates living in Europe have continued their seasonal return journeys following summer vacations in Turkey. This movement has caused significant traffic congestion at several key border crossings, including Kapıkule, Hamzabeyli, Pazarkule, and İpsala. Kapıkule remains a primary transit point for those traveling toward Bulgaria, with queues stretching for meters as travelers complete customs and passport procedures. While officials previously implemented measures to reduce average customs waiting times to approximately 29 minutes, the surge in traffic has prompted warnings regarding border operations and road safety. Recent reports indicate a surge in traffic at the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing between Bulgaria and Turkey, where over 5,300 passenger cars entered Bulgaria in a single 24-hour period. Border police report that waiting times have fluctuated, with some estimates suggesting delays of three to five hours at the Kapitan Andreevo and Kapıkule checkpoints. To manage the influx, authorities have deployed additional personnel and organized staff to direct traffic based on passenger categories, such as EU versus third-country nationals. While passenger vehicle lanes are operating at full capacity, heavy goods vehicle (HGV) traffic is experiencing significant delays. A 2-3 kilometer queue of trucks has been reported on the Maritsa motorway due to ongoing renovations at the border point. These repairs are intended to increase the crossing's overall capacity by 25%, though current work on heavy vehicle lanes has temporarily limited throughput. Travelers heading toward destinations such as Germany, France, Austria, the Netherlands, and Belgium have expressed a mix of emotions. Many reported satisfaction with reconnecting with family and visiting hometowns, but described the departure as an emotional process. One traveler, Neriman Sezer, noted, “We were very happy when we arrived, but now we are very sad on the way back. A very difficult journey has begun again.”

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