Expatriate return traffic surges at European borders
The return of expatriates who spent their annual leave in their hometowns is ongoing. As their vacation nears its end, many expatriates are hitting the road, mostly using the Kapıkule Border Gate in Edirne.
- World
- Published Date: 01:17 | 01 September 2025
- Modified Date: 01:18 | 01 September 2025
Due to the increased activity at Kapıkule, congestion sometimes occurs. Expatriates completing customs procedures leave Türkiye with mixed emotions—happy to have arrived but sad to depart.
Ayhan Kuzucu, returning to Germany with his family, said the journey back is always emotional. Experiencing heartfelt moments, Kuzucu stated, "We spent our vacation in my hometown Sivas. Thankfully, it went well. Now we are going back abroad, leaving my family behind. It's hard. One gets emotional. We miss our family the most when abroad."
Kadir Coşkun, who is returning to France, also said he had a nice holiday. He added that living abroad is difficult, saying, "The return journey is sad. We miss our hometown. We miss the call to prayer, relatives, everything. We leave with heavy hearts."
Ali Yıldız expressed that they leave Türkiye with sadness though they arrived happily, saying, "The children don't want to leave. We love Türkiye very much. We have gotten somewhat used to living abroad, but we miss those left behind."
Eylül Bektaş, returning to Germany, said they had been waiting for 11 months to take a vacation and come to Türkiye.