The European Commission has officially extended Greece’s popular visa-on-arrival program for Turkish nationals visiting select Aegean islands. The extension will remain in effect until April 2026, with the renewed program set to begin on April 1, 2025.
The decision follows a year of successful implementation and is expected to continue boosting tourism between Greece and Türkiye. The Commission praised the scheme's effectiveness in facilitating travel and strengthening bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries.
Simplified Entry Process for Turkish Visitors
Launched in April 2024 as part of an agreement between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, the visa-on-arrival scheme allows Turkish citizens to visit 12 designated Greek islands for short stays of one to seven days without going through the standard Schengen visa process.
Under the scheme, eligible travelers can obtain express visas at designated ports upon arrival. The participating Greek islands include:
-
Kalymnos
-
Kastellorizo
-
Kos
-
Lesbos (Lesvos)
-
Leros
-
Limnos
-
Rhodes
-
Samos
-
Symi
-
Chios (Hios)
-
Patmos
-
Samothrace
High Demand and Significant Tourism Growth in 2024
The program experienced strong demand in its first year. According to Greek Minister of Shipping Christos Stylianidis, over 100,000 fast-track visas were issued between April and November 2024. During the peak summer months, approximately 400,000 Turkish tourists visited the islands.
Data from the General Police Directorate of the North Aegean showed that just three northeastern islands issued more than 54,000 express visas by the end of August alone.
Overall, 1,153,727 Turkish tourists traveled to the Greek islands in 2024 via 8,629 ferry routes—a 93% increase compared to 2023. This surge has been largely credited to the ease and accessibility of the visa-on-arrival process.
Economic Impact and Regional Cooperation
The sharp rise in Turkish tourist arrivals has had a notable economic impact on the Greek tourism sector. Turkish media have highlighted the trend, with some headlines stating, “We made Greece rich,” and noting that Türkiye’s growing tourist presence contributed to a 10% boost in Greek tourism revenue.
Looking ahead, Greece has committed to promoting the visa-on-arrival scheme throughout 2025, aiming to further enhance local tourism economies and foster deeper regional cooperation.
