EU Commission extends visa-on-arrival scheme for Turkish Tourists visiting Greek Islands

In welcome news for Turkish travelers, the European Commission has approved the extension of Greece’s special “visa-on-arrival” program for Turkish citizens visiting certain Greek islands. The scheme will now remain in effect until April 2026.

The Commission stated that the program had produced positive results over the past year, contributing to strengthened relations between Greece and Türkiye.

This special regime allows Turkish citizens to stay for 1 to 7 days on 12 designated Greek islands. It is not a Schengen visa and is only valid for the specific islands involved. Tourists can obtain this short-term visa upon arrival at designated ports, without going through a prior application process.

Greek authorities are reportedly satisfied with the success of the initiative. According to Greek Minister of Shipping Christos Stylianidis, over 100,000 Turkish citizens benefited from the program between April and November 2024.

According to Schengen News, during the peak summer months, approximately 400,000 Turkish tourists visited Greek islands under this program. On just three islands in the northeastern Aegean, 54,373 visas were issued by the end of August.

Greek officials also noted that the initiative significantly boosted economic, tourist, and social exchanges between the two countries. There are ongoing diplomatic and technical discussions aimed at making the program available year-round, not just seasonally.

In 2023, a total of 1,153,727 Turkish tourists traveled to Greek islands via 8,629 ferry trips, representing a 93% increase from the previous year. Experts cite the visa ease as a key factor behind this surge.

With Greece extending the program until 2026, the move is seen as a major step in facilitating tourism and fostering stronger regional ties between Türkiye and Greece.