Turkish citizens get fast-track visa entry to 12 Greek islands
A ferry cruises through the Aegean Sea, offering passengers a scenic journey toward the Greek islands under clear blue skies, Rhodes, Greece. (Adobe Stock Photo)
The European Commission has extended the fast-track visa program for Turkish citizens visiting selected Greek islands for another year.
The renewal will take effect on April 1, 2025, allowing Turkish nationals and their families to receive seven-day visas at port entries on 12 islands in the eastern Aegean.
Why it matters
The visa program is a rare exception to Schengen rules, allowing short-term visits without a full Schengen visa. It’s part of a broader roadmap between Türkiye and Greece to improve bilateral ties after years of regional disputes and political tension.
A statement from diplomatic sources quoted by Greek media said the Commission “welcomed the successful implementation of the program” over the past year and recognized its “positive contribution to promoting contacts between the two peoples.”
The details
- The visa will be valid for seven days and issued on arrival at designated ports.
- Originally launched in March 2024, the program has already issued over 100,000 express visas, according to Reuters.
- The list of eligible islands has expanded from 10 to 12 islands with the addition of Patmos and Samothrace.
Islands that can be visited under fast-track visa program
- Kalymnos
- Kastellorizo
- Kos
- Lesbos (Lesvos)
- Leros
- Limnos
- Rhodes
- Samos
- Symi
- Chios (Hios)
- Patmos (new)
- Samothrace (new)
The program is part of a diplomatic thaw between the two NATO countries. In December 2023, Türkiye and Greece signed a cooperation roadmap aimed at starting a “new era” of relations. The visa deal was among the steps agreed upon during this process.
- The visa applies only to the listed islands.
- Visitors cannot travel to mainland Greece or other Schengen countries under this scheme.
- The islands remain the only areas in the Schengen zone where such an exception exists for Turkish citizens.
The renewed program will run until at least April 2026, and further extensions may depend on continued diplomatic cooperation and regional stability.
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