Greece has extended its visa facilitation program for Turkish tourists. Find out which 12 islands you can visit without a full Schengen visa, how many days you are allowed to stay and what are the current entry conditions in the country

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Greece has extended its fast-track visa regime for Turkish tourists, allowing Turkish citizens to visit 12 islands in the Aegean Sea without the need for a full Schengen visa. This program was initially introduced in December 2023 and has now been extended until April 2026.

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Which Greek islands can Turkish tourists visit without a visa?

Turkish tourists can travel to certain Greek islands without a full visa application. These islands include Kalymnos, Kastellorizo, Kos, Lesbos, Leros, Limnos, Rhodes, Samos, Symi, Chios, Patmos and Samothrace.

Entry requirements for Greek islands for Turkish citizens

A full visa is not required. Instead of going through the regular visa procedure, Turkish citizens can visit these islands under a fast-track scheme that significantly reduces bureaucratic hurdles.

How many Turkish citizens can stay visa-free on the Greek islands?

The stay on these islands can be from 1 to 7 days, depending on the specific rules for each visitor.

Why is the visa-free program for Turkish citizens to the Greek islands important?

Since its launch in March 2024, the program has already issued over 100,000 visas, demonstrating great interest from Turkish tourists.

This initiative has also led to a significant increase in tourism, which has benefited both the Greek economy and contributed to closer ties between Greece and Turkey.

Diplomatic significance of the visa-free program for Turkish citizens to the Greek islands

The fast-track visa program is not only a tourism initiative, it is also seen as a tool to strengthen bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries. The European Commission welcomed the scheme, calling it a positive development for diplomatic relations and praising its impact on cooperation between nations.

Both Greece and Turkey are working to improve their often tense relations, and this visa scheme is an example of regional cooperation and the benefits of such work in the field of tourism and diplomacy.

The extension of the program is expected to further promote tourism and cultural exchange, as well as reduce political tensions in the region, which will be an important step in the actively developing relations between Greece and Turkey.

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As a reminder! Greece's fantastic landscapes, rich culture and delicious cuisine attract millions of visitors every year. Some dream of a vacation here, while for others Greece is the ideal country to live. Staying in Greece for longer is quite possible, one of the visa options is the Digital Nomad Permit. We have already covered how remote workers can move to Greece, what are the requirements for applicants, and what is the procedure for obtaining a Greek visa for digital nomads.

Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:

Checklist for obtaining a visa and necessary documents in Greece;

Legal advice on immigration to Greece;

Travel insurance for foreigners in Greece;

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