Greece’s special visa-on-arrival program for Turkish citizens has officially been extended for another year, now valid until April 2026. This fast-track travel initiative allows Turkish tourists to visit 12 selected Greek islands without applying for a traditional Schengen visa, simply receiving a visa upon arrival at designated ports.
The extension, confirmed by the European Commission, will take effect on April 1, 2025, and aims to strengthen the already growing ties between Greece and Türkiye — ties that also support wider opportunities like real estate investmentand the Greek Golden Visa program.
The visa-on-arrival allows short-term stays of one to seven days on islands such as Rhodes, Kos, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, and Symi. It’s a quicker alternative to the Schengen visa process and is credited with boosting tourism numbers significantly.
In fact, from April to November 2024, Greece issued over 100,000 express visas to Turkish nationals under the scheme. During the 2024 peak season, around 400,000 Turkish tourists traveled to the Greek islands, with over 54,000 visasissued in just three islands of the Northeast Aegean region by August alone.
Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Christos Stylianidis, highlighted the program’s success, emphasizing the strong partnership between Greece and Türkiye, especially in the shipping sector and international cooperation forums.
In 2024 alone, over 1.15 million Turkish tourists visited the Greek islands, marking a 93% increase compared to 2023, largely due to the simplified visa process.
This surge in Turkish visitors is not only strengthening tourism but is also enhancing awareness of Greece’s broader investment opportunities — including the highly sought-after Greek Golden Visa program, where property purchase offers residency benefits in a Schengen country.
With travel easier than ever and interest at an all-time high, now is the perfect moment for Turkish nationals and other investors to explore Greece’s unique lifestyle, investment potential, and fast-track residency options.
