Visa-on-arrival scheme enables Turkish tourists to stay seven days on 12 Greek islands

Turkish citizens can travel more easily to 12 Greek islands in the Aegean through a special scheme that does not require them to obtain a full Schengen visa in advance.

Known in Turkey as the “visa at the door,” the practice began in April 2024, when it was initially introduced on 10 islands before the list was expanded. The destinations included are Samos, Rhodes, Chios and Kos, located near the Turkish coast.

The document is issued upon arrival and gives Turkish tourists the right to stay for up to seven days on the island where they entered. The visa cannot be extended and cannot be used to travel to mainland Greece or other countries in the Schengen area.

This opportunity has become an important choice for tourists from Turkey, particularly at a time when the procedures for obtaining Schengen visas have become more expensive and difficult.

Data from the Bank of Greece show that around 1.5 million Turkish citizens visited the country in 2025, compared with 1.2 million a year earlier. The increase in visitors has made a significant contribution to the islands’ economy. In Samos, ferries arrive every day with tourists from the Turkish coast, while a large number of restaurants offer menus in Turkish.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has described the scheme as a particular success and announced that Athens and Ankara are seeking to extend it. In addition to its economic impact, the program is also considered a tool that could bring the two peoples closer together, despite the ongoing political disputes between the two countries.