Guides on this topic
Visa types
Tourist Schengen visa
A short-stay visa covering all of Greece, including Athens, Thessaloniki and the islands, and the rest of the Schengen area.
Aegean islands express visa
A short-stay visa for certain Eastern Aegean islands reached by ferry from Türkiye, arranged through an authorised agency or ferry operator; valid only on that island.
Business visa
For meetings and business talks in Greece; an invitation from the host company and an assignment letter are required.
Visiting family or friends
For visiting relatives or friends in Greece; an invitation letter and the host's documents are requested.
Typical documents
- Valid passport and copies of previous visas
- Completed and signed application form
- Biometric passport photo
- Travel medical insurance valid across the Schengen area
- Flight or ferry reservation
- Hotel booking or proof of accommodation from your host
- Recent bank statements
- Employer letter, payslips and SGK service record
- For business owners: tax registration and trade registry gazette
Document lists vary by applicant and by consulate; the consulate's current official list is always the one that counts.
How to apply
- 1
Decide, based on your plans, whether you need a Schengen visa or an island express visa.
- 2
For a Schengen visa, check the Greek mission's current document list.
- 3
Complete the application form and prepare your documents.
- 4
Book an appointment at the authorised visa application centre.
- 5
Submit your documents and give your biometric data at the appointment.
- 6
Track your application and collect your passport.
Where to apply for a Greece visa from Türkiye
Greece has an embassy in Ankara and consulates general in cities such as Istanbul and İzmir. You apply for a Schengen visa to the Greek mission responsible for the region where you live; documents and biometrics are usually taken at the authorised visa application centre working on the mission's behalf.
- Turkish citizens with an ordinary (burgundy) passport need a visa for Greece; holders of special, service and diplomatic passports are exempt.
- To apply to Greece, Greece must be your main destination. If you are visiting several countries, see the which country to apply to guide.
What to know before entering Greece
- Visas are not issued at Greece's land border crossings; you need your visa before crossing at İpsala–Kipoi or Pazarkule–Kastanies.
- The Greek authorities do not admit Turkish citizens whose passport carries a TRNC (Northern Cyprus) entry/exit stamp or who were born in the TRNC.
- If you were born in Greece, the Greek authorities ask for "GR" to appear in your passport next to the Turkish and English names of your place of birth.
- The island express visa applies only to tourist visits to the participating Aegean islands on scheduled boat services from Türkiye; the mainland, airports and the land border require a Schengen visa.
Islands or mainland?
How you travel to Greece decides which visa you need. If you are flying to Athens, Thessaloniki or an island, crossing the land border by road, or hopping between several islands, you need a Schengen visa.
If you only plan a short holiday on one participating island, reached by boat from the Turkish coast, the island express visa scheme may be an option. Its scope and validity period are renewed each year, so confirm the current status before you travel.
Practical tips
- The island express visa is valid only on the island you enter; travelling on to another island, the mainland or other Schengen countries requires a Schengen visa.
- The scope and validity period of the island scheme can change, so always confirm the current status before you travel.
- If you plan to hop between islands, applying for a Schengen visa from the start gives you more flexibility.
- Appointments and ferries get busy in summer, so plan your application early.
Official sources
We checked the information on this page against the official sources below. Always confirm the current rules there before you apply.