What is the express visa?
Greece runs a temporary visa facilitation for short tourist visits from the Turkish coast to selected Eastern Aegean islands. Under the scheme, the visa is issued on arrival at the island's port, without visiting a mission or visa application centre beforehand.
According to Türkiye's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the scheme started with 10 islands in April 2024; on 1 April 2025 it was extended for another year and Samothraki and Patmos were added. It is not permanent and continues through yearly extensions.
Islands covered
- Lesvos (Midilli)
- Chios (Sakız)
- Samos (Sisam)
- Kos (İstanköy)
- Rhodes (Rodos)
- Kalymnos (Kelemez)
- Kastellorizo (Meis)
- Leros (İleriye)
- Limnos (Limni)
- Symi (Sömbeki)
- Samothraki (Semadirek) — added in 2025
- Patmos (Batnoz) — added in 2025
How to apply
- 1
Choose your island and sailing
Find the operator running scheduled boat services from Türkiye to the island you want to visit.
- 2
Apply through the boat operator
To use the scheme, you apply through the company running scheduled services to that island. The operator tells you which passport details it needs and how far in advance to apply.
- 3
Check your passport
Make sure your ordinary passport is valid and that nothing bars your entry (see the list below).
- 4
Complete the visa procedure at the port
On arrival, the visa and passport checks take place at the port. Check the dates and the territory the visa is valid for.
- 5
Return on your planned sailing
Leave the island on a boat back to Türkiye within the period shown on your visa.
Check before you apply
- The scheme is for tourist visits by Turkish citizens.
- Holders of special, service and diplomatic passports are already visa-exempt; the scheme concerns ordinary passport holders.
- The Greek authorities do not admit citizens whose passport carries a TRNC (Northern Cyprus) entry/exit stamp or who were born in the TRNC.
- If you were born in Greece, "GR" is required next to your place of birth in your passport.
- Arriving by air or over the land border is not covered; Greece does not issue visas at its land border crossings.
What you cannot do on this visa
The express visa is issued for a short tourist visit to one participating island; it is not designed to be used like a regular Schengen visa. The territory it is valid for and the length of stay are printed on the visa sticker, so stay within them.
If you plan to continue to the mainland (for example Athens or Thessaloniki), other islands or other Schengen countries, apply for a Schengen visa from the start. See the which country to apply to guide and the document checklist.
Is the scheme still running?
The express visa is temporary and continues through yearly extensions. Türkiye's Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that it was extended for one year from 1 April 2025 and widened to 12 islands. The European Commission has also reported that large numbers of Turkish tourists received visas on arrival on the islands under the scheme in 2024.
Because the islands covered and the validity period can change, confirm with the boat operator and official announcements that the scheme is in force on your travel dates before you buy tickets.
If you are visiting more than one place, a Schengen visa is the safer choice. The express visa only suits a short visit to a single island. For plans involving flights, the mainland or island hopping, Vera can prepare your Schengen visa application from Ankara.
Official sources
We checked the information on this page against the official sources below. Always confirm the current rules there before you apply.