- Greece has extended the Visa Express program for Turkish citizens through April twenty twenty-seven.
- The fast-track scheme allows seven-day single-entry stays on twelve specific Greek islands.
- Traveler volume rose significantly, reaching over two point two five million trips in twenty twenty-five.
Greece has extended its door visa, officially known as the Visa Express and Fast-Track Visa, through April 2027. Turkish citizens and their families can keep using it for short island trips.
On March 31, 2026, Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lana Zohiu tied the extension to coordination with the European Commission. She said the move carried diplomatic weight.
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"The decision to extend the express visa program followed coordination with the European Commission to facilitate visa access for Turkish nationals. This initiative has significantly contributed to the positive agenda between our two nations."
It began in April 2024. The first version covered 10 islands. A December 2023 meeting between Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan helped set it in motion. Turkish nationals made about 1.15 million trips to Greek islands in 2024. The next year, the total rose above 2.25 million.
On April 1, 2026, North Aegean Governor Konstantinos Moutzouris praised the renewal. He pointed to local shops and restaurants.
"The renewal of the Visa Express program for another year [through 2027] is a particularly positive development for the economy of the North Aegean islands. it has revitalized local businesses and restaurants."
Twelve islands now qualify for the scheme
The program now covers these islands:
- Rhodes
- Kos
- Lesbos (Mytilene)
- Chios
- Samos
- Leros
- Lemnos
- Kalymnos
- Kastellorizo
- Symi
- Patmos
- Samothrace
The permit stops at the island that issues it
Visits can last 7 days. The visa is single-entry. Travelers pay 60 Euros at designated entry ports.
The permit stays with the island of entry. It does not allow mainland Greece, other islands not in the program, or any other Schengen Area country.
Travelers can apply on the spot at the port. Many ferry operators now let passengers pre-upload documents. That speeds processing.
On July 29, 2025, the European Commission's Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs described the arrangement as a temporary scheme of short stay tourist visits. It called it an exceptional measure approved to bolster regional stability and tourism. More than 100,000 such visas were issued in the first year alone.
