Turkish Travellers Get Easier Access to 12 Greek Islands
Greece’s "door visa" is making short island trips easier for Turkish citizens who do not hold a full Schengen visa. The scheme, first introduced in 2024 and renewed for another year from April 2026, covers 12 Aegean islands close to Türkiye. It allows stays of up to seven days, but cannot be extended or used to continue to mainland Greece or another Schengen country.
How Greece’s Door Visa Works
- Eligible travellers: Turkish citizens and accompanying family members
- Islands: Chios, Kalymnos, Kastellorizo, Kos, Leros, Lesvos, Limnos, Patmos, Rhodes, Samos, Samothraki and Symi
- Stay: One to seven days
- Validity: Covered islands only; no mainland Greece or onward Schengen travel
- Renewal: One year from 1 April 2026
- Application: Through an authorised ferry company or travel agency before departure
- 2026 fee: €85, plus any agency service charges
Applications are handled through authorised ferry companies or travel agencies before departure. Travellers need a passport valid for at least six months, biometric photos, accommodation and return ferry bookings, travel insurance and proof of funds. The standard 2026 fee is €85, with agency charges added separately. Nearly 1.5 million Turkish travellers visited Greece in 2025, up from 1.2 million in 2024.
The scheme puts islands such as Samos, Rhodes, Kos and Chios within easier reach for short breaks. Samos combines beaches and traditional villages with ancient sites linked to Pythagoras, while Rhodes offers a medieval old town and coastal resorts. Frequent ferries from Türkiye’s Aegean coast also make these islands practical for first international trips, family holidays and long weekends without applying for a full Schengen visa.
The door visa removes one major obstacle, but it is not a last-minute pass through border control. Documents must be prepared in advance, approval is not guaranteed and arrival checks can still involve queues. Turkish citizens can now arrange a short island holiday without competing for a standard Schengen visa appointment. The trip must stay within the participating islands and cannot continue to mainland Greece or elsewhere in the Schengen area.
