Special Visa Program for Turkish Visitors on Islands - Greece

On 1 April, officials on the island of Rhodes opened a new vacation visa terminal for Turkish visitors as part of a diplomatic effort to ease long-standing tensions. The limited-access visa will allow Turks to visit 10 Greek islands for up to a week without having to apply for full access to the European Union’s passport-free travel zone, known as the Schengen area. Granted at participating Greek ports, the new visa will cost 60 euros and will include a passport check and fingerprint recording, while visitors will not be allowed to travel onto other EU member states. The islands in the vacation visa program include Lesvos, Limnos, Chios, Samos, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos, Symi and Kastellorizo, with the smaller islands due to join in June.

Advice

For additional information, travellers are advised to contact their travel agents or the respective embassy, prior to airline and accommodation bookings. Plan ahead to avoid inconveniences. Follow local laws. Overstaying a visa may result in consequences like fines or imprisonment.