Greece Eases Visas for Turks Eyeing Aegean Islands

Greece is set to introduce an automatic visa system for Turkish citizens wishing to visit 10 of its islands. The decision follows a meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Erdoğan, and has received the approval of the European Commission. Greece’s immigration minister says the move will bring Greeks and Turks closer together.

Athens considers streamlined visas for Greek islands for Turkish visitors

According to local reports, Athens is considering offering simplified visas to Turks aiming to visit the Greek islands. The city is planning to introduce a one-year visa program for Turkish citizens visiting the Aegean region. Details of a draft agreement emerged following a meeting in Ankara between Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya and Greece’s Minister of Migration and Asylum, Dimitris Kairidis.

The draft agreement includes:

• A 7-day single-entry visa option for Turkish citizens visiting multiple Greek islands, including Rhodes, Lesbos, Samos, Chios, Kos, Leros and Meis.

• Provisions for joint Turkish-Greek coast guard personnel to operate in designated locations.

Relations between Greece and Turkey have improved following Greece’s aid after earthquakes in southern Turkey, and after both nations expressed solidarity after a train accident in northern Greece resulted in fatalities.

https://twitter.com/corajamine/status/1732762819387355446

List of islands included in the new program

• Lemnos

• Lesvos

• Chios

• Samos

• Leros

• Kalymnos

• Kos

• Rhodes

• Symi

• Kastelorizo

Prime Minister Mitsotakis has also expressed support for Turkey’s bid for visa-free access to the Schengen Zone. A declaration on Friendship and Good Neighborly Relations was signed to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Greece is the second-most popular destination for Turkish visa applicants after Germany.