Greek islands see tourism surge via Visa Express program

The Visa Express program, a simplified visa-on-arrival scheme for Turkish citizens, is driving a significant surge in tourism across 12 Greek islands in the Eastern Aegean and Dodecanese. The program allows Turkish visitors to stay for up to seven days without undergoing the full Schengen visa process. It has been extended and will remain in effect until April 2027.

Participating islands include Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos, Rhodes, Limnos, Leros, Kalymnos, Symi, Kastellorizo, Patmos, and Samothrace. Data indicates that Turkish travelers are contributing substantially to local economies, with spending benefiting hotels, restaurants, retail shops, car rentals, and ferry operators. In 2025, Greek authorities reported over one million Turkish visitors using the express visa, generating an estimated €500 million in revenue. Ferry bookings from Turkey for the summer season have seen growth rates as high as 54 percent year-on-year.