Turkish Tourism Surge Expected as Greece Extends Express Visa

Agreat influx of Turkish tourists is anticipated in 2025 for the North Aegean and Dodecanese islands following the one-year extension of the short-stay visa “express visa” program, which will come into effect on April 1, 2025.

The initiative, which facilitates travel for Turkish citizens and their families to select Aegean islands, is expected to further boost tourism, according to the president of the Institute for Tourism Research and Forecasts (ITEP).

There is growing support for making the program permanent, as it has proven to be a crucial factor in increasing visitor numbers to these islands. However, experts stress that infrastructure improvements are necessary to prevent disappointment among travelers using the fast track visa system.

Turkish tourism has become a vital economic lifeline for the North Aegean islands, with recent data showing a shift from short day trips—once the norm—to longer stays of three to five days. This trend, largely driven by the “express visa” scheme, has significantly benefited local hotels and increased overall tourist spending.

According to statistics, out of 104,700 visas issued, approximately 37,000 were for three-day stays, 21,500 for four days, and 22,000 for five to six days. In contrast, only around 4,000 visas were issued for single-day visits, while two-day visas totaled 12,700. Overall, more than 86,000 visas were for stays of three days or longer.

Lesvos led in “express visa” approvals last year, issuing 27,600 visas, followed closely by Chios (Hios) with approximately 25,000, while Rhodes, Samos and Kos also saw high numbers, with 16,000 and 8,600 visas, respectively.

The program initially covered Rhodes, Kos, Lesvos, Samos, and Chios before expanding to include Leros, Kalymnos, Kastellorizo, Symi, and Lemnos.

Following efforts by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Commission has recently approved the program’s extension for another year starting in April. The scheme has also been further expanded to include Patmos and Samothraki, bringing the total to 12 Greek islands.