Key facts
- Greece launched a 'door visa' scheme in April 2024.
- The scheme allows Turkish citizens visa-free access to 12 Aegean islands.
- Visits under the scheme are limited to seven days.
- The program has significantly boosted tourism from Turkey.
- Nearly 1.5 million visits were recorded in 2025.
- The initiative aims to simplify EU island access for Turkish visitors.
- The program benefits the local economies of the Aegean islands.
Greece has implemented a 'door visa' scheme that allows Turkish citizens to visit 12 Aegean islands for a period of up to seven days without requiring a Schengen visa. This program was launched in April 2024. The initiative has led to a substantial increase in tourism from Turkey. In 2025, the scheme facilitated nearly 1.5 million visits by Turkish citizens to these islands. The primary goal of the 'door visa' is to simplify access to the Greek islands for Turkish tourists and to provide an economic stimulus to the local economies of the participating islands.