Greece has prolonged a visa program for Turkish nationals by one year, allowing them to visit 12 Aegean Sea islands for up to seven days, according to diplomatic sources.
This extension continues a policy that has slightly eased the often tense relations between the two neighboring countries. Initially signed in December 2023, the agreement provides automatic visas for Turks and their families to visit certain Greek islands without needing full access to the EU’s passport-free travel zone. This step was part of a broader effort by Greece and Turkey to improve ties after years of disputes, following a roadmap established during that time.
Both NATO allies yet long-standing rivals, Greece and Turkey have clashed for decades over issues like maritime boundaries in the Aegean Sea, airspace control, and the divided island of Cyprus. With the European Commission’s approval, the tourist visa program will now run until April 2026 and expand from an initial 10 islands to include Patmos and Samothrace. The Commission praised the program’s success over the past year, noting its role in fostering connections between the two nations’ peoples.
Since its start in March 2024, over 100,000 visas have been issued for Turkish visitors to islands such as Rhodes, Kos, Samos, Lesvos, Chios, Leros, Symi, Lemnos, Kalymnos, and Kastelorizo. In 2023, Athens and Ankara also committed to exploring talks on defining their maritime zones, while a high-level cooperation council, formed in 2010 to tackle their differences, is slated to convene later this year. [Reuters]