Visa express to 12 Greek Islands for Turkish tourists
From Turkey to Greece in a breeze!
Planning a trip to the Greek islands from Turkey has never been easier, thanks to the new visa express. Find useful information about the application process, costs, validity, required documents, and ferry connections on Ferryhopper.
Iconic windmills overlooking the serene coastline of Chios in Greece
What is the visa express?
Visa express is a special visa program designed to facilitate short-term visits (1-7 days) between the Greek islands and Turkey. More specifically, this streamlined visa process simplifies travel between Turkey and 12 Greek islands from the Northeastern Aegean and Dodecanese regions.
The process is significantly faster than the standard Schengen visa application, making it an attractive option for Turkish tourists searching for a quick getaway to the Greek islands, just off the coast of Turkey's Anatolia.
Which Greek islands are included in the visa express program?
The new short-term visa program makes it easier for Turkish citizens to travel to the Northeastern Aegean and Dodecanese islands. Find below the 12 Greek Islands included in the visa express program:
Most islands are accessible from various ports in Turkey, with frequent ferry routes making travel easy and convenient. For more information on ferry routes to these islands, read below.
Ferry trips to the Greek islands from Turkey with visa express
Here you can find some of the available ferry connections between Turkey and the Greek islands included in the visa express program:
- Çeşme - Chios ferry: there are up to 7 weekly crossings between Çeşme and Chios. The journey takes about 20-30 minutes and tickets start at €28.
- Ayvalik - Lesbos ferry: there are usually up to 6 daily ferries from Lesbos (Mytilene) to Ayvalik with prices at around €30. The journey lasts between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours.
- Fethiye - Rhodes ferry: the ferry trip between Fethiye and Rhodes takes about 1.5-2 hours with up to 3 daily connections. Ferry ticket prices start at around €35.
- Marmaris - Rhodes ferry: the Marmaris - Rhodes ferry connection is usually operated up to 7 days per week and tickets cost around €45-€55. The trip to Rhodes lasts about 1 hour.
- Kuşadası - Samos ferry: there are up to 4 daily connections between Kuşadası and Samos. The journey duration ranges from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours and tickets start at €37.
- Kuşadası - Patmos ferry: this connection is usually active with up to 2 crossings per week. You can travel between these 2 destinations in 2 hours and pay €55.
- Bodrum - Kos ferry: with several crossings per day, the Bodrum - Kos ferry trip takes about 20-30 minutes with tickets from €21.
- Bodrum - Symi ferry: the connection between Bodrum and Symi is usually available with 2-3 weekly connections. Tickets cost €50 and the ferry trip lasts 2 hours.
- Bodrum - Leros ferry: there are usually a few weekly crossings to Leros from Bodrum taking about 45 minutes with ticket prices at around €40.
- Bodrum - Rhodes ferry: this connection typically operates 3-5 days per week. The trip lasts 2 hours and prices start from €55.
- Bodrum - Kalymnos ferry: ferries to Kalymnos from Bodrum are active up to 5 days per week. The journey lasts 1 hour and tickets cost €30.
- Bodrum - Patmos ferry: the connection to Patmos from Bodrum usually operates 2 days per week and lasts 2 hours. Tickets cost €45.
- Turgutreis - Kos ferry: there are daily crossings from Turgutreis to Kos. The ferry ride takes about 30 minutes and tickets cost €25.
- Turgutreis - Leros ferry: the connection between Turgutreis and Leros is operated weekly with a duration of 45 minutes. Prices start from €45.
- Turgutreis - Kalymnos ferry: typically, this connection is available 1-2 days per week. Tickets cost €40 and the ferry trip lasts 30 minutes.
- Didim - Kos ferry: ferries to Kos operate 2 days per week. Crossings typically take a bit over 1 hour and tickets cost €60.
- Didim - Leros ferry: the Didim to Leros ferry connection is usually operated once a week. The journey takes 50 minutes and tickets cost €45.
- Seferihisar - Samos ferry: the ferry to Samos departs from Seferihisar once a day in the high season. The trip lasts 1 hour and tickets cost €30.
- Kaş - Kastellorizo ferry: ferries from Kaş to Kastellorizo (Meis) run daily. The trip duration ranges from €7 to €20 minutes and ticket prices start from €20.
- Izmir - Mytilene ferry: the seasonal connection from Izmir to Mytilene is operated up to 7 days per week. The journey takes 30 minutes to almost 3 hours and ticket prices start from €35.
Tip: you can find all the available ferry connections between Turkey and the Greek islands and visualize your trip on our Map of Ferries.
Leaving the coast of Bodrum behind on the ferry to the island of Kos
How to get the visa express?
The 7-day visa is valid for a 12-month period and is easily obtained upon arrival at the specified islands. No application is needed.
Important note: the visa doesn't directly address entry stamps specifically for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
How much does the visa express cost?
The visa express costs €60 and the application process includes passport verification, fingerprint recording, and a review of the required documents.
For how long is the visa express valid?
The visa express is valid for 7 days and can be issued year-round. This single-entry visa allows visitors from Turkey to stay on the designated Greek islands with no need for a Schengen visa.
However, it cannot be used to travel to other countries of the Schengen area. The visa is issued with a special stamp on the passport and visitors must remain on the islands during their stay.
Important note: visitors cannot extend the visa express as it is strictly valid for up to 7 days. If you want to visit a Greek island or city other than the 12 islands included in the visa express program, you must obtain a Schengen visa for Greece.
Visa express to the Greek Islands: documents required
To apply for the visa express, the following documents are typically required:
- €60 visa fee
- A valid passport (with at least 6 months of validity) and a copy of the passport
- Passport-sized photos
- Travel insurance covering the period of the trip
- Proof of accommodation (round-trip travel tickets and hotel reservations)
- Proof of sufficient financial means for the duration of your stay (3-month bank statement)
- No TRNC visa stamp in the passport
It's advisable to check the specific requirements on official websites or consult with authorized travel agencies before your trip for updates or changes to the visa process.
Tip: in the case of day trips, there is no need for proof of accommodation such as hotel reservations.
