The European Commission is expected to renew the fast-track visa scheme for Turkish citizens, following an initiative by Greece. The program allows seven-day visits to 12 Greek Aegean islands and forms part of the so-called “people-to-people diplomacy” between Greece and Turkey.
The islands included are: Kalymnos, Kastellorizo, Kos, Lesvos, Leros, Limnos, Rhodes, Samos, Symi, Chios, Patmos, and Samothrace. The scheme is widely regarded as highly successful, contributing to tourism growth, closer bilateral contacts, and a more than 50% reduction in irregular migration flows in 2025, according to the Greek Prime Minister.
Its renewal is considered highly likely, as it is strongly supported by both the Greek and Turkish sides, as well as by local island communities benefiting economically from the program. The issue is being discussed within the framework of the Political Dialogue and Positive Agenda talks, ahead of meetings in Athens on 20–21 January and the upcoming High-Level Cooperation Council in Ankara in February.
If approved again by the European Commission, the scheme will be extended for another year and will continue to apply to the same 12 islands, despite requests from other Aegean islands to be included. The visa program was first launched on a pilot basis in 2024 with five islands and later expanded, with the number of Turkish visitors tripling during its previous renewal period.
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