Visa on Arrival for Greek Islands 2026: Status and Documents

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This page is for holders of a Turkish passport (Turkish citizens, including those who live abroad, for example in Germany). If you do not have a Schengen visa, you can travel to 12 Greek islands on the “visa on arrival” (Visa Express). The visa allows a stay of up to 7 days, is single-entry and is valid only on the island where you land. The only operator we found that lets you upload the documents online is Meander Travel (Samos).

For all ferries to the islands as a map and table, see our ferry map.

Short answer

• Who it is for: Turkish citizens and their families. If you hold a valid Schengen visa or an EU residence permit you do not need it.
• Which islands: Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos, Rhodes, Symi, Kastellorizo (Meis), Leros, Kalymnos, Patmos, Lemnos and Samothrace.
• Duration: Up to 7 days, single entry, only the island where you enter.
• Fee: The total the operators charge is €80–100 for an adult and €20–55 for a child (25 October 2026). Details by operator below.
• Application: Through the operator whose ferry ticket you buy, 5–10 days before the trip (varies by operator). The visa is stuck into your passport at the port.
• Validity: One year from 1 April 2026; according to the press, until April 2027.

What the visa on arrival is and is not

The visa on arrival is an exceptional arrangement that Greece introduced to the Schengen rules with the approval of the European Commission. It was announced in December 2023 and started in April 2024. When Patmos and Samothrace were added in April 2025, the number of islands rose to 12. Lana Zochiou, spokesperson of the Greek Foreign Ministry, announced on 31 March 2026 that the programme had been extended by another year from 1 April 2026. Greek outlets such as To Vima and Powergame write that the Commission’s approval runs “until April 2027”. We could not see in an official text what separates “one year” from “April 2027”, that is, whether the end date is 31 March or 30 April.

What it is not:

• Not a Schengen visa. You cannot continue to Athens, Thessaloniki, another island or another EU country.
• No island hopping. If you entered on Samos, you cannot go on to Patmos. You have to return to Turkey from the same island.
• Not entirely “on arrival”. Your documents are sent in advance. At the port your fingerprints and photo are taken and the visa is stuck into your passport.
• Not for flights or cruises. The arrangement is for scheduled ferries departing from Turkey.

Which islands, and where from

The list of islands did not change with the 2026 extension. Departure ports vary by operator and season; the table is for the 2026 season. All routes, durations and price ranges are on the ferry map.

Lemnos: The first sailing from Çanakkale took place on 21 June 2026; the regular season ran from 15 July to 20 September, three days a week. Because the outbound and return sailings are on different days, a day trip is not possible. To Vima wrote in April 2026 that the arrangement was not yet working in practice on Lemnos; we found no source showing that visa on arrival was actually issued at Myrina port in 2026. Always ask the operator before you go.

Samothrace: As of June 2026 the Enez–Samothrace route had still not started; the Enez sea border crossing had not opened. Today the island is reached overland via Alexandroupoli; because that way you enter mainland Greece, you need a Schengen visa.

Who can apply

• Turkish citizens and family members.
• Passport: Most operators ask for at least 6 months’ validity and blank pages. Go by the strictest requirement.
• Earlier Schengen refusal: Varies by operator. Meis Express, İDO, Jalem Tur and Turyol (Lesvos page) do not accept applicants who have previously been refused a Schengen visa; Meis Ferry Lines and Bodrum Ferryboat exclude refusals in the last 6 months, Tilos Travel (Kos) in the last 3 months (operators’ pages, 25 October 2026). If you have a refusal, ask before applying and declare it correctly on the form.
• Northern Cyprus (KKTC) stamp: Ertürk and Meis Express do not accept applications from people whose passport has a KKTC entry or exit stamp; Meis Express writes that this is a rule of the Greek authorities. We have not seen this rule in an official text of the Greek authorities. On 25 October 2026 Turyol, Jalem Tur, İDO, Meander Travel, Tilos Travel (Rhodes), Bodrum Ferryboat and Meis Ferry Lines also listed a KKTC stamp as a bar on their pages.
• Children: A separate application for each child. For a child travelling with one parent, Ertürk asks for a notarised, apostilled parental consent letter with a Greek translation.

How to apply

1. Buy your ferry ticket. Return, via the same island. The dates must match those in the application.
2. Hand the documents to the operator. In person, by post or by courier. Meis Express has you fill in the form on a computer and wants a printout with a wet signature; Ertürk fills in the form for you. Only Meander Travel (Samos) lets you upload the documents as PDFs (at least 7 days ahead); the others want them in person or by courier (25 October 2026).
3. Pay the fee. Ertürk takes cash at application. Meis Express asks you to put the fee in the envelope with the documents, and the fee is not refunded if the visa is refused.
4. Get to the port early on the day. There is a passport check in Turkey, then EES registration (fingerprints and photo) and visa control on the island. In summer 2026 there were reports of waits of more than 3 hours on arrival on Lesvos and of queues hundreds of metres long in Kusadasi.

How far ahead to apply

Around public holidays and the summer peak it is safer to apply at least 10 days ahead.

Documents needed

This varies from operator to operator. These are the items that appear on the operators’ pages:

• Photocopy of the passport identity page (Ertürk: on A4)
• Photocopy of the Turkish ID card, front and back
• 2 biometric photos with a white background
• Return ferry ticket
• A paid hotel reservation if you will stay overnight
• Barcoded proof-of-residence certificate (yerleşim yeri belgesi) from e-Devlet (Ertürk)
• Travel health insurance in English (Meis Express)
• Bank statement: Meis Express asks for a balance of at least €350 for a day trip and €500 per day for a stay with overnight accommodation
• Personal details such as address, telephone number, occupation, marital status and parents’ names

Fee

Sources conflict on the official fee. A Greek parliamentary document from February 2025 gives €60. Euronews Türkçe (March 2026) gave the official 2026 fee as €85. The gap is most likely the operators’ service charge, but we could not confirm that with an official source. What matters in practice is the total the operator charges you: ask for it in writing when you buy the ticket.

The visa allows a stay of up to 7 days and cannot be extended. Each trip needs its own application and its own fee.

Fees, quotas and deadlines by operator

This applies to Turkish citizens (Turkish passport holders) only. Other nationalities do not use this scheme. The table is compiled from the operators’ own visa pages, which we opened on 25 October 2026, and from their email replies to us. Fees are the operator’s total visa charge; the ferry ticket, port taxes and the Turkish exit fee come on top. “Not stated” means the operator’s page does not give it; “not verified” means we could not confirm it from the operator itself. The Greek authorities issue the visa and set the quotas. Notes on bank balances, insurance and refusals are with each operator (the numbers link to them); the Turkish page has the same table in Turkish, and a printable document checklist (in Turkish) is at kapıda vize belge listesi.

What changed: with Bodrum Ferryboat at €100 for an adult and €55 for a child, the range on this page is now €80–100 (adults) and €20–55 (children). It previously said €80–95 and €20–30; we corrected it on 25 October 2026.

How many people use it

• According to Ministry of Transport data, 1,119,472 passengers travelled from Turkish ports to the Greek islands in 2025 (about 2.25 million counting both directions). Most went to Kos, followed by Chios and Rhodes. These figures are ferry passengers; not all of them used the visa on arrival.
• The only official visa figure we found for the northern Aegean is for 2024: of the roughly 340,000 Turkish visitors to Lesvos, Chios and Samos, about 20% (71,648 people) entered on the visa on arrival. Most of the rest travelled with a Schengen visa.
• No official result for the 2026 season has been published yet; figures in the press are estimates.

Common mistakes

• Buying the ticket and leaving the visa for later. If you miss the application deadline you cannot board, even with a ticket.
• Trying to go on to another island. You cannot cross from Kos to Kalymnos or from Rhodes to Symi on this visa.
• Overstaying the 7 days. It can count against your future Schengen applications.
• Ignoring the bank balance requirement. Operators such as Meis Express set a per-day balance; on a longer stay that is a substantial sum.
• Not mentioning an earlier refusal or a KKTC stamp. Some operators will not accept the application at all in that case, and the fee can be lost.
• Arriving at the port late. EES registration and, on busy days, luggage checks take a long time.
• Trying to reach Samothrace overland. If you travel via Alexandroupoli you need a Schengen visa.

Accommodation and cars on the island

With the visa on arrival you can stay on the island for up to 7 days. We have a separate hotel guide for each island; for the night before the ferry you can also look at the guides to the coastal towns.

• Where to stay in Lesvos · Where to stay in Chios · Where to stay in Samos
• Where to stay in Kos · Where to stay in Rhodes · Where to stay in Kastellorizo

We found no official rule on taking a car over on the visa on arrival; ask the operator for written confirmation, and see taking a car to the Greek islands for details. If you go without a car, renting one on the island is an option:

Car hire

Car hire: Greek islands

DiscoverCars compares offers from several rental companies in one search. Check the pick-up point, deposit and insurance terms before you book.

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Living in the EU with a residence permit? Then this scheme is not for you; see Greek islands with a residence permit.

Trip toolkit

Tours and day trips

⏱ 9 - 11 hoursGetYourGuideBodrum: Roundtrip Ferry to Kos with Hotel PickupReturn ferry with optional hotel transfer in Bodrum and a host at the port; free time on Kos without a guide.See price →⏱ 10 hoursGetYourGuideFrom Marmaris to Rhodes Same-Day Return TourHotel pickup in Marmaris, return ferry and about five hours of free time on Rhodes.See price →

Before you go

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Where to stay, island by island

LesvosChiosSamosKosRhodesKastellorizo

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FAQ

Is the visa on arrival valid in 2026, and when does it end?

Yes. It was extended by one year from 1 April 2026; according to the press it is valid until April 2027. A new extension decision will be needed after that; when it is announced you will see it in the “Latest status” box at the top of this page.

Can I just turn up at the port and get a visa without applying?

In practice, no. Some English-language sources say “no advance application needed”, but all the operators running from Turkey ask for the documents days ahead.

How much does it cost, and why does it say something different everywhere?

The total operators charge is €80–100 for an adult (25 October 2026; the highest is Bodrum Ferryboat). Two different figures circulate as the official Greek fee, €60 and €85; the difference may come from the operators’ service charge. Ask the operator you buy the ticket from for the total you will pay in writing.

I have been refused a Schengen visa before. Can I still apply?

It depends on the operator, but most say no. On the pages we checked on 25 October 2026, Meis Express, İDO, Jalem Tur and Turyol (Lesvos page) do not accept applicants with an earlier Schengen refusal; Meis Ferry Lines and Bodrum Ferryboat exclude refusals in the last 6 months, and Tilos Travel (Kos) in the last 3 months. Ask before applying.

What is EES, and does it affect me?

The EU’s Entry/Exit System, fully in operation since 10 April 2026. Your fingerprints and photo are taken at your first entry, and a digital record is kept instead of a passport stamp. It is free and needs no advance registration, but it lengthens processing on arrival.

Can I go from one island to another, or to Athens?

No. The visa is valid only on the island where you enter, and you have to leave from the same island.

If the visa is refused, do I lose the fee, the ticket and the hotel money?

You lose the visa fee. On the pages we opened on 29 October 2026, Turyol (Lesvos), Jalem Tur, İDO, Meander Travel, Ertürk, Meis Express, Meis Ferry Lines, Bodrum Ferryboat and Tilos Travel all say the fee is not refunded if the visa is refused. Bodrum Ferryboat does not refund the ferry ticket either, whether the visa is refused or you withdraw. Hotel money depends on the hotel’s cancellation terms; most operators want a paid booking, and Jalem Tur writes that approval or refusal is only known once the passport police on Lesvos have seen you and taken your fingerprints. Check the free-cancellation deadline when you book.

How much money do I need in my bank account?

It depends on the operator and the island (operators’ pages, 29 October 2026). Meis Express: at least €350 for a day trip, €500 per day if you stay. Meis Ferry Lines: €300 per person per day on the island. Tilos Travel: €1,000 per person for Rhodes, plus €1,000 per child in the account of the sponsoring parent; €450 for Kos, Leros and Samos. Bodrum Ferryboat: at least €450. İDO: at least €500 or 25,000 TL for Rhodes. Meander Travel (Samos): €50 per day. Turyol (Lesvos), Jalem Tur and Ertürk ask for no bank statement; Ertürk writes that the passport police may ask whether you carry at least €50 per day.

What happens at the island port? Is there a separate queue?

According to Ertürk, everyone arriving on Chios for a visa on arrival queues at the customs point marked “GATEVISA”, and passengers on the first catamaran are processed first; after a short fingerprint and document check the visa goes into your passport. We did not find a separate queue described for the other islands. Meis Express writes that the Greek passport police take every passenger’s fingerprints and that after this you wait at least 30 minutes per person, up to 1–2 hours on busy days. For the EU’s Entry/Exit System, see our EES and ETIAS guide.

Do children need a parental consent letter?

Each child needs a separate application. If a child travels with one parent, Ertürk and İDO (Chios) ask for a notarised, apostilled consent letter from the absent parent with a Greek translation; Tilos Travel asks for the same for Chios and for English documents for Kos and Samos; Meis Ferry Lines asks for the consent letter and says to carry the original. Bodrum Ferryboat requires children under 18 to travel with both parents (operators’ pages, 29 October 2026).

Update history

• 29 October 2026: Added the box for an email alert when the 2027 decision is announced, and four questions readers ask (refunds after a refusal, bank balance, what happens at the port, children). Nine operators’ visa pages reopened; fees and deadlines unchanged. New: Bodrum Ferryboat requires under-18s to travel with both parents and does not refund the ticket after a refusal or withdrawal; Tilos Travel asks for an extra €1,000 per child for Rhodes; on Chios, visa-on-arrival passengers queue at “GATEVISA” (Ertürk). No 2027 extension decision found.
• 27 October 2026 (Tilos Travel): Added the operator’s email reply: the visa-on-arrival fee is €80 per person, matching our table (the email gave no child fee; the €20 child fee is from its visa page, rechecked on 27 October 2026); documents can differ by island. Port taxes are included in its fares except on Rhodes routes; offices open 08:00–22:00; no company car park.
• 25 October 2026: Added the table of fees, quotas and deadlines by operator (operators’ pages checked on 25 October 2026). Because Bodrum Ferryboat charges €100 for an adult and €55 for a child, the fee range was corrected from €80–95 to €80–100 (adults) and from €20–30 to €20–55 (children).
• 14 October 2026: Added operator-by-operator fees (Ertürk, Meis Express), application lead times, new document requirements (e-Devlet proof of residence, bank balance), the practice on earlier Schengen refusals and KKTC stamps, EES and the 2026 queues, the 2026 season on Lemnos, and the 2025 passenger numbers.
• April 2026: The programme’s one-year extension from 1 April 2026.

For all our route guides, see the routes page.

Sources

Official

• Greek Parliament, MP question: €60 fee and 7 days (February 2025, PDF)
• Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum, reply to Parliament (June 2024, PDF)
• European Commission: Entry/Exit System
• Greek Foreign Ministry (Embassy in Dublin): EES fully in operation on 10 April 2026 (16 April 2026)

Ferry operators

• Ertürk: Visa-on-arrival conditions and fee (checked 25 October 2026)
• Ertürk Lines, email, 25 October 2026
• Meis Express: Kas–Kastellorizo visa on arrival
• Turyol: Lesvos visa on arrival and Chios visa on arrival (accessed 25 October 2026)
• Jalem Tur: Visa on arrival (accessed 25 October 2026)
• İDO Aegean Islands: Visa on arrival (accessed 25 October 2026)
• Meander Travel / samosaferibot.com: Samos visa on arrival (accessed 25 October 2026)
• Tilos Travel: Visa on arrival (accessed 25 October 2026)
• Bodrum Ferryboat: Visa procedures (accessed 25 October 2026)
• Meis Ferry Lines: Visa on arrival (accessed 25 October 2026)
• Yeşil Marmaris Lines: Rhodes visa on arrival (accessed 25 October 2026)
• Yeşil Marmaris Lines: Greek islands visa-on-arrival guide (accessed 25 October 2026)
• Turyol, email reply, 17 October 2026; Meis Ferry Lines, email reply, 24 October 2026
• Yeşil Marmaris Lines, email, 25 October 2026
• Bodrum Sea Lines, email reply, 25 October 2026
• Tilos Travel, email reply, 27 October 2026
• Answers to the last four FAQ questions: the Turyol (Lesvos), Jalem Tur, İDO, Meander Travel, Ertürk, Meis Express, Meis Ferry Lines, Tilos Travel and Bodrum Ferryboat pages above, accessed 29 October 2026

Press

• Türkiye Today: Zochiou’s extension announcement (31 March 2026)
• To Vima: EU extends visa express program (31 March 2026)
• Euronews Türkçe: Visa on arrival extended by another year (31 March 2026)
• To Vima: Scheme extended to 2027 (23 April 2026)
• Powergame.gr: Extension and record target (3 May 2026)
• Milliyet: TÜRSAB İzmir statement (5 April 2026)
• Capital: İDO’s new Aegean season, sailings planned on 10 routes (2026) (accessed October 2026)
• Ekonomist: Sea travel from Turkey to the Greek islands on 10 routes (accessed October 2026)
• Yeni Asır: 1,119,472 passengers in 2025 (6 February 2026)
• newmoney.gr: Northern Aegean visa-on-arrival figures for 2024 (11 January 2025)
• Posta: “Visa on arrival should not become an ordeal at the door” (26 July 2026)
• Ensonhaber: Long queue in Kusadasi (2 July 2026)
• Proto Thema: Lemnos–Çanakkale first sailing (21 June 2026)
• Memurlar.net: Enez–Samothrace route (4 June 2026)
• GZT: Ferries and visa on arrival (30 June 2026)

Intermediary sites

• Feribotseferleri: Lemnos visa on arrival 2026
• Feribotseferleri: Çanakkale–Lemnos sailing days changed (2026)