Traveling to the Greek Islands #kişnişvesaire
To be able to travel to the Greek Islands in 2024, you will need a passport with a minimum duration of 6 months.
For more than 6 months, green and gray passport holders can travel to the entire Schengen area without a visa.
Please note that if you have a TRNC stamp in your passport, you will not be able to travel to the Greek Islands.
What is a Visa at the Gate?
2024 is an application that speeds up the visa application process for Turkish citizens who will travel to certain islands in Greece. It will be issued by the competent authorities of Greece and is not a substitute for a Schengen visa, is single entry and valid for a maximum of 7 days.
Which Islands Can I Go to with a Visa at the Gate?
Some foreign news sources write Limnos Island instead of Patmos. This is yet another uncertain situation. Visa at the gate will not be usefull for other islands. You can access the related news at this link.
How much does a visa at the gate cost?
The fee for this single entry visa type for Turkish citizens to the Greek Islands in 2024 is €60.
Application steps & documents required for visa on arrival.
Will there be additional costs such as port tax, fees, etc. It is not yet clear. It is expected to be finalized by April. As before, you will need to submit your documents to the authorized companies and apply. Application methods may vary from candidate to candidate, but it is estimated that documents should be ready 1 week in advance for application. Visa at the gate is expected to start in April 2024. It is recommended to apply 7-10 days in advance on average.
The sea routes you can use for the Greek Islands close to Turkey were as follows in the past years. When we spoke to the companies operating the flights this year, some of the flights are still not finalized. We learned that it will be finalized by April.
Sakız/Chios: Çeşme can be crossed by ferries of different companies such as Turyol and Ertürk. 35 minutes by ferry, 20 minutes by catamaran. Located directly opposite Çeşme, this island is one of the 3 islands you can cross with your own vehicle.
Samos/Sisam: Ferries are operated from Kusadasi and Seferihisar. Flights from Kusadasi take 1-1.5 hours, while from Seferihisar it takes 2 hours. There are sailings to different ports in Samos, our favorite being Pythagorion in the south. The other two ports are Vathi and Karlovasi. This year, IDO services will be organized from both ports to Samos.
Midilli/Lesvos: Greece’s third largest island. The easiest way to get to the island is from Ayvalık, you can also cross with your own vehicle if you wish. Catamaran 45min, 1.5 hours by boat. During the season, there are also 3-hour flights from Alsancak, Izmir with Izdeniz.
Kos/İstanköy: There are direct flights from Bodrum and Turgutreis. Tilos Travel is operated with Yesil Marmaris Lines. It takes around 30 minutes. It is also possible to cross with Bodrum Express Lines with your car but we did not experience it. There are also plans for flights from Didim.
Rodos/Rhodes: One of the most populous and largest islands in Greece. Flights to this island are made from Marmaris and Fethiye. There are also flights from Bodrum during the season. It takes 1 hour from Marmaris and 1.5 hours from Fethiye.
Meis/Kastellorizo: Sea transportation from our country is provided from Kaş. Meis Ferry Lines, Meis Express companies are running it. It’s a short trip, 20-30 minutes.
KalimnosandLeros: These two small islands are located across the Bodrum Peninsula and there are sailings from Turgutreis or Bodrum during the season.
Symi: This small island can be reached from Bodrum during the season. Another option is to cross to Rhodes and cross from there.
Patmos: Direct flights to this island are made from Bodrum during the season.
We will update the information about the islands that have not yet been confirmed.