Visa-on-arrival program for Greek islands begins: The step-by-step process...

The details of the visa-on-arrival program for Greek islands have been finalized.

According to information reported by DW Turkish, the program, which was announced by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in December, had also received approval from the European Commission (EC) within the framework of normalization steps between the two countries.

Under the program, which will be valid for 10 Greek islands, Turkish citizens will be able to visit the islands for up to 7 days by paying 60 euros.

FINGERPRINT REGISTRATION WILL BE CONDUCTED

Passport control and fingerprint registration will be conducted upon entry. Although Greece is part of the Schengen Area, the EU's free movement zone, Turkish citizens will not be required to apply for a Schengen visa, and likewise, it will not be possible to travel from Greece to other Schengen countries.

The program will be valid on the islands of Rhodes, Lesbos, Lemnos, Chios, Samos, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos, Symi, and Kastellorizo.

The 'visa-on-arrival' program is planned to be launched on some smaller islands in June.

HIGH DEMAND

Vassilis Vayiannakis, President of the Rhodes Port Fund, stated in an interview with the AP agency on the first day of the program today, "The new system is ready. There is high demand from Turkish visitors. There are no boats scheduled to dock today. Boats will start arriving later this week."

While a new visa terminal for Turkish visitors has been opened on the island of Rhodes, the port in Lesbos, which is expected to see an influx of visitors, has also undergone renovations.

Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis stated that the program would boost tourism and help local economies by encouraging visits during off-peak periods, noting that the fast-track visa would be available not just in the summer months, but throughout the entire year.

Within the framework of efforts to create a positive agenda and normalization steps between Greece and Turkey, Mitsotakis is also scheduled to visit Turkey in May, following President Erdoğan's visit to Greece in December.

News Source: 12punto