Greek Consulate in Istanbul Set to Issue 200,000+ Visas to Turkish Tourists in 2025

Greek Consulate in Istanbul Set to Issue 200,000+ Visas to Turkish Tourists in 2025

Key Takeaways

  1. The Greek Consulate plans to significantly increase the number of visas it issues to Turkish nationals.
  2. This decision aims to boost tourism and strengthen relations between Greece and Turkey.
  3. In 2023, the Greek Consulate in Istanbul processed 60% of all visa applications from Turkish citizens.

With the growing number of visa applications from Turkish nationals seeking Greek Schengen visas, Greek authorities have decided to boost their issuance. Konstantinos Kutras, the Greek Consul General in Istanbul, announced that the consulate plans to issue over 200,000 visas in 2025, anticipating record-breaking tourism figures.

"The growth in tourism is consistent, with each year surpassing the last," said Kutras.

As the largest Greek consulate in Turkey, Istanbul handles the highest volume of visa applications. In 2023, the consulate processed 152,778 visa applications, accounting for 60% of the total 254,377 applications submitted across the country.

Plans for More Multi-Entry Visas
Kutras also revealed that many of the planned visas for 2025 will be multi-entry, further encouraging travel to Greece. "Greece is also a prime destination for winter tourism, and I expect 2025 to be a record year," he added.

In 2023, Turkish applicants submitted over a million Schengen visa requests, with Greece receiving 24.1% of them. The consulate in Istanbul led with 152,778 applications, followed by the consulate in Izmir with 63,359 applications, and those in Edirne and Ankara processing 29,414 and 8,826 applications, respectively.

Enhancing Tourism Ties Between Greece and Turkey
In 2024, Greece introduced a special visa program for Turkish tourists, offering €60 visas for entry to certain ports. These visas, valid for seven days, only allow access to Greece and not other Schengen countries. This move, aimed at easing tensions between the two nations, has contributed to an expected 50% increase in Turkish tourist arrivals to Greece in 2024.

Meanwhile, Greek tourists are also increasingly visiting Turkey, with Istanbul, Izmir, and Bodrum emerging as top destinations.

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