Greece student visa: types, requirements, cost & validity

Greece is becoming a popular place for international students to study abroad. And from an European standpoint, Greece is the birthplace of Western civilization, as we know it today. It’s also a magnificent country, a top touristic destination while being home to a few high profile universities. International students looking to study abroad in Greece should have no problem completing their coursework, staying in the country and on track for graduation, but getting a student visa for Greece can be a little tricky. This guide will give you tips on how to get a student visa for Greece – and what steps you need to take next.

Read also our article on the top reasons why you should study in Greece.

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Who needs a Greece student visa?

Since Greece is a member state of the EU and has ratified the Schengen Agreement, students who are citizens of the European Union do not need a visa. International students who are not EU citizens on the other hand need to apply for a student visa, once they get an acceptance letter from a university in Greece. Another requirement is that their university of choice should be an institution certified by the Greek Ministry of Education.

Moreover, any third-world country citizen entering the Greek territory must hold a passport or a relevant travel document. And unless their country doesn’t have an international convention or a national arrangement with Greece, this travel document must have a visa. Furthermore, a national from a third-world country who is not subjected to a visa may enter in Greece and remain in Greece for a period of up to 3 months overall or within 6 months starting from the date of entry if the stay is partial.

Students from Albania, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Moldova and Ukraine, also benefit from a visa-exemption for the duration of their studies. This is under the condition that they hold biometric passports.

What is the Type D student visa in Greece?

The Greece study visa is usually a Type-D visa for study purpose. It’s a document that allows any international student to travel to Greece to further their education. It’s a visa that allows students to stay in Greece for up to 365 days. But this document is not exclusively meant for students.

In fact, any individual, students or professionals, who travel to Greece in order to perform research, receive a practical or theoretical training, or complete a course or program can apply for a Type-D visa. Also, those who plan to stay in Greece for up to 3 months (90 days) can apply for a Schengen visa (Type-C) instead.

Greece student visa requirements

The main requirement to apply for a student visa in Greece is a letter of acceptance at a certified university / polytechnic. Moreover, a proof of enough proficiency in the Greek language may also be required. This is especially the case if the student is enrolled in a Greek-speaking program.

A student visa allows the holder to enter and remain in Greece for the duration of their studies. Besides, as students apply for a long-stay visa, it can be a suitable first step in the process to immigrate to Greece. In fact, along with the student visa, the Greek authorities usually issue a residence permit to students who need to stay more than a year in the country for study purposes.

Documents required for a Greece student visa

Also, students who are minor need to provide the consent of their parents for the planned period of studies in Greece. Additional conditions include a financial requirement of at least EUR 400 per month for the duration of the stay. Besides, a small fee of EUR 90 is required for the student visa.

Along these, students must provide the following documents to the Greece embassy in their home country:

Type-D visa application form that has been printed out, filled, signed and dated.
Valid passport for at least 3 months after the student’s return and with at least 2 blank pages remaining
2 passport photos
Cover letter giving details on the reasons why the student want to travel to Greece
Bank statement or other document proving a sufficient financial means
Flight booking with a return flight ticket
Travel insurance for a minimum of EUR 30,000
Proof of a clear criminal record
Medical certificate proving you do not suffer from a disease that can constitute a risk to public health

You also need to add some other files from your school of choice, including a:

Letter of invitation from the university / polytechnic where you’re going to study or perform research.
Letter of good standing that states that you have contractual obligation to return home once you have completed your studies in Greece.
Proof of enrollment at your university of choice.

Greece student visa application procedure

Here are the steps to follow to apply for your student visa to Greece:

Fill out the visa application form

For that, you need first to download the application form on the website of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

You have to print it out, complete it with the relevant information. Make sure to fill in the main purpose of the journey as “Studies, Research, Practical Training, Vocational Training”. Also, make sure you have all the crucial details are correct (such as your school name, address, contact details etc.)

Schedule an appointment at the Greece Consular Services

Usually, you just need to call the relevant consulate / embassy and schedule an appointment. Due to the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic, it can happen in some countries that a backlog of applications and waiting list for new applications which can be anywhere between 3 and 6 months.

Gather all the documents

You can check the list of documents to provide in the previous section. Make sure to gather all the files along with the completed application form when heading to your appointment.

Go to the visa interview

This is usually a time when you’ll have to answer to the questions in accordance to the documents you’ve submitted. After the interview, you’ll pay the visa application fee, submit your biometric data and wait for your application to get processed.

Greece student visa success rate

As long as you’ve submitted all the relevant documents and answered the most truthfully possible to the student visa interview questions, you can be sure to have the odds in your favor. In this case, the success rate for the visa can go up to 99.95%.

How much is a Greece student visa?

To get a national visa in Greece, you should usually pay an application fee of EUR 180. But for long stay student visas, the cost drops to EUR 90. Moreover, university students who participate in a special internship program pay EUR 75, if the duration of their stay is up to 6 months.

How long does it take to get a study visa for Greece?

Once you’ve submitted your visa application, the processing time usually varies. The minimum is 6 days. But the maximum processing time for a type D visa to Greece is 3 months. Moreover, it’s worth mentioning that individuals who have been denied entry to Greece before may have their application rejected. So make sure to consider all these factors when submitting your visa application.

How long is a student visa good for in Greece?

Once you get your study visa or Type-D visa for study purpose, the document is valid for a maximum of 365 days. Moreover, international students who need to complete a full-time study program at a higher education institutions in Greece, may receive a residence permit that is valid until the end of their studies. They get this along their visa under the conditions of their physical presence at the Greek Consulate and that they attend the required interview.

Can you work in Greece with a student visa?

In Greece, a student can work a maximum of 20 hours per week during the academic year and up to 40 hours per week during the vacation period. To legally work in Greece, international students who are non-EU/EEA citizens need to apply for a work permit.

Besides, they need to get a national insurance and a social security number. They can do so at the nearest social insurance office or citizens’ service office. Last but not least, it is also necessary to obtain a tax identification number (AFM) from the tax office of their locality.