With its beautiful beaches, historic sites, and balmy weather, Greece is a haven for vacationers. And unbeknownst to many, there are many excellent universities in Greece.

For one, tuition is really cheap. Non-EU students only need to pay about EUR 1500 or $1,780.

Unless you are a resident of an EU country, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, or Liechtenstein, you don’t have to apply for a student visa beforehand. You can do so in the country within 60 days of your arrival.

But if you aren’t exempted from applying for a student visa in Greece, then here’s the process of getting one.

What documents do you need to apply for a student visa in Greece?

Here are the documents you need to submit when applying for a Greek student visa, also known as the D visa.

Note: These should be translated to Greek or English if written in another language.

Accomplished application form

You will need to fill up the form for a long-stay visa. You will need to fill up your personal details, information about your travel document, and the purpose of your journey.

Since you intend to study in Greece, you will need to answer the following questions regarding your institution:

  • Name of institution
  • Address
  • Telephone number and email address
  • Intended start date
  • End of study date

Valid passport

This should be valid for at least three months after the return date. There should be at least two blank pages available.

ID Photos

For your photos for your Greek student visa, you need to submit two passport-size photos (35 mm by 45 mm) printed on a light background.

You should look straight into the camera and give a neutral facial expression.

If you wear glasses, they shouldn’t reflect the flash.

Head coverings are not allowed in the picture unless for religious purposes. That said, your facial features should still be visible in the picture.

Proof of registration

You could submit proof of enrollment, which is a document that shows that you are allowed to attend a particular course or university.

Another option is the receipt that says you have paid the necessary fees at the institution.

Proof English and/or Greek proficiency

If your program requires you to be proficient with Greek, you will need to submit documentation for this.

If not, proficiency in the English language will suffice.

Proof of medical insurance

Your health insurance should offer a minimum of EUR 30,000/$35,625 coverage.

Proof of status

You need to submit a marriage or divorce certificate and birth certificates of your children if applicable.

Means of subsistence

You are required to submit documents proving that you can look after yourself financially throughout your studies. Your bank account should be able to cover the expected expenses of EUR 400 or $475 a month.

Medical certificate

Your certificate should show that you are not diagnosed with an infectious or contagious disease that risks public health.

A private or public institution may issue this form.

Certificate of criminal record

This should certify your criminal status in your country of residence. If you are living in another country, you may need to provide a criminal record issued by this nation.

Consent from parents

If you are under 18, you will need to submit this form with the other requirements above.

How much money do you need for a Greek Student Visa?

Foreigners applying for a student visa will need to pay an amount of EUR 90 or $107. This will not be refunded in case your application is denied.

Check Also: Programs in Europe for International Students

Steps on Applying for a Student Visa in Greece

Here are the steps you need to take to get a Greek student visa:

1. Complete all the necessary documents.

You need to fill-up the form (link above) and have the required documents ready.

2. Schedule an interview appointment with the consulate in your area.

Embassies will not honor walk-in applications. As such, you need to schedule your visit for your student visa in Greece.

Attend your appointment interview.

The Greek consul will ask you what you’re going to do in Greece, which in this case, is to study.

After the interview, you will need to hand in all the documents mentioned above.

You will also get your image and fingerprints scanned if you haven’t applied for a Schengen area visa within the last five years.

3. Pay the visa fee.

Depending on the consulate, you may pay it there at the embassy – or a specific bank.

4. Wait for your visa to be processed.

Greek student visa processing usually takes about six days. However, the consulate may take as long as three months to process your application.

It is important to note that those denied entry to Greece before may have their application rejected.

Other grounds of refusal include:

  • Use of counterfeit or falsified documents
  • Provision of misleading information
  • Possible threat to public health and/or safety

Should you be denied, you have the right to appeal your case within 90 days of the decision issuance.

5. Obtain your visa.

Once you have your student visa for Greece at hand, you may fly to Greece and get settled.

6. Apply for a residence permit.

Within the 40 days, you have arrived in Greece, you will need to apply for a residence permit. This is mandatory if you’ll be staying in the country for more than a year.

To apply for this, you first need to fill up a form online. You will also need to schedule an appointment with the police station in your area.

Once there, you may submit the exact documents you have provided during the application process.

The fee for the residence permit is EUR 150 or about $180, which is to be paid yearly.

Once you have a residence permit, you may travel freely within the Schengen area. You may also access other services offered to Greek residents.

 

We hope that this article on how to get a student visa in Greece was helpful. If you are interested in studying in Europe, make sure to check out Available Programs in Europe for International Students.

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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