Students from third countries who intend to remain in Greece for more than 90 days will normally need to obtain a Greek National Visa (Type D) before travelling to Greece, unless different rules apply to their individual situation.
A National Visa (Type D) is issued by the competent Greek Embassy or Consular Authority abroad and may authorise entry and stay in Greece for a period exceeding 90 days and up to 365 days, depending on the purpose and legal basis of the stay. To determine whether a visa is required, please consult the official website of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A comprehensive guide on visa categories, including national visas and other relevant information for incoming students, is available at the official portal.
Students are strongly advised to contact the nearest Greek Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence in order to obtain accurate and up-to-date information regarding:
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) may provide documents falling within its competence, such as a Letter of Acceptance or confirmation of participation in the Erasmus+ programme. However, the University does not issue visas and cannot determine which visa category must be issued in an individual case.
Students are strongly advised to check their visa immediately upon receipt and verify, among other information:
Any discrepancy should be addressed directly with the issuing Consular Authority before travelling.
Visa procedures may require significant time to complete; therefore, early application is strongly recommended to avoid delays.
A National Visa (Type D) and a residence permit are different immigration documents.
Under the Greek Immigration Code, third-country nationals who seek a residence permit generally submit the relevant application after entering Greece and before the expiry of their entry visa, unless specific legislation provides otherwise. Initial applications are submitted electronically through the services of the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum (🔗 official website of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum).
For third-country nationals participating in Erasmus+ mobility for studies at a Greek higher education institution, the residence-permit framework applicable to students is the Residence Permit for Studies, type H.1, under Articles 105–107 of Greek Law 5038/2023.
The Greek Immigration Code expressly provides that the H.1 framework also covers students participating in:
For such mobility programmes, where the period of studies is shorter than two years, the residence permit may be issued for the corresponding shorter period of studies.
Accordingly, an incoming Erasmus+ student coming to NKUA for one semester or another limited study period may fall within the H.1 residence-permit procedure.
An initial residence-permit application must generally be submitted:
after the student has entered Greece and before the expiry of the relevant National Visa, unless a specific provision provides otherwise.
Applications for the initial granting of a residence permit are submitted electronically through the official electronic services of the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum.
Students are strongly advised not to wait until their visa is close to expiry before starting the procedure.
Students should not assume that no further immigration formalities are required simply because their National Visa D is valid for the entire Erasmus+ mobility period.
A National Visa and a residence permit are different immigration documents, and Greek legislation provides a specific residence-permit procedure for students.
At the same time, the exact immigration requirements applicable to a particular visa holder may depend on the legal basis and category under which the visa was issued.
Therefore, where there is any doubt the student should obtain confirmation from the competent Greek immigration authority.
NKUA cannot issue a binding determination regarding whether a particular student is exempt from or subject to a residence-permit procedure.
According to the currently published requirements of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, an application for an H.1 residence permit may include the following documentation:
The official ministerial decision concerning H.1 specifically requires the Visa D, enrolment documentation, proof of financial resources and appropriate health-insurance coverage. The currently published residence-permit fee is EUR 150. Υπουργείο Μετανάστευσης και Ασύλου
Additional documents may be requested by the competent immigration authority depending on the individual application.
Under the rules currently in force, students applying for a residence permit for studies must demonstrate sufficient resources of at least:
EUR 650 per month
The assessment is carried out on an individual basis.
The funds may be demonstrated, among other means, through:
The official rules expressly allow grants and scholarships to be taken into account when assessing the student's resources.
Therefore, an Erasmus+ grant may be used as part of the evidence of sufficient financial resources. However, the final assessment of whether the documentation submitted is sufficient rests with the competent immigration authority.
Applicants for an H.1 residence permit must demonstrate appropriate health-insurance coverage.
The currently published requirements provide for either:
Students should not automatically assume that an insurance policy obtained for Erasmus+ purposes also satisfies all immigration requirements.
They should therefore check that their insurance complies with the requirements applicable to the residence-permit application.
The competent immigration authority has final responsibility for determining whether the insurance submitted is acceptable.
The currently published fee for an H.1 residence permit for studies is:
EUR 150.Υπουργείο Μετανάστευσης και Ασύλου
In addition, a separate fee is currently required for the production of the electronic residence-permit card:
EUR 16.
The current NKUA International Student Support Unit guidance also refers to this separate card-production fee. siteA-EN
Students should always verify the applicable fees and payment codes through the official Ministry system before making payment, as fees and administrative procedures may change.
Following submission of the residence-permit application, students may be requested to attend an appointment for the collection of biometric data required for the electronic residence card.
This may include:
Students should carefully follow all instructions communicated through the Ministry's electronic system or by the competent immigration service.
After a residence-permit application has been successfully submitted and registered, the applicant receives documentation confirming the submission of the application.
This documentation confirms the status of the pending residence-permit application and should be kept carefully together with all documents and receipts relating to the application.
Students should retain copies of:
Students should exercise particular caution before travelling outside Greece while their residence-permit application is pending, especially after their National Visa has expired.
A certificate confirming that a residence-permit application has been submitted should not automatically be regarded as a travel document or as a guarantee of re-entry into Greece.
Before travelling, students should confirm their individual travel and re-entry rights with the competent Greek authorities, taking into account:
Greek immigration legislation contains several categories relating to students, scholarship holders and participants in mobility or special programmes.
For Erasmus+ students coming to NKUA for study mobility, the H.1 residence permit for studies is the category reflected in the current student-permit framework and in NKUA's current guidance for international students. The Immigration Code expressly includes students participating in EU mobility programmes within the H.1 study-permit provisions.
A separate H.7 category also exists for scholarship holders and participants in certain special programmes. The legislation therefore contains provisions that may overlap in terminology.
For this reason, the final determination of the appropriate residence-permit category in an individual case rests with the competent Greek immigration authority.
Institutional DisclaimerThe National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is not an immigration or consular authority and does not issue visas or residence permits. The information contained in this website is provided as general administrative guidance for incoming students and is based on Greek legislation and official information publicly available at the date of the most recent update. Immigration legislation, documentary requirements, financial thresholds, fees and administrative procedures may be amended. Individual circumstances may also affect the procedure applicable to a particular student. The competent Greek Diplomatic or Consular Authority is responsible for the issuance of visas, while the competent services of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum and the relevant immigration authorities are responsible for residence-permit matters. Students are responsible for checking the official requirements applicable to their individual circumstances and for completing all required immigration formalities within the prescribed deadlines. In the event of any discrepancy between the information contained in this Handbook and instructions issued by a competent Greek authority, the instructions of the competent authority shall prevail. |
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