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GreeceResidence permit

Residence permit for students in Greece

A residence permit for foreign students from third countries admitted to Greek educational institutions. It is issued for the period of study and may be renewed every year. After studies are completed there is a one-year period for finding work or starting a business. It requires proof of sufficient means, health insurance and accommodation.

Source: Υπουργείο Μετανάστευσης και Ασύλου (migration.gov.gr)

How to obtain a study residence permit in Greece

Obtaining the student permit is divided into several stages: from filing the application at the consulate to obtaining the permit in Greece itself.

Preparation and the visa

  • Obtain a letter of acceptance from a Greek educational institution
  • Prove your financial means (bank statements, a sponsorship letter or a scholarship)
  • Take out health insurance covering inpatient and outpatient treatment
  • File the documents at the Greek consulate for a type D visa

Registration in Greece

  • Arrive in Greece and obtain a tax number (AFM)
  • Find accommodation and gather proof of residence
  • File the residence permit application through the metanastefsi.gr portal or in person at an office
  • Obtain a criminal record certificate

Issue and renewal

  • Go through the document check (processing takes 2-4 months)
  • Receive the physical residence permit (ADET or card)
  • Renew the permit every year provided that the studies continue
  • File the renewal application 1-2 months before the current permit expires

When the programme is not a fit

EU and EEA citizens

They may live in Greece freely for 90 days; a longer stay requires registration, but not a student residence permit.

No letter of acceptance from a university

You first have to be admitted to a recognised Greek educational institution (a state university, a technological institute or an accredited private college).

Insufficient means of subsistence

You have to prove a minimum monthly income; if you do not have your own money, sponsorship or a scholarship with documents may be used.

What it costs

Subsistence minimum per monthThe minimum is set by the ministerial decision on sufficient resources; it is proved by a bank statement, a transfer, a grant, a scholarship or a payslip for part-time work.650 EUR
Annual living costsA calculation for 12 months at the monthly minimum of EUR 650 set by the decision on sufficient resources.7,800 EUR
Health insurance per yearThe insurance must cover inpatient and outpatient treatment and emergencies; the cost varies depending on the provider.+250 EUR
Type D visa at the consulateA one-off fee for the national visa, charged at the consulate; it may vary from EUR 90 to EUR 180 depending on the country.+90 EUR
Residence permit (ADET)The fee for printing the physical residence permit; charged when the application is filed in Greece.+150 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Health insurance per year” adds 250 EUR; “Type D visa at the consulate” adds 90 EUR; “Residence permit (ADET)” adds 150 EUR. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.8,450–8,940 EUR

Paid separately

  • University tuition — The cost depends on the educational institution (state universities are cheaper than private ones); it does not form part of the subsistence minimum for living.
  • Greek language tests — If proof of knowledge of Greek or English is required, certificates may be needed (TOEFL, IELTS, JLPT and so on).

Documents to gather

Documents are required both when the visa application is filed at the consulate and on registration in Greece. All foreign documents must be apostilled and translated into Greek by a notary.

  • Passport (original and copy)
  • Letter of acceptance from a Greek educational institution stating the programme and the period of study
  • Proof of financial means: bank statements for the last 6 months, a sponsor's letter (including from a parent) with bank details, or confirmation of a scholarship
  • A health insurance policy covering inpatient and outpatient treatment, valid for the whole period of study
  • A criminal record certificate from the country of origin
  • A health certificate from a doctor (in some cases a rapid test for HIV and tuberculosis is required)
  • Proof of accommodation: a lease, a letter from the landlord, a letter from the student hall of residence or a sponsorship letter
  • Tax number (AFM): obtained from the Greek tax office; it may be obtained at the same time as the residence permit
  • Two photographs measuring 3x4 cm
  • The residence permit application form (available on the metanastefsi.gr portal)
  • Copies of all translations with the apostille

How the process runs

The process involves several key stages that have to be gone through in order.

  1. 1

    Admission to a Greek university and the letter of acceptance

    2-6 months depending on the university and when the application is filed

    First you have to choose a Greek educational institution (state or private accredited), apply for the programme and wait for the letter of acceptance. The letter must state the name of the programme, the start and end dates of the studies, the number of credits and the signature/stamp of the institution.

  2. 2

    Preparing the documents and taking out the insurance policy

    2-4 weeks

    Prepare all the necessary documents: passport, proof of finances, health certificate, criminal record certificate. Take out health insurance through a private provider or the state system; the insurance must cover the whole period of study.

  3. 3

    Apostille and translation of the documents

    1-2 weeks

    All documents issued by foreign authorities (passport, certificates, health certificate, criminal record certificate) have to be apostilled. They are then all translated into Greek by a notary or a sworn translator.

  4. 4

    Filing the type D visa application at the Greek consulate

    2-4 weeks of processing

    Apply to the Greek consulate in your country of residence with the full package of documents. The type D visa (a national long-stay visa) allows you to enter Greece and convert it into a residence permit on arrival. The visa is valid for several months; it is advisable to enter within 6 months of issue.

  5. 5

    Arrival in Greece and obtaining the AFM

    1-2 weeks after arrival

    Arrive in Greece with your passport and the type D visa. Apply immediately to the tax office (AADE) for a tax number (AFM); it is needed in order to open a bank account, conclude a lease and file the residence permit application.

  6. 6

    Finding accommodation and registering the address

    2-4 weeks

    Find accommodation (a hall of residence, a private rental or shared accommodation). Obtain proof of accommodation (a lease signed by the landlord or a letter from the hall of residence). Register the address with the police or the municipality.

  7. 7

    Filing the residence permit application through metanastefsi.gr or in person

    1-2 days of preparation

    Complete the electronic form on the metanastefsi.gr portal (recommended) or file the documents in person at the residence permit registration office. Upload scans of all the documents (passport, letter of acceptance, proof of finances, insurance, proof of accommodation, criminal record certificate). Pay the printing fee (about EUR 150) and receive the acknowledgement of receipt.

  8. 8

    Checking of the documents and notification of the outcome

    2-4 months

    The ministry of migration checks that the documents and the information are complete. If everything is in order, the applicant will receive a notification that the permit is ready. If further documents are required, a notification will be sent stating what is missing (usually 10-15 days to supply it).

  9. 9

    Receiving the physical residence permit

    1-2 weeks after the notification

    Collect the plastic residence permit card (ADET) at the passport centre or the police station for your place of registration. The card is valid for the period stated (it usually coincides with the end of the first year of study, or with the whole programme if it is shorter than a year).

  10. 10

    Annual renewal of the permit during the studies

    As required each year

    File the renewal application 1-2 months before the permit expires. You will have to provide updated proof of finances, a certificate from the university that the studies are continuing, and a renewed insurance policy. The process is the same as the initial filing, with processing taking 2-4 months.

  11. 11

    Moving to a job-search residence permit after graduation

    1-2 months of processing

    After completing your studies (or 30 days before the student permit expires) file an application for a type E.1 residence permit in order to look for work. A diploma, a health certificate and proof of sufficient means of subsistence will be required. It is issued for one year; within 3 months of issue you will have to show a real prospect of employment matching your level of education.

Timelines and rights

Work

Part-time work alongside study is allowed. After graduating you stay in Greece for a further one (1) year in order to look for employment or to start your own business.

Who you can bring with you

The student residence permit does not provide for family reunification. Family members may, however, file separate applications to live in Greece if they have means of their own.

Spouse
May not accompany the student on the student residence permit. A spouse may file an independent application for a residence permit for people with sufficient means (a higher income threshold applies) or on other grounds. The alternative is to wait until the student finds work and then apply for family reunification through the employer.
Children (minor and adult)
May not accompany the student automatically. Each child has to file their own residence permit application on other criteria (for example sufficient means of subsistence or parental sponsorship with documents). Once the student has found work, family reunification becomes possible.
Parents
They are not usually considered for reunification on the basis of student status. Parents may file an application for a residence permit for people with sufficient means independently, if they have financial resources of their own.

Renewal and the grace period

The student permit is renewed every year provided that the studies continue at the same institution. To renew, the application has to be filed 1-2 months before the current permit expires. The documents required are: a certificate from the university that the student is continuing the studies in accordance with the programme (no more than one year's delay in completing the course is allowed), updated proof of finances (of no less than EUR 650 a month), a renewed health insurance policy and proof of accommodation. Processing a renewal usually takes 2-4 months. The permit may be renewed for the whole period of the study programme at most (no more than 36 months in most cases, but it may be longer for long programmes such as a master's degree or lengthy professional courses). On completing the studies the student may apply for a transitional type E.1 permit to look for work, for a period of one year.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to citizenship

The general period of lawful residence for naturalisation is 7 years, and only with a title from the list in the Citizenship Code. With other residence permits the period rises to 12 years. Before applying you sit the PEGP examination: Greek at level B1 plus the geography, history, culture and political institutions of Greece.

Frequently asked questions about Residence permit for students

May I work while I am a student in Greece?
Yes, students are entitled to work part-time (up to 20 hours a week) alongside their studies. During the summer and winter holidays a student may work full time. Employment requires a work consent (the employer files an application with the relevant authorities), and the work must be officially registered.
How much money has to be shown when applying for a study residence permit?
At least 650 euros a month. The resources are assessed monthly or annually, always on an individual basis, and are proved by a bank statement, a bank transfer, a grant, a scholarship, or a payslip if the student works part-time. The rules do not call for statements covering the last six months. The same conditions apply on renewal; where the permit is issued for the whole length of the programme, the resources are checked every two years together with academic progress.
What happens to me after I finish my studies in Greece?
After completing your studies you may stay in Greece for one year in order to find work or start a business matching your level of education. To do so you have to file an application for a type E.1 residence permit (a job-search residence card) 30 days before the student permit expires. Once you have found work you may move to a residence permit for third-country workers. If you do not find work within the year, you have to leave Greece or apply for another type of permit (for example for people with sufficient means).
How long is the student permit valid and how is it renewed?
The permit is usually issued for one year (sometimes for the whole programme if it is shorter than a year) and is valid until the end of the period of study stated in the letter of acceptance from the university. Renewal is filed 1-2 months before the current permit expires. A certificate from the university that the studies are continuing, updated financial documents (a minimum of EUR 650 a month), a renewed insurance policy and proof of accommodation will be required. Processing a renewal takes 2-4 months. The permit may be renewed for the whole period of the study programme at most (usually no more than 36 months for a bachelor's degree).
What are the requirements for naturalisation after a student residence permit?
The seven-year period does not work with a student permit: it belongs to a closed list of titles — EU long-term resident, ten-year, indefinite, investor and the like. For everyone else the register of procedures prescribes twelve years of continuous lawful residence. The period is shortened by moving to another basis, but time spent studying counts only by half towards the five years for long-term resident status. After that the ordinary route applies: the ΠΕΓΠ certificate and an application to the General Secretariat for Citizenship.
Which health insurance should I choose for a student residence permit?
The law requires full sickness insurance covering the whole range of benefits covered for Greek nationals. It contains no list of particular services, and no prices or comparison of a private policy with the state system either. One point is spelled out: a student automatically insured by virtue of enrolment at an educational institution already meets the condition.

Other ways to move to Greece

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Greece.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.