Student Visa and Residence Permit for Greece: Type D Visa and the H.1 Permit

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

Greece has two stages for non-EU students: a national long-stay visa before you travel, and a residence permit for study once you are in the country. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need neither. The rules sit in the Migration Code, Law 5038/2023, and amounts and forms change, so confirm every item with the Greek consulate that handles your application. This guide reflects what we could verify in October 2026.

Who needs what

EU citizens and nationals of Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein do not need a residence permit, according to the International Hellenic University (IHU).
Everyone else needs a type D national visa for studies (H.1), issued by a Greek embassy or consulate in the country where you live, and then the study residence permit.

The Ministry of Education has no authority to grant visas or permits. Its admission instructions say the permit is issued by the regional immigration services, and only to candidates admitted to a Greek university, provided there is no reason against it.

Stage 1: the type D visa

Apply after you have an acceptance letter. IHU lists these requirements for its own students. Your consulate's own checklist is the one that counts:

a passport with at least two blank pages, issued in the last ten years and valid for three months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen area
two passport photos, a cover letter and proof of civil status
a criminal record certificate and a medical certificate
the acceptance letter and proof that the enrolment fee is paid, where there is one
proof of sufficient income, or a scholarship
proof of travel and accommodation bookings
travel medical insurance with at least €30,000 cover for repatriation, urgent medical care and emergency hospital treatment

IHU gives the visa fee as €90 and says a visa can take up to three months to be issued. Apply early. Some programmes refund tuition only if you present an official visa refusal letter, as the programme at the University of Western Macedonia says, so keep every document.

Stage 2: the H.1 residence permit

You must apply within 90 days of arriving, and before the visa expires. Article 105 of the Migration Code sets the general conditions: a valid passport, the study visa, and health insurance with full coverage equal to that of Greek nationals. Article 106 adds that you must be admitted to a higher education institution, have enough means for your living costs without relying on social assistance, and have paid any enrolment fee. The authority must decide within 60 days of a complete application.

According to IHU, the application includes:

a passport copy certified by a Greek lawyer and the valid entry visa
a €150 administrative fee, paid through the e-paravolo system with a Greek tax number, and a €16 fee for the permit card
confirmation of enrolment and fee payment
proof of a minimum of €650 a month, shown by a savings account at a Greek bank or a scholarship
proof of health insurance, covered in health insurance for students in Greece
photographs for the card

A university can speed this up. Under article 126, universities that have signed a tripartite agreement with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum and the regional administration file the application for students on programmes of at least three years, and the decision is due within 40 days of a complete file. Ask your university whether it has such an agreement.

How long the permit lasts

The permit normally lasts as long as the maximum study period of your programme and can be renewed. Every two years you must show proof of enrolment, participation in exams and a transcript. If you do not, the permit is revoked and you must leave. Your university must also notify the authorities within three months if you stop attending.

Working while you study

Holders of an H.1 permit may work only part-time and outside study hours, up to 20 hours a week, under article 30 of Law 5275/2026 as cited by IHU. See working while studying in Europe.

Where to look next

Official sources

Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.