Greece Student Visa for Indians - Definitive Guide

When a foreign student is willing to travel to Greece for the purpose of education, the candidate needs to issue a student visa to Greece. There are several benefits to this permit. The holder is allowed to pursue the respective course and is allowed to tour the country as well. It is also essential to remember that holding a visa does not guarantee you an entry into the country. If in case the border control finds an issue with your permit or yourself, there are chances that you may be asked to return to your native country.

In order to obtain a student visa to Greece, you will have to apply offline. However, before the application, you need to make sure that you are an eligible candidate for obtaining the visa. The Greece student visa process is given as follows:

1. You can start by downloading the Greece student visa application form.
2. Print the form and fill it out.
3. Collect all the required documents as per the provided checklist.
4. Attach recent photographs as well.
5. Submit the application and the documents to the Greek Embassy.
6. Pay the required fee at the time of submission.
7. Attend an interview if asked.

There are several things that you need to keep in mind when you are applying for the Greece study visa. The application must be filled out with the utmost care and the information provided in the application must match the information in the passport and other documents that are being provided. The information should also be verifiable and correct. If there is any kind of information that is untraceable or false, there are chances that the visa may get rejected. Such a visa rejection can affect your future applications to get a student visa to Greece or to any other country.

As mentioned before, there are several criteria that are to be met at the time of applying for the visa. The parameters to fulfil to obtain a Greece student permit are given as follows:

• You must have confirmed admission in Greece
1. You must have applied to the institution or the university you are looking forward to acquiring the course.
2. Your admission must be confirmed and you must have the necessary documentary proof of the same.
3. Other valid documents, educational and others should be made available.
4. The educational documents must be verifiable.
5. You should have proof of your previous highest education degree.

• You must meet the health requirements
1. You must be healthy enough to travel to Greece.
2. You must perform a medical test before travelling to the country and provide relevant documentary proof.

• You must meet the character requirements
1. You must be visiting with education as your primary purpose.
2. You must be of good character and have genuine intentions behind studying in Greece.
3. You need to provide relevant documentary proof for the same as well in the form of a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).

• You must have sufficient funds
1. You must possess or have access to sufficient funds to be able to cover your stay and other expenses in Greece.
2. Bank statement or any equivalent document is to be submitted as well as proof of the same.
3. If you have a sponsor, evidence of their financial stability must be made available and should be sufficient to support your education.
4. The guarantor documents should also be legitimate and submitted at the time of application.

There are different kinds of documents that constitute Greece study visa requirements. These are listed as follows:

• A passport valid for at least 6 months from the intended date of travel 
• Visa application form
• Recent photographs as per the photo specifications
• Confirmed flight tickets 
• Proof of accommodation - rent agreement, etc.
• Travel medical insurance with one year of coverage 
• Proof of sponsorship
• Proof of scholarship
• Proof of sufficient funds

The photo specifications for Greece student visa are as follows -

• Two copies must be provided
• 35mm X 45mm
• Colour: Coloured
• Head must occupy the central position
• Must be captured within the last 3 months
• Background: Solid, plain white or grey
• 80% face coverage
• Neutral expression
• Glasses: Non-thick framed and prescription are permitted
• Headgears are allowed only for religious reasons
• Facial hair is permitted

The validity of a student visa to Greece will depend on the kind of course that you are acquiring. The visa may be extended as per the course if a letter is obtained from the institution.

The processing time required to get a Greece student permit is about a couple of weeks. The time can even be as long as 90 days because of certain parameters that can alter the time required for the processing. Some of these include the workload at the embassy, availability of the staff and other such factors.

The fee for the process of obtaining the Greece student permit will depend on factors such as the number of entries, the biometric charges, as well as any service charges. The Greece student visa cost also varies according to the changes in the currency exchange rates. As a result, you are expected to check the exact amount while applying.

When the documents have been submitted, there are a few things that you need to note -

• If there are any other requirements to be fulfilled or if there are any mistakes in the application, the embassy or the agency must be informed.
• If there are any changes related to the application, for instance, change in marital status or birth of a child, you must inform the embassy/agency.
• You can even check the status of the application and the processing in the meantime. 
• If there is a change of plans, you can withdraw the application. The visa is fee is non-refundable.
• When the form is submitted along with the fees, the visa will be mailed to you on your registered address or can be collected by yourself from the embassy or the respective Consular section.

In order to check the status of your student visa to Greece, you can contact the embassy. Else, if you have applied through a visa agency, you can also check the status on their website or by calling them.

After you have received the visa, there are a few things that you need to note. Some of the pointers are as follows:

• Before you travel
1. Note the visa expiry date as well as the number of entries permitted. You must not stay in the country beyond this period.
2. You should travel to Greece within the validity of your visa.
3. Make sure to carry a copy of your passport and other travel documents while you are in the country.
4. Issue health insurance and travel insurance from a certified company.

• At the Border
1. Get your documents checked and your passport verified.
2. Obtain the entry stamp on your passport.
3. Consult the airport authorities for any kind of assistance required.
4. Check your visa copy for other guidelines and rules to be followed.

• When you enter Greece
1. Ensure not to get involved in any kind of activities that are not permitted to a non-Greek resident. You may get into trouble otherwise.
2. You can study, work as well as tour the country on this visa.
3. Apply for an extension within the validity of the permit.