A long - term visa (National Visa - D Type Visa) is an authorization issued by the competent Greek Authorities for the entry and stay of third - country nationals in the territory of Greece for a period exceeding 90 and up to 365 days, in accordance with the respective national legislation or European Union Law on the residence status of third - country nationals. In general, the competent Authority for issuing a national visa is the Greek Diplomatic / Consular Authorities in whose jurisdiction the applicant is legally located.
Applicants can submit an application for a long stay visa in Greece at the Minsk Visa Application Center.
Subsequently, applicants may be required to present themselves in person (or through teleconference) before the Embassy of Greece in Moscow - Consular Section, in the jurisdiction of which they legally reside and regardless of the national visa category to be issued, in order to be interviewed, to establish the purpose of their entry and stay in Greece.
Broadly, most commonly national visas are issued for such purposes, though not exclusively, as temporary work as tour leaders, for specific programmes for students and for family reunification. The general supporting documents and detailed information and specific requirements for each of these purposes of the intended stay can be viewed in the relevant sections below.
Applicants may submit their national D visa application at the GVCW VAC only for the above-mentioned purposes for the time being.
For all other purposes of long-stay National "D" Visa, please click here to download the file which refers to the supporting documents for each category of National Visas.
A long-stay visa (National Visa – D Type Visa) may be granted under the following general conditions, provided that the applicant third country-national submit to the relevant Diplomatic or Consular Authority:
- A fully completed and signed application form for a long-stay national visa, accompanied by a recent, coloured photograph of the applicant, which shall comply with the relevant ICAO-defined specifications. The application shall be in the form of a solemn statement provided for in the provisions of paragraph 6 of Article 22 of L. 1599/1986 declaring that the included data are true, and the supporting documents are not false or falsified.
- Passport or other travel document recognized by the competent Greek Authorities which meets the following criteria:
(a) it shall be valid for at least three months from the date of intended departure from the territory of the Member States of the Schengen enhanced cooperation, or, in the case of more visits, after the last scheduled date of departure from the territory of the Member States, however, in justified cases of urgency, this obligation may be waived;
(b) it shall contain at least two blank pages,
(c) it has been issued within the previous decade. - An original certificate of criminal record with Apostille from the foreign Authorities certifying the applicant’s criminal record in his country of residence. The criminal record must have an Apostille from the same region in which it was issued. In cases where it is established that the applicant has resided in a country other than his or her country of origin, for more than one year before the application for a visa, the Consular Authority may, in addition, request a criminal record from the country of nationality of the alien, if the country of residence does not require a criminal record from the country of nationality to issue a residence permit.
In cases where a final judgment exists, whatever the sentence, in order to establish the relevance of the offence to grounds which pose a threat to public policy and security, specific reasons shall be sought and parameters weighted, such as the seriousness of the offence, the recidivism and the general misconduct of the third-country national. - An original medical certificate from a recognized state or private body, showing that the applicant does not suffer from a disease capable of posing a risk to public health in accordance with the international data of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the EU acquis, as well as other infectious, contagious or parasitic diseases, which require measures to protect public health (more information on infectious diseases can be found on the website of the Hellenic National Public Health Organization - EODY);
Please download, print out and submit the medical certificate filled in, signed and stamped by the doctor (original) along with the required documents at the Visa Application Center.
DOWNLOAD MEDICAL CERTIFICATE
The Consular Authority will verify the authenticity of the medical certificate by the contact details mentioned on it. Therefore, it is of outmost importance that the contact details of the Hospital / Medical Center and the Doctor who signs the certificate are correct. Failure to confirm the authenticity of the medical certificate by the Consular Authority will result in a delay in the decision or even a NEGATIVE decision. -
travel insurance, with a period of validity equal to the visa issued, as a minimum, which covers the costs that may arise in the event of repatriation for medical reasons, for emergency medical care and/or emergency hospital care.
And in addition, the applicant should:
- not to be considered as a threat to public order, internal security, public health or international relations and not be registered as persona non grata (undesirable alien) in national databases,
In order to establish that there are no conditions for refusing entry in Article 4 par. (2) of L. 4251/2014, the competent Diplomatic Mission and Consular office may require additional supporting documents.
Only accredited Travel Agents may submit visa applications for National D visa under reference “B.6 Tour leaders”.
As referred to in Article 18(f) of L. 4251/2014 , the Decision of the Minister of Foreign Affairs with A.F. 3497.3/AP 24245/OJ B' 1820/03.07.2014, and JMD 30825/OJ B' 1528/06.06.2014, third-country nationals, tour leaders entering the country for this purpose may be granted, following a personal appearance (or through teleconference) and interview, a national visa , with reference to the national data area «OBSERVATIONS» of the visa sticker, the reference 'B.6 Tour Leaders`, upon submitting the following to the relevant Diplomatic or Consular Authority:
- Confirmation by the relevant Regional Tourism Office, where the Greek tourist office is located, stating that the work of the alien as Tour Leader is approved.
- A certificate from the foreign tourist office that the alien in question is employed and paid by it.
- A solemn statement by the Greek tourist office working with a foreign tourist office that the alien will not be hired and that he will be employed outside the office to serve the tourist groups arriving through a foreign tourist office for a specified period not exceeding eight (8) months.
- Insurance attestation to cover costs of hospitalization, medical and pharmaceutical care and to cover a work accident (the above clauses must be specifically mentioned in the travel insurance document). Where a transnational health and labour accident insurance agreement exists with the country of the country, it shall be sufficient to provide a certificate from his/her country that s/he is insured with its social security system; if not, to provide a guarantee from the State of origin, that it will cover the insurance risk arising from the above causes or insurance policy of a private insurance company covering the above risks for his/her employment as Tour Leader in Greece.
- EUR 150 administrative fee.
- The general supporting documents as described under the section "General supporting documents".
The duration of the visa may not exceed eight (8) months.
Holders of an entry visa of this category shall not be granted a residence permit. Therefore, particular attention should be paid to the duration of the labour contract mentioned and a national visa of equivalent duration should be issued.
Note: Accredited Travel Agents can submit applications at the Minsk Visa Application Center. You can book an appointment here.
Fees
The below rates are applicable and they may vary at any time:
| VISA CATEGORY | EURO | RUB |
| Visa Fee | 75€ | 7500 |
| Adiministrative Fee | 150€ | 15000 |
- All Fees are payable in the equivalent amount in BYN at the current exchange rate prevailing at the time of submission of the application at the Visa Application Center for Greece and are subject to change without notice.
- All Fees are non-refundable.
- Please note that applicants need to pay Service Fee in BYN of the equivalent of
Euro 30 per application over and above the above-mentioned Fees. - All the above-mentioned fees can be paid in cash.
For the Consular fees of all other purposes of long-stay National "D" Visa, please click here to download the file.
As referred to in Article 45 of L. 4251/2014, the Decision of the Minister of Foreign Affairs with A.F. 3497.3/AP 24245/OJ B' 1820/03.07.2014, and the JMD 30825/OJ B' 1528/06.06.2014, third-country nationals participating in exchange programmes under Interstate agreements, EU-funded cooperation programmes, or in the “ERASMUS +” programme, following a personal appearance (or through teleconference) and interview, may be granted a national visa, indicating in the national data area «OBSERVATIONS» of the visa sticker, the reference ‘D.4.3 Participation in specific programmes’, upon submitting the following to the relevant Diplomatic or Consular Authority:
- Confirmation of the implementing body of the corresponding programme for the participation of the third-country national in it.
- In the case of a European mobility programme involving a traineeship in the subject-matter of the study, a tripartite contract between the university participating in the programme, the student and the public or private body implementing the programme.
- The general supporting documents as described under the section "General supporting documents".
IMPORTANT NOTICE: They may not be accompanied by members of their families.
Note that JMD no. 16802/667/27.08.2010 [B΄ 1345] applies mutatis mutandis to traineeships covered by Article 45 of L. 4251/2014, as it applies in all cases of traineeships for students as well as students of schools in hotels.
Before deciding whether or not to grant the national entry visa, the Consul should check, by means of the mandatory personal interview (or through teleconference), whether the terms and conditions of the above-mentioned JMD are met.
ERASMUS + (placement) programme
The European Erasmus+ programme enables host companies/organizations to employ students selected by their institutions to participate in the Erasmus+ programme for traineeships.
The number of traineeships offered per employment agency is proportional to the number of employees in the traineeship, broken down by department. For hotel companies, this percentage must not exceed 17% of employees, in accordance with Greek legislation.
The remuneration of the host organization is not compulsory, but highly desirable, because THE ERASMUS grant does not fully cover student costs.
In the case of insurance, students must possess:
(A) European health insurance card.
Issued by the student's insurance institution free of charge. Where a student is not entitled to the European Health Insurance Card (if from an accession country), s/he should have private health insurance for the period of his/her stay abroad, which is concluded with a private insurance company on the initiative of the student and/or the sending institution, if the latter insures their ERASMUS students as a group, when they move abroad.
(B) General liability insurance for third parties shall be issued by a private insurance company.
It is covered either by the Institutions of origin (on a voluntary basis in the context of quality management), by the host organization (if it generally insures its employees) or by the student itself.
(C) insurance against personal accident at work.
Where the personal accident insurance is not covered by the host undertaking/organization or by the Institutions of origin, the student shall be covered by private insurance on his/her own resources for personal injury and/or damage to property caused to him as a natural person in the course of his/her normal occupation in the workplace during his/her stay for a traineeship abroad).
(D) (for enterprises based in Greece) the enterprise must declare to its IKA branch (Social Security Institute) students employed in the framework of THE ERASMUS traineeship who are subject to compulsory insurance by IKA-ETAM only for the risk of accident (occupational risk). These contributions amount to 1% of the notional wage of the 12th insurance class, in accordance with the provision of Article 13 of L. 2640/1998, as is the case at all times and for as long as traineeships take place, in the event of payment and non-payment of remuneration by employers and are borne by the employer, under Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (29/04/2004), "on the coordination of social security systems (Text with EEA relevance and for Switzerland)`, implementing and amending Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 and Regulation (EC) No 988/2009, establishing the general principle of equal treatment of benefits, income and events.
ERASMUS students moving outside their country of residence for a traineeship must, in accordance with the contract they sign-before they arrive in Greece, be insured for health care (European health insurance card) and be insured privately for general civil liability and against accident (if not secured by the host company) at the workplace. This does not invalidate the above obligation of the host company/organization to the IKA-ETAM.
As a result, the Erasmus+ programme does not insure students, students should be insured either by the host organization or at their own expense (insurance policy in a private insurance company) before they arrive. When it comes to the declaration in the IKA of incoming Erasmus+ students in our country, this is compulsory.
According to the ERASMUS+ programme, traineeships should be a prerequisite for obtaining a qualification. A student may apply for AN ERASMUS+ programme shortly before he/she graduates and participate as a graduate. Traineeship must necessarily relate to the subject of studies.
ERASMUS+ can also involve third-country nationals attending EU-based educational institutions, as well as Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and the accession countries.
It should be noted that ERASMUS + traineeships are also eligible via intermediary companies.
The student or graduate who will enter Greece for a traineeship under Article 45 and who will stay in our country for more than 90 days should obtain a residence permit in Greece, regardless of whether s/he is also a holder of a residence permit in the country s/he is studying.
THE ERASMUS+ student should have private insurance and the European Health Insurance Card. If his/her private insurance does not cover civil liability, s/he should, after entering Greece, be insured for this, for the period s/he stays in our country. As regards the provisions of the monthly grant, it is mandatory in the student's language, while Annex I, in which the agreement is specified (tasks, etc.), is always in English.
Please note that foreign students may be informed of THE ERASMUS+ programme at the English website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.mfa.gr/en/visas/visa-types/national-visas.html and at the following links:
ERASMUS+ Program:
- VISA AND RESIDENCE PERMIT GUIDE FOR STUDENTS
- COME TO STUDY OR TEACH IN EUROPE
- WORK TOGETHER WITH EUROPEAN HIGH EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
- ERASMUS+ BOOKLET
- LIST OF UNIVERSITIES PARTICIPATING IN THE ERASMUS PROGRAMME
- INFORMATION - IKY: DISCOVER ERASMUS
Note: Applicants may submit visa applications for National D visa under reference “D.4.3 Participation in specific programmes” at the Minsk Visa Application Center. You may book an appointment here.
Fees
The below rates are applicable and they may vary at any time:
| VISA CATEGORY | EURO | RUB |
| Visa Fee | 90€ | 9000 |
- All Fees are payable in the equivalent amount in BYN at the current exchange rate prevailing at the time of submission of the application at the Visa Application Center for Greece and are subject to change without notice
- All Fees are non-refundable.
- Please note that applicants need to pay Service Fee in BYN of the equivalent of
Euro 30 per application over and above the above-mentioned Fees. - All the above-mentioned fees can be paid in cash.
For the Consular fees of all other purposes of long-stay National "D" Visa, please click here to download the file.
The role of the Consular Authority in the complex administrative process of family reunification is:
a. to establish the existence of a family relationship, by means of personal interviews (or through teleconference) with family members and to examine whether there is a risk to public health; and
b. to grant family members a visa for entry with the reference, indicating in the national data area, to the «OBSERVATIONS» of the visa sticker, the reference ‘F. 1. Family members of a third-country national’. In detail,
Step 1: The applicant who legally resides in Greece shall submit an application as the sponsor for family reunification to the Decentralized administration concerned, together with the necessary supporting documents.
Step 2: The Decentralized administration shall immediately consult the relevant police authority on matters relating to public policy and security in the country and the opinion of the competent Greek Consular Authority, with a view to establishing the existence of the family relationship, in particular through personal interviews (or through teleconference) with family members and the examination of risks to public health.
These opinions shall be delivered within a period of three months.
In addition, in exceptional cases relating to the complexity of the examination, that period may be extended for a period of 30 days.
The complete file of the applicant, who legally resides in Greece, for family reunification shall be sent to the relevant Embassy / Consulate by the Decentralized administration either by post or at the request of the person concerned and provided that he/she bears the costs of dispatch, by means of the courier of ELTA or private companies. In any event, lists of citizens who have applied for family reunification shall be sent by e-mail to the relevant Embassy / Consulates.
Step 3: The Greek Consular Authority shall receive the decision to authorize family reunification by the competent Decentralized administration, and shall grant, if the other conditions of entry are met, to the family members the special entry visas required.
The refusal to grant visas for family reunification requires a specific justification which should be given to the alien and sent to the Decentralized administration.
a. Verification of family relationships
In order to verify the existence of the family relationship, the Decentralized administration shall send to the Consular Authority, within a reasonable period, not exceeding one year from the date on which the third-country national’s application is made, the complete file of the applicant, who legally resides in Greece, containing:
- A copy of the request made by the inviting third-country national applicant, other than those regulated in categories A2, A3, A4, C2, C.3.1, C.3.2., D3 and D.4.5.
- A certified copy of a family status certificate and
- A copy of the completed standard information form for the alien, signed by the responsible official of the Decentralized administration, showing that the conditions of Article 70 of Law L. 4251/2014 have been fulfilled.
- The general supporting documents as described under the section "General supporting documents".
In particular, in cases concerning family reunification with minor children and in order to avoid abusive claims, which have been observed under the previous legislation, as they were submitted at a time when the remaining period before reaching adulthood was very short, a reasonable time in this case shall be considered to be the nine-month period, which is the maximum period for completion of the relevant procedure in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article 7 of PD 131/2006.
The Consular Authority cannot initiate the procedure before receiving the official completed file from the Decentralized administration. Therefore, the applicant alien will be contacted by the Consular Authority upon receiving the complete file.
Once the application and its supporting documents are submitted, they are transmitted for verification. The verification procedure lasts approximately one month, depending on the case.
Following verification procedure, the Consular Authority shall invite the applicant alien to a personal interview (or through teleconference) and conduct any other investigation, including the examination of genetic material where necessary, in order to:
- establish the existence of the family relationship
- establish that the family relationship, in particular marriage, adoption or recognition of children, has not been concluded with a view to circumventing the law in order to obtain a residence permit. The family relationship shall be deemed to have been concluded for that purpose, in particular where there is no cohabitation of the family members or no possibility of communication or where one spouse ignores matters relating to the personal situation of the other spouse.
- examine whether false or misleading information, false or falsified documents or other unlawful means have been used.
- examine whether the marriage or adoption was concluded solely for the purpose of allowing the family member to enter and stay in Greek territory, and
- to be verified, in case of polygamy, whether the supporting member of the family is already resident with another spouse in Greece.
- examine the existence of risks to public health.
The family member may, in the process of establishing the family relationship, also provide the general supporting documents required for the visa in order to avoid a subsequent interview for the issuing of the visa, if deemed appropriate by the Consular Authority.
After the interview, the Consular Authority communicates to the Decentralized administration its opinion regarding the existence of family relationship.
b. Visa to family members of third-country nationals
The Decentralized administration, after receiving the Consular Authority’s opinion, issues a Decision concerning the issuance of family reunification visa or the rejection of the visa application.
The Consular Authority cannot initiate the procedure before receiving the official Decision by the Decentralized administration. The Consular Authority upon receiving the Decision informs the applicant alien through GVCW Visa Application Center and according to the contact details stated by the applicant who legally resides in Greece that the applicant alien can submit a visa application along with the required documents and the respective fees at the Visa Application Center for Greece.
If the decision to authorize family reunification of the responsible Secretary-General of the Decentralized Administration (except for categories A2, A3, A4, C2, C.3.1, C.3.2., D3 and D.4.5.) is received by the Greek Consular Authority, and the general and specific entry conditions are met, and without prejudice to the entry ban provisions of Article 82 of L. 3386/2005 the family members are issued with the necessary visas. Decisions rejecting entry visa applications for family reunification require specific justification, which should be granted to the alien, while being notified to the Decentralized administration.
Note: The applicant alien is contacted by the GVCW Visa Application Center to book an appointment to submit visa application for National D visa under reference “F.1 Family members of a third-country nationals” at the Minsk Visa Application Center.
Fees
The below rates are applicable and they may vary at any time:
| VISA CATEGORY | EURO | RUB |
| Visa Fee | 90€ | 9000 |
- All Fees are payable in the equivalent amount in BYN at the current exchange rate prevailing at the time of submission of the application at the Visa Application Center for Greece and are subject to change without notice.
- All Fees are non-refundable.
- Please note that applicants need to pay Service Fee in BYN of the equivalent of
Euro 30 per application over and above the above-mentioned Fees. - All the above mentioned fees can be paid in cash.
For the Consular fees of all other purposes of long-stay National "D" Visa, please click here to download the file.
According to Article 5, paragraph 7 of Act 4251/2014, national visas are issued based on the respective residence permit regulations and their duration is related, as the case may be, to that of intended stay. Additionally, Foreign Affairs Minister Decree F3497.3/AP24245/2014 (Government Gazette No. 1820, issue B’) determines the general supporting documents and the issuing procedure for national long - term entry visas. Finally, Joint Ministerial Decree No. 30825/14 (Government Gazette No. 1528, issue B’,) specifies the documents required for issuing national entry visas and the issuing and renewing of residence permits pursuant to Act 4251/20143.
National entry visas are issued regardless of whether or not the applicant, third - country national, is subject to an entry visa obligation, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No. 539/2001 of the European Union Council of March 15, 2001, as amended and in force, and does not grant its holder an irrevocable right of entry.
Meeting the requirements of the Joint Ministerial Decree provided by paragraph 1, Article 136 of Act 4245/2014 does not prejudge the issuance of a national long - term visa, which falls under the exclusive competence of the Diplomatic Mission or Consular Post.
Before submitting your application make sure that your photo is in a high-resolution format. Applicants should present two recent (not more than 6 months old) passport-sized photos that should be:
- 3,5 x 4 cm (approx. 1.2 x 1.6 inch)
- with a light background (white or off-white) so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background
- in color and with facing forward
- with the forehead and ears visible, without heavy jewelry
- full face, non-smiling (without sunglasses, a hat/ cap or other head covering, unless the applicant wears such items because of their religious belief or ethnic background)
- of high quality and printed on normal photographic paper (camera print), preferably not glossy
Please click here for the specifications.
Knowing and meeting properly these requirements is essential, as only if in the needed format, the biometric recognition of the applicant and perfect reproduction can be authorised correctly.
Note:
Please follow these instructions carefully. If photographs presented do not meet these requirements, your application will be considered incomplete.
