Visa information

British scholars holding UK passports should note that they may require visas to conduct research in Greece.
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece/entry-requirements

No visa is required for UK-resident course participants, conference attendees, fellows staying less than three months (including Visiting Fellows, School Teacher Fellow, bursary and scholarship awardees), members or volunteers staying in the country for less than three months. Individuals without visas should note that they can stay for up to 90 days only, in any country of the Schengen area within a period of 180 days. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before travel to Greece count towards the 90 day limit.

A visa is required for members or volunteers, interns and School Students staying in Greece longer than three months. Individuals who enter Greece on a visa must obtain a residence permit after entering Greece.

BSA members who require a visa and residence permit must apply for a “Member of a Foreign Archaeological School” visa prior to their arrival in Greece. The procedures for this application are outlined in Law 5038/2023, effective as of 1 April 2024. This law specifically addresses members of Foreign Archaeological Schools under Article 9.

1. Before departing from the UK, individuals must apply for a Type D National Visa (‘Visa for members of Foreign Schools of Archaeology’). Further information on National Visas is available here. Individuals need to submit to the School Administrator (school.administrator@bsa.ac.uk) the following information:

  • Name of applicant (First Name, Last Name)
  • Father’s Name (First Name, Last Name)
  • Mother’s maiden Name (First Name, Last Name)
  • Greek Consulate in the applicant’s jurisdiction
  • Contact number
  • Postal Address
  • Email Address
  • Visa start date
  • Scan of the applicant’s passport.

This information will be submitted to the Ministry of Migration and once approved, individuals will be sent a document informing them to schedule an in person appointment (for a type D national visa) at a Greek consulate in their country of residence.
To facilitate visa applicants, the Consular Office of the Embassy of Greece in London has outsourced the collection of visa applications and biometric data to Global Visa Center World (Global Visa Center). Visa applications must be submitted in person and the appointment must be booked through their website.

Individuals must have at the appointment for visa application the following (original) documents:

  • Completed application form
  • Passport
  • Visa photos
  • ACRO police certificate https://www.acro.police.uk/s/acro-services/police-certificates
  • Medical certificate issued by a recognised state or private institution, showing that the person concerned does not suffer from a disease which may constitute a risk to public health (see here for an illustrative example)
  • Travel insurance, with a duration equal to, at minimum, that of the visa issued, covering the costs which may arise in case of repatriation for medical reasons, for urgent medical care and/or for emergency hospital care.
  • A certificate issued by the Ministry of Sports and Culture relating to the scientific activities of the BSA.*
  • A letter from the BSA confirming that the individual is a member, intern or student*
  • A visa processing fee of 180 EUR

* The BSA will supply on request letters confirming an individual’s membership status, and the certification of the BSA by the Ministry of Culture.
Please note that membership should be for more than 90 days after the intended date of entry to Greece, so in practice members applying for Type D visas will need to pay for annual membership (and any extra costs associated with the visa application).

2. Upon arrival in Greece, individuals coming on a national visa must register for a residence permit at the Aliens and Immigration Bureau. According to Greek law, all those who hold a “Member of a Foreign Archaeological School” visa must apply for a residence permit, no matter what the duration of their stay in Greece be.

Individuals will need to present at the appointment:

• Passport (with the national visa)
• Five passport sized photographs taken in Greece
• Insurance documents certifying that the holder is covered for outpatient medical expenses, hospitalisation, and medical evacuation/repatriation for the duration of his/her stay in Greece
• Greek phone number. Individuals applying for a permit need an active mobile number in order to register in the governmental online system and receive text alerts for their appointments. It is the responsibility of the individual to acquire a mobile number.
• Individuals who have entered the Schengen Zone in a country other than Greece will also need to provide tickets or boarding passes (or copies of them) for their flights from their home country to Greece.

Please note:
After a residence permit has been granted (or applied for), any changes in the holder’s or applicant’s circumstances—such as obtaining a new passport, marrying a citizen of a European Union member state, changing addresses, or the birth of children—must be communicated to the authorities within one month.
Individuals must keep their residence permit card even after it has expired and not discard it as the old card must returned before any renewal of the permit or the submission of a new application.