International Students Support Office

Our Mission

The mission of the International Students Support Office is to guide all our international students through their student journey here in Thessaloniki from assisting with the formalities in Greek public bodies up to supporting them associate with academic and social life at the International Hellenic University.

Our office is responsible for

  • Supporting  in the process of concluding contracts that facilitate the granting of residence permits for study purposes.

  • Supporting the applicants for student visas in their communication with the Greek consular authorities and in their application for a Greek residence permit within 90 days of their arrival in Greece, as well as in their communication with the relevant public authorities.

  • Assisting international students in settling in the country, such as choosing accommodation, arranging health insurance, applying for a tax identification number, opening a bank account   and other procedures related to public services, energy and telephone providers.

  • Liaising with the relevant services of the International Hellenic University to meet the needs of international students and assist them with any other issues that may arise during their studies.

  • Facilitating and contributing to the social integration of international students in Greece and in the academic community.

CONTACT DETAILS 
Postal Address: 14th km Thessaloniki-N.Moudania | 57001 Thermi, Greece
Telephone: 2310 807 501
E-mail:  isso@ihu.gr

Visa requirements

First off, you’re going to need a Type-D visa application form (attached to the “Useful Documents”). This form needs to be printed out, completed, signed, and dated. Besides this form you’ll also need:

  • Passport, with at least two blank pages. The passport shall have been issued within the previous ten years. The passport shall be valid for at least three months after the intended date of your departure from the Schengen area or, in the case of multiple trips, until the date on which you plan to depart after
    your final stay.
  • Two (2) Passport photos in accordance with specifications.
  • Proof of travel and hotel reservations to Greece and of return.
  • Adequate and valid travel medical insurance to cover any expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment or death, during their stay in Greece. The minimum coverage should be for €30.000.
  • Certificate of criminal record issued by the authorities of your country of origin.
  • Medical certificate from a recognized state or private body, which shows that you do not suffer from a disease that poses threats to public health (attached to the “Useful Documents”).
  • A Visa fee of 90 Euros.
  • A cover letter. A personal letter in which you explain why you are applying to visit Greece, how long you plan to stay, when will you leave and other details.
  • Proof of civil status. This could be a marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse, etc.

Finally, because you are applying for a Study Visa to Greece, you also need to provide the following:

  1. An official acceptance letter from your chosen University in Greece, which must be an institution certified by the Greek Ministry of Education.
  2. A certification that the applicant has the income to cover living expenses for the duration of studies. If you have received a scholarship for your studies you need to provide proof of it.
  3. Receipt for payment of enrolment fees, where applicable.

Don’t forget to contact the Greek Embassy in your country, or consult the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, for a detailed list of the documents required for a student visa and information about how to submit your application.

The University does not participate in arranging visa appointments at the Greek Consular Authorities on behalf of applicants.

Useful documents

  4. More information about the Greek Missions around the world can be found here.
  5. The new Greek Migration Code in Greek (Law 5038/2023)

During your stay

EU citizens and students from Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein do not have to apply for a residence permit, as they are entitled to the right of free movement within Greece.

If you are a non-European (third country) national, you must hold a student visa (visa D 1.1) from the Greek embassy in your country of origin before entering Greece and then obtain a student residence permit before the visa expires. The application for a student residence permit is submitted online at https://applications.migration.gov.gr/en/metanasteusi/ with the assistance of our Office, it is issued by the competent Immigration Service of the Decentralised Administration of Central Macedonia and Thrace and is granted by decision of the Coordinator of the Decentralised Administration Macedonia and Thrace.

IMPORTANT: Please note that the application must be fully completed before your visa expires and must be accompanied by the following supporting  documents:

  1. Four (4) recent colour photographs in physical form and on passport format (4×6), as well as in digital format on an optical disc (CD) in JPEG2000 graphic format.
  2. Photocopy of all pages of a valid passport or travel document recognized by Greece. (In the event that the place of birth (city) is not listed in your passport, you must provide an official public document of your country of birth or origin which must be officially translated and legally certified).
  3. Valid entry Visa.
  4. Electronic fee (e-paravolo) of 150 € (for the issuance of the e-paravolo it is mandatory to have a valid TIN/AFM number otherwise the e-paravolo, code 2107, is issued by the KEPs and it can be paid at any bank or post office.
  5. Electronic fee(e-paravolo) of €16 for the cost of a “self-billing document card” (eparavolo code 2119).
  6. Confirmation of enrolment and payment of fees to IHU.
  7. Evidence that the student has sufficient resources to cover the costs of study and living expenses. The amount of sufficient resources for the period of validity of the residence permit is set at a minimum of €650 per month, and can be evidenced by a savings account in a greek institutional bank or a scholarship.
  8. Proof of health insurance coverage at the time of submitting the application (as described in Joint Ministerial Decision No. 53821/21-10-2014).

As soon as you arrive in Greece you have  to obtain a Tax Identification Number (AFM in Greek), which is required for several necessary formalities, such as:

  • Signing a house rental contract
  • Getting connected to a Greek mobile phone network
  • Opening a bank account

You can apply for the AFM number and the keyword on the  AADE website by submitting the following documents

  1. Identity documents such as a valid passport, Special identity card for persons of Greek origin etc., if applicable.
  2. Valid residence permit or the information proving that you are legally residing in Greece in accordance with the legislation in force.
  3. Marriage certificate/cohabitation agreement if the applicant is married. If the marriage took place outside Greece, the certificate must be officially authenticated and translated (more information on the procedure here)

Please remember that you must state your permanent address in Greece on your application form, so make sure that you start the AFM application process as soon as you have rented a house, as the rental contract must also be notified to the AADE and the address must be the same.  For more detailed information, you can also visit the relevant AADE website.

A bank account in a Greek institutional bank with a minimum deposit of €600 is required if you wish to apply for a residence permit in Greece.

You can open a bank account either online or in person. You can make an appointment to open an account at a bank in your area.

The largest and oldest banks in Greece are National Bank of Greece, Alpha Bank, Eurobank, Piraeus Bank.

The most common documents required for your application are as follows:

  1. Proof of Identity
  • (Valid passport or national identity card (for EU citizens).
  • Non-EU citizens will generally need a valid passport and possibly a residence permit or visa.
  1. Proof of Address
  • A recent utility bill (electricity, water, phone) showingyour name and address.
  • Lease or rental agreement.
  • Bank statement from another bank with your address listed.
  • Tax document or certificate showing your address.
  1. Tax Identification Number (AFM)

A Greek Tax Identification Number (AFM) is required for both residents and non-residents.

  1. Proof of Employment or Income

This might include a work contract, certificate of studies, salary slips, pension documents, or other proof of income.

These are general requirements and may vary slightly based on the type of account or your residency status. Please check directly with the bank for the most accurate and updated list of required documents.

During your stay in Greece, it may be wise to have a local SIM card, which offers lower costs for high-speed data and calls, better coverage and avoids high roaming charges.
The mobile network in Greece is dominated by three main operators: Cosmote, Vodafone and Nova. Each of these offers competitive rates for students and excellent coverage throughout the country, including many of the islands, while all three have numerous outlets in major and smaller cities.
Sim cards can also be ordered online and delivered by post, although you will need a Greek address and an available Greek mobile number to verify the order.
Visit the following links for special student deals
https://www.whatsup.gr/student/foitites
https://www.vodafonecu.gr/foitites/foititikes-prosfores/
https://nova.gr/kiniti-tilefonia/simvolaia-kinitis/programmata-kinitis

FQA’s

Do I need a visa to study  in Greece?

All incoming students from non-EU countries must apply for Visa at the Greek Embassy/Consulate in their country, before their arrival for studies in Greece. Students should submit the Letter of Acceptance issued by IHU after completing their application’s evaluation procedure to the Embassy/Consulate.

Please keep in mind that a visa may take up to 3 months to be issued.  So plan your  trip to Greece early and gather the required documents as seen on our ISSO webpage here.

Can I work during my studies?

Yes, as long as you have completed your enrollment, and you have a valid residence permit for studies (for non-European citizens) you can work part-time anywhere in Greece

As stated in Article 118 of the Greek Immigration Code (law 5038/2023): Third-country  nationals who have obtained a residence permit to study (type H.1 residence permit) are only allowed to work part-time, outside study hours, following the relevant provisions on part-time work employment. In any event, the number of hours shall not be less than fifteen (15) hours per week or the equivalent in days or months per year.

Are there students’ residences at the university?

There are currently no residence halls. IHU’s International Students Support Office is here to help you with your accommodation queries (e.g. housing search platforms, housing contract process, etc.).

How can I get information on tuition fees and financial issues?

Please note that issues related to finance, money and fees do not fall under the International Students Support Office, so please make sure that you contact the correct team for prompt response. Detailed information on enrollment and scholarships is provided separately on each of the offered Master’s Programmes webpage, which  can be found on the University’s main website here.

Are there lessons given in Greek language?

We’re working on it and most likely this academic year the International Hellenic University will offer free Greek lessons to its students. Until then, you can get an essence of words and expressions most used in everyday life here.