Ukrainian refugees in Greece: when do you need a visa, how to apply for one, and what is important to know

After the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, many Ukrainian families found themselves in difficult circumstances and were forced to seek refuge abroad. One of the countries where refugees turned in search of safety was Greece. It accepts Ukrainians under the visa-free regime with the European Union, but not all forms of stay fall under this rule. If a short-term stay does not cause the need for additional documents, then any long-term presence on the territory of Greece requires obtaining an appropriate visa. That is why every Ukrainian who plans to stay in Greece for a long time — to study, work, reunite with relatives or carry out other activities — must understand well in which cases a visa is necessary, what types of visas exist, what documents will have to be prepared and how exactly to submit an application to the Greek consulate. Incorrectly collected documents or lack of information about the specifics of the visa regime can be the reason for refusal, so it is extremely important to familiarize yourself with the requirements in advance.

When a visa is required

The presence of a biometric foreign passport allows citizens of Ukraine to enter Greece without a visa and stay in its territory for up to ninety days within one hundred and eighty. However, this option only applies to short-term trips, including tourist visits, visiting relatives or short business trips. In cases where Ukrainians intend to stay in Greece for a longer period of time or to carry out activities that go beyond the limits permitted by the visa-free regime, they need to obtain a national visa of category D. Such cases include, in particular, studying in educational institutions, official employment, participation in volunteer or religious programs, undergoing treatment, running a business, as well as reuniting with family. It is worth noting that even with temporary protection in another EU state, Ukrainians need a separate Greek visa if they plan to officially change their country of residence or legalize a new reason for their stay. Thus, the presence of a biometric passport does not exempt from visa processing in cases where the trip is not short-term or touristic.

Main types of long-term visas

Greek law provides for several types of long-term national visas, which differ depending on the purpose of the stay. For each of them, there is a separate submission procedure, a list of documents, mandatory confirmations, and consideration periods. Most often, Ukrainians apply for work, student, family, or so-called “digital nomad visas.”

A work visa is issued if a citizen of Ukraine has received an official offer of employment in a Greek company. The applicant must provide a signed contract confirming his future employment, as well as documents confirming qualifications, work experience and the availability of relevant education. The employer, in turn, must prove that he did not find an employee among EU citizens, and certify that the proposed conditions comply with Greek labor legislation. If the decision is positive, the applicant will receive a visa that allows them to live in Greece for a long time and submit documents for a residence permit.

A student visa is granted to Ukrainians who have been enrolled in Greek educational institutions, such as universities, academies or professional schools. In order to obtain this type of visa, it is necessary to provide an official letter of enrollment, documentary evidence of financial ability, proof of housing and health insurance, as well as a certificate confirming knowledge of the language of study – most often English or Greek. This visa allows not only to study, but also to work partially during the educational process, if this is allowed by the current legislation.

A family reunification visa is issued in cases where a Ukrainian has a relative legally residing in Greece. This is primarily about spouses, minor children or dependent parents. A person residing in Greece must provide proof of legal status, sufficient income, health insurance, and housing conditions that allow them to host a family member. If this visa is obtained, the applicant will be able to stay in the country on a permanent basis and apply for a residence permit.

A separate category is a visa for digital nomads – people who work remotely for companies located outside Greece or run their own online business. In order to apply for this type of visa, it is necessary to have a proven stable income of at least 3,500 euros per month, provide a contract with an employer or other documents confirming employment, health insurance, housing rent and bank statements. Such a visa allows you to stay in Greece for up to one year, with the possibility of an extension for another year.

Application procedure

You can apply for a long-term visa to Greece only in person, through the consular offices of this country in Ukraine. Today, the Consulates General of Greece operate in Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Lutsk, Ivano-Frankivsk and Dnipro. Before submitting documents, it is necessary to make an appointment. The process of issuing a visa involves several stages: determining the type of visa, filling out a prescribed form, collecting the necessary documents, submitting an application and, if necessary, passing an interview.

The questionnaire must be filled out in Latin, without errors and corrections, signed personally by the applicant. At the time of application, the applicant must have a valid foreign passport that was issued no more than ten years ago, contains at least two blank pages and is valid for at least three months after the planned departure from the territory of Greece. The basic package also includes a criminal record certificate issued no earlier than six months before the application, a medical certificate on the absence of infectious diseases that pose a threat to public health, valid medical insurance with coverage for the entire period of visa validity, including the costs of repatriation and hospitalization, as well as a receipt for the payment of the visa fee.

For adult Ukrainians, the fee is sixty euros, for children – twenty. The review of the application usually lasts from five to six working days, but in some cases this period can be extended. If approved, the visa is affixed to the passport and upon arrival in Greece, the person must contact the Migration Service to apply for a residence permit.

Typical mistakes and legal support

Obtaining a national visa to Greece is a procedure that requires attention, accuracy and compliance with requirements that change frequently. The most common mistakes are submission of an incomplete or outdated package of documents, errors in filling out the application form, submission of an invalid criminal record certificate or incorrect health insurance policy.

Often, applicants do not provide proof of financial capacity, which is mandatory in most cases. There are also cases of submitting false documents, which definitely leads to refusal and can complicate further attempts to obtain a visa.