Greece’s immigration and integration policies are handled by the Ministry of Interior’s Departments of Migration Policy and Social Integration. Temporary residence permission, resident card, or retired residence permit is required for non-EU nationals who intend to stay in Greece longer than three months, such as citizens of Pakistan. Therefore, anyone visiting Greece with a plan to stay for more than 90 days and who wants to work or study there needs to have a long-term visa or entry permission issued by the Greek government.
Visa categories in Greece
Pakistani nationals who intend to visit Greece must apply for one of the various types of visas to enter the country legally. Depending on the situation and the conditions, a variety of visas are available under Greek immigration law and must be obtained:
- a national work visa with a stay of more than 90 days
- a short-term visitor who may stay in Greece for up to 90 days
- Greece transit permit for the airport
National
This is commonly known as a long-stay or a Greece D visa, and it allows an individual to enter Greece and remain there for longer than three months.
Long-stay
The following three types of Greece national visas are determined by the primary motives for long-term stays in Greece:
Family reunification
You must apply for this if you want to travel to Greece to be with your family. Only the resident’s spouse and minor children under the age of 18 are eligible to apply. This may also be obtained for the development of a family relationship, such as through marriage or adoption.
Greece work permit
This must first be obtained if you want to work in Greece. This comprises businesspeople, coaches, artists, religious leaders, press reporters, teachers, highly skilled workers, seasonal employees, fishermen, tour guides, property investors, journalists, etc.
Student visa
If you want to participate in activities related to education, you must get a study visa. University students, volunteers, researchers, apprentices, scholars, trainees at military academies, etc. are the most frequent applicants for this visa.
Apply for a long-stay visa for Greece
There are a few steps in the application process for a Greece Long-Stay Visa that you must correctly complete to submit a full application.
Complete the application
Filling out the application for extended stays is the first step in the procedure. Two sections make up the application form. Your name, surname, ID number, passport, date of birth, place of birth, marital status, current occupation, and other personal details are all covered in the first section of the questionnaire. The second section, however, asks you questions about why you are applying for a national visa. There are three sections: one for work, one for a family reunion, and one for education. Just fill out the sections that apply to you. Leave the other two empty.
Create an appointment time
There is no walk-in visa application process at the Greek embassies and consulates. You should schedule an appointment to submit your application and appear at the required interview.
Gather the necessary paperwork
The most crucial step in applying for a visa to Greece is gathering the appropriate supporting documentation. Make sure you first gather the primary paperwork needed for a Greek visa:
- your current passport
- photos
- health protection
- certification of health.
- buying a round-trip flight
- proof of enough financial resources
- evidence of accommodation
Next, gather the paperwork needed for a Greek long-stay visa based on the type of visa you’re requesting.
Application processing for the Greek D visa
Greece requires a minimum of 6 days to complete an application for a long-stay visa. The processing of your visa, however, might take up to three months at the most.
Permit to reside
You must register and receive a Certificate of Registration or Residence Certificate if you intend to remain for more than 90 days. You may do this at the local Aliens’ Bureau or a police station. For foreigners who are visiting Greece on a long-stay visa and intend to stay for a longer amount of time, this document is effectively a residency permit. The following actions must be taken by applicants to get a stay document:
- they can either validate their visa, which will act as a residence permit; or
- they can apply for a residence permit during the first three months of their stay in Greece.
Investment visa
Three generations of a family may now take advantage of the “visa by investment” program according to new regulations adopted by the Greek government. For instance, as part of the Greek Permanent Resident Programme, a real estate investment of merely EUR 250 000 will provide you with a five-year renewable residence visa. For those wishing to apply for permanent residency, there is no minimum stay requirement. Greece also participates in the EU’s Schengen visa-free travel area. Therefore, those who have a Greek permanent residency permit—also known as a “Greek Golden Visa”—are free to travel anywhere in the European Union. Greek permanent residency permits typically take two months to get and are renewable every five years.
