GreeceStudy and training

Greece internship and trainee visa

National visa and permit for trainees (category H.4) and paid student traineeships

In short

Graduates and students who do a structured traineeship with a Greek host apply for a national D visa in the trainee category; the consulate must decide within 60 days of a complete file. A separate national visa covers students in paid traineeships. Sufficient resources are EUR 650 per month.

Apply on Ministry of Migration and Asylum – electronic applications checked 23 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
For the length of the traineeship agreement.
Fee
€75Standard consular fee for a national D visa (EU Immigration Portal).
Funds required
€650 per monthSufficient resources for trainees set by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.
Processing time
The consulate decides as soon as possible and at the latest 60 days after a complete trainee application.
Work
Only the traineeship described in the agreement.
Where to apply
In person at the Greek embassy or consulate where you legally reside, by appointment with the mission.

Two routes

The trainee permit (H.4) follows the EU directive on researchers, students and trainees: it is for people who recently graduated or are studying and will receive training in a Greek company or organisation under a traineeship agreement. In addition, the Migration Code lists a national visa for higher-education students who take part in paid traineeship programmes.

What to prepare

Next to the general national visa documents, bring the traineeship agreement describing the programme, duration, supervision and conditions, proof of your studies or recent degree and evidence of EUR 650 per month, which a stipend can cover.

Required documents

Identity

  • Signed national visa application form with a recent ICAO-standard colour photo; it doubles as a solemn declaration that the data are true.
  • Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months after the planned departure, with at least two blank pages.

Money

  • Proof of EUR 650 per month (stipend or own funds).

Study

  • Traineeship agreement with the Greek host, describing programme, duration and supervision.
  • Proof of current studies or of a recent degree.

Insurance

  • Travel insurance for at least the length of the visa, covering emergency care, hospitalisation and medical repatriation.

Other

  • Criminal record certificate from the country of residence; the consulate may also ask for one from the country of nationality.
  • Medical certificate on the official model (Annex II) from a recognised public or private institution, confirming no disease that threatens public health.

Timing

For H.4 trainees the consulate has a deadline of 60 days from a complete application, so apply at least two months before the planned start.

After arrival

Where the category leads to a residence permit, apply online before the national visa expires. Traineeships within a corporate group can instead follow the intra-corporate transfer route for trainee employees.

How to apply, step by step

  1. Agree the traineeship and sign the agreement with the Greek host.
  2. Request a national visa appointment at the competent Greek mission and submit the general and traineeship documents.
  3. Wait for the decision, at most 60 days for a complete H.4 file.
  4. Enter Greece and, where required, apply online for the residence permit before the visa expires.

Forms

Frequently asked questions

Can I do an unpaid internship on a Schengen visa?

A C visa does not cover training or work placements. Use the trainee route even for short traineeships.

Does Erasmus+ count?

Erasmus+ traineeships are traineeships; you still need the national visa as a non-EU citizen.

Can I stay in Greece after the traineeship?

Only with another permit for which you qualify, applied for through the one-stop service before the current one ends.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Greece

Visits and short stays

Business and self-employment

  • Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the whole Schengen area.
  • Investor visa Validity: Five years, renewable for the same period while the investment continues or operates.

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: For the length of studies; the national visa itself is valid for up to one year.
  • Researcher visa Maximum stay: For the duration of the hosting agreement.

Work

  • Work visa Maximum stay: Long stay; the visa is converted into the residence permit.
  • EU Blue Card Maximum stay: Long stay; the card allows residence and work in Greece.
  • Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: Total transfer period across the EU: up to 3 years for managers and specialists, 1 year for trainees.
  • Seasonal work visa Maximum stay: Up to nine months of residence and work in any 12-month period on the E.6 permit; leave Greece for the remaining three months.
  • Digital nomad visa Maximum stay: Visa for up to 12 months; residence permit afterwards.

Family

Residence

  • Golden visa and residence by investment Maximum stay: Permanent residence right while the investment is held; the card is renewed every five years.
  • Retirement visa Validity: Under the Migration Code initial permits are, as a rule, issued for three years and renewed for the same period; the exact validity is printed on the permit.
  • Permanent residence Validity: M.1: five years, renewable for five years. M.2: ten years, then automatic conversion to M.1 if absences were limited.

Protection

Greece visa guide