Education opportunities and reforms for Golden Visa families
Those acquiring Greek residency (Golden Visa via investment) have the opportunity to enrol their children in the education system and take advantage of the growing number of learning opportunities offered in the country.
The country’s inclusive approach is reflected in the public education system, which is free (the state also provides the textbooks), with lessons held in the Greek language.
Private international schools that offer English language or bilingual lessons are the most common choice for foreign residents, providing a pathway that leads to universities in Greece and abroad.
At the same time, the Greek government is introducing reforms across the education spectrum, adopting changes seen in other European countries.
Reforms in the private and public sectors offer more multilingual and cross-cultural options to those studying in the country.
The current round of changes focuses on:
-The introduction of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) to state schools.
-The establishment of the National Graduation Certificate (Ethniko Apolitirio).
-The authorisation of private and foreign university branches
How the education system works
Preschool
In Greece, Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) is provided in two types of structures, with the provision for children under age 4, including:
-Municipal infant care (vrefikoi stathmoi), infant/child care (vrefonipiakoi stathmoi) and child care centres (paidikoi stathmoi), under the competence of the Ministry of Interior.
-Private pre-school education and care settings, as well as part-time childcare settings for infants and children and integrated care infant/child care centres, under the competence of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs.
The ECEC for children aged 4-5 includes:
-Pre-schools, public and private, operate under the competence of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports.
Note: a variety of public and private Greek preschools are offered in Greek, English, French and German.
Primary Schooling
Primary education in Greece is provided by the state and private schools. Compulsory education in the country spans from ages 5 to 15, with a curriculum covering Greek language, math, history, science, physical education, and the arts. Classes run from 8:15 to 13:15 though most schools offer an ‘extended school day’, which means that parents have the ability to pick up the children through to 17:30.
Middle school and High school (Gymnasium & Lyceum)
The lower secondary school (Gymnasium) is compulsory and covers three years of study for students aged between 12 and 15 (7th,8th,9th grades). Students do not specialise in any subjects during this period.
Starting in 2017, Greece introduced a Unified Lyceum structure, which streamlines education from grades 10 to 12. Students can select a broader range of courses in their chosen track, allowing for greater flexibility and specialisation. Lyceum is optional and generally pursued by those seeking university studies.
Both the Gymnasium and Lyceum are part of the public education system and are available free of charge to Greek citizens and residents of Greece, including the children of those with Golden Visas.
Private schools also exist at these levels, offering alternative educational options.
International Education
German and French education pioneered the international education scene in Greece, The Lycée Léonin in Athens, founded in 1901, served as a French international school that provides education aligned with the French curriculum, accommodating students skilled in both French and Greek languages. Similarly, the German school, established in 1896, was founded by architect and archaeologist Wilhelm Dörpfeld, solidifying its position as one of Greece’s most historical and respected private educational institutions.
During the 1940s, specifically in 1945, the Anglo-American School in Athens was established. The school was founded to provide education to the children of British and American expatriates living in Athens, Greece. It aimed to offer a curriculum that combined elements from both the British and American education systems. The school’s creation was likely influenced by the presence of diplomatic and expatriate communities in Athens during and after World War II. Over the years, the Anglo-American School in Athens has evolved and developed further and many other establishments brought a strong presence to the country.
At the moment international schools provide academic programs based on the National Curriculum (England and Wales), and the American Diploma curriculum. Courses lead to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB), the BTS programme and the German International Baccalaureate (DIA). Their programs are adapted to make full use of the location and culture of Greece.
List of International Schools in Athens:
English Curriculum Schools in Athens
American Community Schools, ACS (US)
St. Catherine’s British School (UK)
Byron College: The British International School (UK)
International School of Athens, ISA
DES Primary School (European Interactive School)
Verita International School (UK)
English and Greek Curriculum
Pierce (The American College of Greece)
International School of Piraeus (ISP)
French and Greek Curriculum
Lycée Franco-Hellénique Eugene Delacroix
German and Greek Curriculum
Italian Curriculum
Scuola Statale Italiana di Atene
Athens is the country’s hub of private international schools, with most spread out through the northern and southern suburbs. Many are located in areas such as Marousi, Kifisia and Glyfada, while others are found in districts further out from the city centre such as Pallini and Koropi.
Tuition & fees
The tuition fees for international schools in Athens differ according to various factors such as grade levels, specific programs, and other factors. It’s important to note that these fees are not fixed and may change annually.
Indicatively, at Campion schools annual tuition fees for the junior school range from 8,755 euros to 12,550 euros and between 13,650 euros to 14,950 euros for the senior school. At the American Community of Schools, annual fees start at 8,720 euros (preschool) and reach 15,751 euros (high school). It’s recommended to directly contact each school for the latest information on tuition fees.
Benefits of Higher Education for holders of the Greek Golden Visa:
A Golden Visa holder who is legally residing in Greece and has graduated from a Greek high school has the same access to higher education as Greek nationals. This means that the same tuition fees that apply to Greek nationals will also apply to you and your children.
Furthermore, Golden Visa holders who have foreign high school credits could look into joining a Greek-American university such as Deree which provides education in the English language.
However, please note that this rule only applies to education in Greece. If you choose to study in another EU country, you will be treated as an international student. The student status in another EU country will not clash with your Greek Golden Visa residency or residency benefits.
Education reforms in Greece
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP)
The two-year program, which has been on offer at private international schools in Greece for nearly 50 years, will now be introduced to state schools.
As of September 2026, the diploma will be run on a pilot basis at ten schools in Athens, Thessaloniki and Heraklion (Crete). For those with children at state schools, the move will help offer more avenues to pursue their academic aspirations and cater to diverse learning styles and preferences.
The IBDP is a two-year program that corresponds to the 11th and 12th grades of Lyceum and prepares students for entry to the best universities all over the world. Students are able to enter the IB program upon completion of the 10th grade (1st grade Lyceum). The IB Diploma is also fully equivalent to the Greek high school diploma (Law 2327, 1995). It is an increasingly popular international qualification for secondary education, currently taught to more than 180,000 students a year in 3,189 schools and in 150 countries.
A list of the ten public schools that will offer the IBDP can be found in the Government Gazette (in Greek).
National Graduation Certificate (High School Reform)
Another significant reform is the establishment of the National Graduation Certificate (Ethniko Apolitirio), which will replace the Panhellenic exams.
The change has been proposed by the government but has yet to formally take shape and aims at providing a fairer assessment of students and their overall performance across all three years of high school, with enhanced groups of subjects and merit-based criteria. Under the new framework, the grades of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years of high school will be factored into the final diploma. The move is in line with steps taken in other countries in a bid to reduce the stress of a single high-stakes exam and place greater emphasis on students’ overall progress and effort.
In Greece, a public discussion on the adoption of the diploma has commenced, and the reform is largely expected to be implemented as of 2029.
Authorisation of Private and Foreign University Branches
Starting as of the 2025-2026 academic year, Greece licensed four private universities offering new law, medicine, psychology, business, and technology programs, in a major change in the country’s higher education landscape.
The approved institutions are:
UNIC Athens – branch of the University of Nicosia, Cyprus
American University Anatolia – in cooperation with the UK’s Open University
University of Keele – Athens branch of the UK university
CITY College – European campus of the University of York
Expanding Academic Options
The new universities have introduced law schools, medical schools and psychology departments, alongside programs in business, engineering, computer science, and life sciences.
Based on initial figures, the four universities will offer courses for some 1,500 students in campuses located in Athens and Thessaloniki.
Please contact our team for any inquiries about the Greek Golden Visa and how you can start your process.
