How to work and immigrate to Greece as a teacher? 

Greece visa for teachers

There are three Greece visas that help you move there. They serve different purposes, and it’s up to your conditions to use the right one.

Greece student visa

If you want to get a teaching degree in Greece, you need a student visa. First, you must find a university and get admission. Then you must gather the supporting documents and apply for a student visa.

You can find more information about Greece tourist visa from the Visa Library article or watch the prepared video on our YouTube channel.

Greece work visa

After you get your license and are allowed to work as a teacher in Greece, you must get a work permit to work there. First, you must find an employer who is ready to hire you. Then you must sign a contract with him/her and then the employer for a work permit. Then you can apply for a work visa.

You can find more information about Greece’s work visa from the Visa Library article or watch the prepared video on our YouTube channel.

Greece tourist visa

You might need to visit Greece during the recognition process. You must visit the local officials in person and submit your documents. If you are not among the countries that can visit Greece with their passport, you need a tourist visa to enter the country.

You can find more information about Greece’s student visa from the Visa Library article or watch the prepared video on our YouTube channel.

Eligibility to immigrate to Greece as a teacher

You’d better look at the requirements and the process to immigrate to Greece as a teacher. They provide a better understanding of the eligibility principles. But you need these items to be eligible as well:

An educational degree

You must have an educational degree or diploma to be eligible. The subject doesn’t matter, but the more relatable to the subject you want to teach, the better. The subject you study provides the information and knowledge you need to teach. So it’s necessary to have a degree.

If you get your degree abroad, you must get it recognized by Greek officials.

Being fluent in Greek

The teaching language is Greek for most public or private schools. So you must be fluent to become eligible. You might have to teach in English or the foreign language you teach. But the standard teaching language is Greek.

Have work experience as a teacher

You might be able to get a job as a teacher in Greece without work experience, but that is rare. You must prove that you can handle a class and teach the educational content to students.

Get a job offer from a Greek employer.

If you are a non-EU national, you need a work permit to work in Greece. The Greek employer can only apply for a work permit, so you must find a job offer with one employer.

You must be able to convince the employer to hire you as a foreign person. Your skills, language proficiency, education, and work experience, are determining factors.

How to immigrate to Greece as a teacher?

This section brings you the process you must follow to immigrate and work in Greece as a teacher. There are two ways to immigrate to Greece as a teacher. It’s up to you to pick the one that suits your conditions.

Recognition of degree by Greek officials

If you get your degree from a foreign country and not in Greece, you must get your degree recognized by Greek officials to teach there. You have to send the Greek Ministry of Education your documents, and they will decide whether you can work as a teacher in Greece.

The Greek Ministry of Education website doesn’t provide much information about the recognition process. You’d better contact them to know about the process and requirements. You should gather and send them a list of documents. This is a sample list of documents you must gather:

• Application form.
• Educational degree
• Transcripts.
• Teaching certificate
• Work experience proof.
• ID documents
• Language proficiency certificate
• Etc.

The Greek officials will guide you through the process and requirements. After they recognize your degree and approve you can work as a teacher, you must find a job there. If you are an EU national, you do not need a work permit to work in Greece. But non-EU nationals need a work permit. Only a Greek employer can apply for a work permit, so you must find an employer willing to hire you as a teacher.

You can find more information about Greece’s work visa from the Visa Library article or watch the prepared video on our YouTube channel.

Study at a teaching program in Greece

The other way you can immigrate to Greece as a teacher is to study a program at a Greek university. Some programs allow you to work as a teacher there. You must find one of these requirements and determine the requirements:

• Greek language fluency certificate
• Latest educational degree.
• Transcripts.
• Cover letter
• Recommendations
• Etc.

You must apply to the university and get an admission letter. Then you may apply for a Greece student visa. You need it to study for a program in Greece.

You can find more information about Greece tourist visas from the Visa Library article or watch the prepared video on our YouTube channel.

Such programs take about four years to complete. Then, you must follow the procedure with the local officials to get your teaching license. Then you must find a job. As explained in the above section, you need a job offer to work in Greece as a non-EU person. The employer must apply for a work permit.

How much do teachers get paid in Greece?

Teachers’ salaries in Greece depend on various factors:

• The level you teach
• The language and subject you teach
• Location
• Education
• Work experience.
• Greek language fluency
• Etc.

According to Salary Explorer, the average salary of a teacher in Greece is about 1,750 EUR. it says while the lowest salary is about 800 EUR, the highest is about 2,780 EUR per month.

Glassdoor, a website for finding jobs in various countries, says that the average salary is about €1,223 per month.

According to Payscale, the average income is about $15,000 per year.

World Salaires says that the average annual salary is about 25,660 EUR. It indicates that while the lowest annual salary is about 13,780 EUR, the highest annual salary is about 40,640 EUR.

Can you teach in Greece without a degree?

You often need a degree in education or a related degree to teach in Greece. Having an educational degree is one of the standard requirements, whether in private or public sectors.

The degree you get provides the required information to teach, the principles of teaching, and how to develop yourself. It also indicates that you have a strong foundation of your knowledge.

Look at the above section to know the requirements to immigrate to Greece as a teacher. It gives you a roadmap of the required items.

Also, look at the procedure to immigrate to Greece as a teacher. The two ways need different items and steps to follow. But you need the educational degree either way.

How much do language teachers earn in Greece?

First, look at the above section to know the average salary of a teacher in Greece. Your salary as an English teacher in Grece is upon various factors:

• education,
• years of experience,
• location,
• working in a public or private institution
• Tasks and responsibilities.
• Job title
• The language you teach
• Qualifications
• Etc.

Your salary with a BA degree starts from €1,200 to €1,500 per month in public schools. But you should consider the above factors. The one other time is your ability to negotiate with the employer.

The average salary range in private language schools or institutes starts from €800 and goes up to €1,500 per month.

When you look for a job, look at the offered income and try to get an understanding of the average salary.

What is the cost of living in Greece?

Your cost of living in Greece depends on various elements and factors: 

• City
• Region or neighborhood,
• Lifestyle
• Personal preferences
• Type of house you live in.
• Etc.

In terms of the city, living expenses are higher in large cities like Athens and Thessaloniki as they have higher rents compared with smaller cities. A single-bedroom apartment costs you about €300 to €600 per month. If you are considering buying property, it depends on the size, location, how long the house is, and the type of purchase.

Food is often affordable in Greece. Depending on the food items, weekly grocery shopping is about €40-€60. Eating out costs you about €20-€30, but it depends on the restaurant and neighborhood.

Public transportation is affordable, efficient, and available. You might have to spend about €30 to €50 on it. The cost of a vehicle and gas is up to the vehicle and your personal usage.

In terms of utilities, you can expect to pay about €80 to €150 per month. But it depends on the size of your house and how much you spend on water, electricity, Internet, etc.

The cost of your insurance is up to the company you get it and the plans.

It‘s up to you to spend on your hobbies and entertainment activities.

You should consider that the mentioned figures are all estimates and change by the location and your conditions.

Do they teach English in Greece?

The teaching language in public and private schools is Greek. But some courses are taught in English. This is why you must be fluent in Greek to teach there.

If you teach another language like English, you have to teach it in that foreign language. But you might have to use Greek to convey your meaning to children who do not understand a foreign language very well.

How long does it take to immigrate to Greece as a teacher?

The time it takes to immigrate and work in Greece as a teacher depends on the way you pick. If you study a program in Greece that lets you teach there, it takes about 4 years to complete it. You should check the program duration. Then you must find a job and continue the rest of the process, which could take a few months.

The second way is to apply for recognition. The processing time with the Greek Ministry of Education is not clear. You might have to wait a few months up to a year for their response.

If you are a non-EU national, you must get a work permit to work in Greece. Only a Greek employer can apply for a work permit. So you must look for a job offer from a Greek employer. It could take time to find a job, get a work permit and application, and then move to Greece.

Related Occupations for Teachers in Greece

The teaching world is broad, and there are various job positions and titles. It takes a lot of effort and skilled workers so a teacher can stand in the class and teach students.

You’d better get familiar with some related job titles for teachers in Greece. When you see these positions and cities, try to learn more about them. Apply for these cities and try to get the offer. Also, you can get work experience or qualifications in them to improve the chance of getting the job offer.

After you pass the process and become qualified to work as a teacher in Greece, you must find a job. It’s essential to find a job position and one employer willing to hire you. The more qualified and skilled you are, the better your opportunities.

• Educational Administrator:
• Curriculum Developer/Instructional Designer:
• Education Consultant:
• Education Writer or Content Developer: U
• Education Researcher:
• Special Education Teacher
• Adult Education Instructor
• Education Policy Expert,
• Corporate Trainer:
• Online Tutor or E-Learning Instructor:
• Curriculum Specialist

The above list is just a sample. You can find other job positions and titles. You know what other careers are available and can seize them.

Where to work as an immigrant teacher in Greece?

You can work in different places as an immigrant teacher in Greece. Finding a job depends on many factors, but the demand, some luck, and your work experience and skills are the determining factors.

These are some of the places you can work as a teacher in Greece;

As a teacher, you have various options for employment depending on your qualifications, preferences, and the educational level you wish to teach. Here are some common settings where teachers work:

• Public Schools
• Private Schools
• International Schools
• Language Schools
• Colleges and Universities
• Online Education Platforms
• Tutoring and Education Centers
• Homeschooling

You might be able to get a position in any of the above enters as a: 

• education administration,
• curriculum development,
• teacher training
• educational consulting,

Are teachers in demand in Greece?

Greece’s economy went into a few financial and economic crises and is recovering after the Covid-19 pandemic. It has affected the demand for teachers and skilled workers.

Whether teachers are in demand in Greece is up to a few factors: 

• Education
• Subject
• Location
• Level of teaching
• Economic conditions
• Etc

There is a demand for English teachers in Greece. You can find a job if you are qualified and meet the eligibility principles. But the need for other teaching positions is up to the teaching market.

You’d better look at the websites that advertise job positions in Greece to know whether teaching is in demand or not. If you have plans to immigrate to Greece as a teacher for the next few years, you’d better keep an eye on the job market. It might be the right time now, and you are missing the positions.

You can also ask recruiters or employment agencies to know about the available positions and the job market. They might have gathered some data and knowledge about the current trend.

Also, try to find organizations related to teaching and follow the news or latest updates. They might introduce a new program to bring or attract skilled teachers to Greece.

You should know that getting a job in primary and Secondary Education and institutions is easier than higher education due to the high competition.

Teaching degree types in Greece for immigrants

One of the ways to immigrate to Greece as a teacher is to study at a teaching program in a Greek university. But the course must let you work as a teacher there. You’d better research it and determine whether it’s true or not. Make sure the program lets you become a teacher in Greece as a foreign person. If you doubt, ask the education department.

The type of teaching degree in Greece is up to your preferences and the one that you can manage to get admission to.

You should determine your career path and the center you want to work for. If you want to teach early childhood, an elementary education degree might not be appropriate for you.

You must make it clear what the course will let you teach and where you can work with it.

These are some of the degree types that you can study in Greece to become a teacher there: 

• Associate degree in education
• BA in early childhood education
• BA in elementary education
• BA in secondary education
• BA in special education
• MA in curriculum design
• MA in reading
• MA in instructional design
• Educational specialist degree in educational leadership
• MA or Ph.D. in education

Best cities to immigrate and work in Greece as a teacher

You should do research and find some information about Greece before you move there. One of the items you should know is the city you will land.

Can you stand the living conditions in the city? If you have always lived in a cold climate, can you deal with the Mediterranean weather conditions? There are a few more questions to ask, like living expenses, rent, being close to friends, etc. But you must be able to find a job in Greece as well. Look at this list of cities. They are the largest cities in Greece, and you should know them. Why? There are always larger job opportunities in large cities. 

1. Athens
2. Thessaloniki
3. Patras
4. Piraeus
5. Larissa
6. Heraklion
7. Peristeri
8. Kallithea
9. Acharnes
10. Kalamaria

The other item you should know and might miss is the favorite places to live and visit. What are the popular Greek cities? You’d better know them and determine why they have become popular. You might want to find a job in one of them due to a feature or benefit.

There are often better job opportunities in these cities. So you’d better not miss them. 

• Athens
• Thessaloniki
• Chania
• Nafplio
• Heraklion
• Rhodes Town
• Patras
• Rethymno
• Corfu Town
• Kavala,

How to find a job in Greece as a teacher?

The article explained why it’s essential to find a job in Greece. If you are a non-EU national, you need a work permit to work there. Only a Greek employer can apply for a work permit. So you must find one that is ready to hire you.

Also, you want to immigrate and work in Greece as a teacher. So you must find a job in the end.

There are various ways to find a job in Greece as a teacher.

The first way to find a job is through the websites that advertise job positions in Greece. This is a list of these websites: 

• Kariera
• Jobfind.gr – Career Portal
• skywalker.gr
• kariera.gr
• jobsite.gr
• randstad.gr,
• just jobs.gr/find/ (KPMG)
• neuvoo.gr
• gr.jooble.org
• cosmosjobs.com
• cosmos-jobs.gr

You should prepare your resume and apply for teaching positions.

The other way is to find a job with recruiters or employment agencies. They connect employees and employees or introduce them to each other.

• Randstad
• Adecco
• ManpowerGroup
• ICAP
• LMW
• Optimal HR Group
• Jobfind.gr

If you know a famous college, school, teaching academy, etc., in Greece, you can reach them and determine if they have a vacancy or not. 

Language fluency to immigrate and work in Greece as a teacher

The language you need to teach in Greece depends on the school or center you will work for. You will likely need Greek language fluency to work as a teacher in Greece. The educational content language is mostly Greek.

If you want to work as an English teacher or teach another foreign language, you might be able to teach that language. But you still need Greek. Why? Because you will likely need to explain some concepts or ideas in Greek to students. This is particularly true if you teach young children. They do not understand a foreign language like an adult learner or student.

Is it hard to immigrate and work in Greece as a teacher?

The process has challenges and requirements. You should consider a few points before saying it’s hard or easy to immigrate to Greece as a teacher.

You need a work permit to work as a foreign person in Greece. You must find an employer that needs you as a teacher; then, he/she applies for a work permit. It could be hard to find a job or persuade an employer to hire you. You must compete with the best applicants, and it’s up to your work experience, background, education, and language fluency that the teacher wants to hire you.

If you get your degree in a foreign country, you must have them recognized by Greek officials. The process could take time and costs you.

You must learn about the recognition process from the Greek Ministry of Education or the National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC).

Moreover, you need strong Greek language fluency to work as a teacher there. Even if you are teaching a foreign language to students, you often need Greek language fluency to convey some of your messages and communicate effectively.

Remember that you are not the only one who wants to immigrate and work in Greece. So you will compete with applicants from other countries. The competition can be tough as there are thousands of rivals.

You’d better look at the requirements, eligibility principles, and the process you must follow, consult with some experts or people who have passed this way, and determine the difficulty. You are the best person to answer how difficult it is to immigrate and work in Greece as a teacher.

Required personal skills for teachers in Greece

Besides the general requirement mentioned in the above section to immigrate to Greece as a teacher, you need some personal skills. They are essential items you need to work as an effective teacher.

You might have developed some of these skills, or some are innate. But most of them must be learned through practice and training.

With these skills, you can learn new techniques, tactics, and strategies to work and communicate effectively.

These are the skills that employers look for them as well:

• Critical thinking
• Patience
• Communication
• Organization
• Imaginative thinking
• Leadership
• Teamwork
• Time management
• Computer skills
• Conflict resolution

How to become a teacher in Greece?

There are two ways to become a teacher in Greece.

The first one is to get admission to a university program that lets you teach in Greece. You must find a Greek university, determine the requirements and get admission from them. Then, you must apply for a Greece student visa.

The second way is when you get your degree from a foreign country. In this case, you must apply to the Ministry of Education for recognition of your documents. If they approve your degree, you may work as a teacher. After that, you must find a job and apply for a work permit and work visa.

Let’s sum up immigration to Greece as a teacher

You learned how to immigrate and work in Greece as a teacher through this Visa Libary page. It provided a wide range of topics; requirements, processes, eligibility principles, the best cities, and so many more topics. This is your comprehensive guideline to immigrate to Greece as a teacher.

If you have questions, write them down in the comment section. The Visa Library team will cover them.

Frequently asked questions about immigration to Greece as a teacher.