All about the working holiday in Greece!
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005 (medical expenses, hospitalisation, repatriation…).
Between 18 and 30 or 35 years old (inclusive)
A valid passport for the entire duration of your working holiday
Enough to support yourself
This must be your first participation
Must cover medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation
Apply before the annual quota is reached
01. What is the Working Holiday Visa?
WHVs are bilateral accords signed between governments to promote youth mobility and cultural exchange. Participating countries allow young adults to spend a set period of time (usually one year) living and working abroad. Most of the accords are signed between countries in Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and East Asia. A WHV encourages cultural exchange alongside the chance to gain valuable work experience, though participants are not obligated to work.
02. Which nationalities are eligible?
Young adults from Australia and Canada are eligible to apply for the Working Holiday Visa to Greece.
03. What documents are required for the application?
Standard items include:
- Passport
- ID photo
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof of sufficient funds
This is not an exhaustive list. Additional supporting documents will be mentioned in the respective application instructions for Australians and Canadians.
04. How long is the visa good for?
The WHV allows holders to stay up to one year in Greece.
05. Are there any other requirements I should be aware of?
Australian participants must have a degree of tertiary education or they have successfully completed at least two years undergraduate university studies (source).
No such requirement applies to Canadians.
06. Are there any work or study restrictions?
The following restrictions apply only to Australians:
- They cannot be employed by one (1) employer for more than six (6) months, unless the appropriate permit is granted. They cannot work as an au-pair.
- During their stay in Greece they are not allowed to take part in studies or training for more than four (4) months.
No such restrictions applies to Canadians.
07. Do I need to buy health insurance?
Yes. Your insurance must be valid for the full year. The policy should cover at least medical, hospitalisation and repatriation.
08. Can I bring my partner or children?
Your visa does not extend to anyone else, including child dependents. All participants must apply separately.
10. What is pvtistes.net and how can it help me?
We are a team of current and former working holiday makers dedicated to providing free information and resources about the working holiday in Greece and other destinations. Read our helpful articles, leave comments if you have questions, and check out our special deals.
We don't ask for any money, and neither should anyone else in your application process (besides the embassy/consulate and their official partners). Be very careful of online scams where someone might ask you for an exorbitant amount to help you get your visa. Working Holiday Visas are designed to be relatively easy to obtain yourself, so there is absolutely no need to pay any professional service to do it on your behalf.
11. Where can I apply?
Australians should contact the consulate of Greece in Canberra, or the consulate of Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, to request application steps. More information can be found on Greece's official WHV page for Australians.
Canadians should contact the consulate of Greece in Ottawa, or the consulate of Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver, to request application steps. More information can be found on Greece's official WHV page for Canadians.
As mentioned earlier, all working holiday makers must have comprehensive health insurance for the duration of their WHV. It should cover at least medical care, hospitalisation, and repatriation.
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They have covered thousands of working holiday makers over the years.
- Chapter 5: Getting WHV health insurance
- Everything You Need to Know About Insurance for Working Holiday and Other Adventures Abroad
- What to have in your Working Holiday adventure first-aid kit
Greece’s currency is the euro (€). There are two main ways to open a foreign-currency account: via 1) a traditional bank or 2) an online neo-bank. Traditional banks usually require you to already be in the country. You would have to make and attend an appointment where a representative would ask you for some documents.
If you want to have a euro debit card in hand before even arriving in Greece, you may want to consider the second option, an online neo-bank like Wise. It is an app that offers multi-currency financial services. Customers receive a physical debit card that can be used to withdraw cash at local ATMs. Your euro account would also have its own routing and account numbers, so you can set up autopay, direct deposits, or transfer money to recipients in Greece. These capabilities could be useful in exchanges with your employer or landlord. You can register from your home country or once you arrive in Greece. Learn more about Wise.
There are advantages to both options. Wise registration is simple and quick, but traditional banks offer the possibility of issuing and depositing cheques, if that is something you need. So you could make a Wise account first and then a traditional account once you arrive in Greece.
Once your application is approved, you’ll need to think about where to live, especially in the first few days and weeks. If you are planning on renting long term housing, we recommend you wait until you arrive in Greece before paying a deposit or signing anything. Never send money to anyone without seeing the place in person.
For your first couple of weeks, you could consider Airbnb or hotels. But the most affordable option is going to be youth hostels. You can find some great ones on Hostelworld.
- Chapter 6: Booking housing for your arrival
- 7 Tips for finding housing during your working holiday abroad
- Couchsurfing Abroad
After you get your visa, you will have plenty of things to take care of. Some of them are more urgent than others, so this list breaks down your to-dos, starting with the most urgent to the least. It may seem like a lot, but don’t worry, one step at a time!
As you prepare for your working holiday in Greece, check out our library of free articles and guides. Everyone on the pvtistes.net team has done (or is currently on) a working holiday, and so everything we write is from personal experience.
This is also the perfect chance to learn or brush up on a foreign language. Babbel is partnering with pvtistes.net to offer 20% off on language courses (learn more). Also check out our other deals for working holiday makers.
Australian applicants must be 18-30 years old.
Canadian applicants must be 18-35 years old.
You can apply until the day before your 31st or 36st birthday.
You must have a passport that is valid for the entire duration of your working holiday.
This must be your first participation. If you have already been granted a WHV to Greece before, then you cannot apply again.
Your insurance must be valid for the full duration of your stay and cover at least medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation.
Apply before the annual quota is reached.
- Australians: 500 (source)
- Canadians: quota not disclosed on Greece's official website