Z.12-M — Monastic familiarisation or monastic life

GreeceCulture, faith and volunteering

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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What exact activity, role or purpose qualifies?

A national visa for entry to become acquainted with monastic life (monasticism); the same Z.12 category also covers study of Mount Athos monastic life.

See recorded sources

Limits of the record

Text is the original 2023 publication of the Migration Code (Law 5038/2023, FEK A 81); only amendments by Law 5275/2026 and the captured Law 5100/2024 excerpt were checked; later amendments to this provision not verified.

https://migration.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/%CE%9A%CF%8E%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%82-%CE%9C%CE%B5%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AC%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%83%CE%B7%CF%82.pdf
1. Σε πολίτες τρίτων χωρών που επιθυμούν να εισέλθουν στη χώρα με σκοπό: α) τη σπουδή ή γνωριμία του Αγιορείτικου μοναχικού βίου ή β) τη γνωριμία του μοναχικού βίου (μοναχισμός), χορηγείται εθνική θεώρηση εισόδου που επιτρέπει τη διαμονή για τον σκοπό αυτό.

What organisation, institution, religious body, charity, teacher or host must support the activity?

The relevant Holy Monastery or Hesychasterion must certify admission, with the consent of the local Metropolitan.

See recorded sources

Limits of the record

Text is the original 2023 publication of the Migration Code (Law 5038/2023, FEK A 81); only amendments by Law 5275/2026 and the captured Law 5100/2024 excerpt were checked; later amendments to this provision not verified.

https://migration.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/%CE%9A%CF%8E%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%82-%CE%9C%CE%B5%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AC%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%83%CE%B7%CF%82.pdf
εφόσον προσκομισθεί βεβαίωση της οικείας Ιεράς Μονής ή Ησυχαστηρίου και σύμφωνη γνώμη του επιχώριου Μητροπολίτη, ότι έχουν γίνει δεκτοί για να γνωρίσουν τον μοναχικό βίο ή να μονάσουν.

What proves the placement, role, affiliation, experience or cultural/religious/voluntary activity?

A certificate from the relevant Holy Monastery or Hesychasterion, with the consenting opinion of the local Metropolitan, that the applicant has been accepted to get to know monastic life or to become a monk; the visa application is accompanied by a corresponding undertaking to cover medical and pharmaceutical care costs.

See recorded sources

Limits of the record

Text is the original 2023 publication of the Migration Code (Law 5038/2023, FEK A 81); only amendments by Law 5275/2026 and the captured Law 5100/2024 excerpt were checked; later amendments to this provision not verified.

https://migration.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/%CE%9A%CF%8E%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%82-%CE%9C%CE%B5%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AC%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%83%CE%B7%CF%82.pdf
3. Η θεώρηση εισόδου της περ. β’ της παρ. 1 χορηγείται ύστερα από αίτηση των ενδιαφερομένων, εφόσον προσκομισθεί βεβαίωση της οικείας Ιεράς Μονής ή Ησυχαστηρίου και σύμφωνη γνώμη του επιχώριου Μητροπολίτη, ότι έχουν γίνει δεκτοί για να γνωρίσουν τον μοναχικό βίο ή να μονάσουν. Η αίτηση για τη χορήγηση θεώρησης εισόδου συνοδεύεται από αντίστοιχη βεβαίωση ανάληψης των εξόδων ιατροφαρμακευτικής περίθαλψης.

Can the person receive salary, pocket money, accommodation, meals or reimbursement? Can they undertake other work?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm whether pay, pocket money, accommodation or other work is allowed.

How long can they stay, can they change host/activity, can family accompany, and can the status be extended?

The visa is valid 1 year; if conditions persist, a type I.7 residence permit may be granted, applied for before the visa expires, valid 1 year, renewable for equal periods up to 5 years in total. The official source does not state family accompaniment or change of host.

See recorded sources

Limits of the record

Text is the original 2023 publication of the Migration Code (Law 5038/2023, FEK A 81); only amendments by Law 5275/2026 and the captured Law 5100/2024 excerpt were checked; later amendments to this provision not verified.
Family accompaniment and change of host not addressed.

https://migration.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/%CE%9A%CF%8E%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%82-%CE%9C%CE%B5%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AC%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%83%CE%B7%CF%82.pdf
Η θεώρηση εισόδου έχει διάρκεια ισχύος ενός (1) έτους.
https://migration.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/%CE%9A%CF%8E%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%82-%CE%9C%CE%B5%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AC%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%83%CE%B7%CF%82.pdf
4. Εφόσον εξακολουθούν να ισχύουν οι προϋποθέσεις του παρόντος, με απόφαση του Γραμματέα της Αποκεντρωμένης Διοίκησης δύναται να χορηγείται στον πολίτη τρίτης χώρας άδεια διαμονής για τον ίδιο σκοπό (άδεια διαμονής τύπου «Ι.7»), κατόπιν αίτησης που υποβάλλεται πριν τη λήξη της ισχύος της εθνικής θεώρησης, με την επιφύλαξη του άρθρου 8. Η άδεια διαμονής ισχύει για ένα (1) έτος, μπορεί να ανανεώνεται κάθε φορά για ίσο χρονικό διάστημα και δεν μπορεί να υπερβαίνει συνολικά τα πέντε (5) έτη.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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Z.12-M — Monastic familiarisation or monastic life

What exact activity, role or purpose qualifies?

What organisation, institution, religious body, charity, teacher or host must support the activity?

What proves the placement, role, affiliation, experience or cultural/religious/voluntary activity?

Can the person receive salary, pocket money, accommodation, meals or reimbursement? Can they undertake other work?

How long can they stay, can they change host/activity, can family accompany, and can the status be extended?

Your story.Your next step.

Your story.
Your next step.