International Schools in Greece: A Guide for Golden Visa Families

The most frequent question from families settling in Greece with the Golden Visa is: "Which English-language school can my child attend?" In this guide we examine the most preferred international schools in Athens and Thessaloniki by name, with their location, curriculum, age range and fee segment; we cover in detail how the admissions process works and which geographic factors are decisive when choosing a school.

Athens' Two School Zones: North or Southern Coast?

Athens traffic determines school choice almost more than any admissions policy. In terms of international schools, the city divides into two clear clusters:

Northern Suburbs (Kifisia, Halandri, Marousi)

This area is known as the classic "expat belt" and hosts most of the city's most established international schools. Institutions like ACS Athens (Halandri), St Catherine's British School (Kifisia) and Campion School are concentrated here. For families living in the northern suburbs, school choice naturally leans to this cluster.

Southern Coast (Glyfada, Voula, Vouliagmeni, Koropi)

For families living in this area, known as the Athens Riviera, schools like St Lawrence College (Koropi) serve with a British curriculum from kindergarten to A-Levels. This area is popular especially among Golden Visa investors who prefer to live by the sea.

Because of city traffic, a daily school commute from north to south or vice versa is generally impractical; property choice and school choice should therefore not be considered independently of each other.

Main International Schools in Athens and Thessaloniki

School Profiles: A Detailed Look

ACS Athens (American Community Schools of Athens)

A non-profit day school serving students aged 3-18 on its large, modern campus in Halandri. It offers an MSA-CESS accredited American Diploma alongside the IB Diploma Programme, and AP courses are also available. This dual-program structure gives families a clear option for both American and international university application routes. Fees are in the upper segment but usually cover more additional services (sports facilities, extensive campus amenities) than peers.

St Catherine's British School

Located in the green northern suburb of Kifisia, the school combines the British curriculum with an IB Diploma option in sixth form. It stands out as a natural choice for families living in the classic expat belt. It offers an uninterrupted education path from EYFS (early years) to age 18.

Campion School

One of Athens' most established British-curriculum schools; it offers IGCSE and A-Levels. It is known for a strong UK university placement record. Fees are in the mid-upper segment.

Byron College

A school offering the British curriculum from EYFS to A-Levels, with smaller class sizes. It has a competitive scholarship program; fees are in the mid segment and additional costs remain reasonable.

St Lawrence College

Located in Koropi, the school serves the growing coastal expat community in Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni. It offers a British curriculum from kindergarten to A-Levels; it has a strong family-relocation record for families living on the southern coast.

Verita International School

A modern, IB-authorized school; it offers the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP). Suitable for younger children and families seeking a more progressive, inquiry-based educational approach. Its strong multilingual focus and inclusive admissions policy make it especially easy for families moving to Greece mid-year to enrol their children.

IM Panagiotopoulos

An established private school offering bilingual Greek-English education from early years to the end of high school. While it mainly serves the local Athens population, it has a growing international student community; it can be considered by families who also want their children to gain a strong Greek foundation.

LFHED (French-Greek Lycée)

A bilingual French-Greek lycée located in Agia Paraskevi; it serves students aged 3-18. A suitable option for Francophone families or those who want their children to gain French proficiency.

Anatolia College (Thessaloniki)

One of Thessaloniki's most established international schools; it offers an American curriculum alongside the IB Diploma. It stands out as one of the most preferred institutions for families considering settling in Thessaloniki.

How Does the Admissions Process Work?

The admissions process at international schools generally includes the following steps:

• Submission of an application form and previous school records/transcripts.
• At some schools, especially for students whose first language is not English, a language proficiency assessment or interview.
• Waiting lists can form at popular schools and in-demand grade levels; early application is therefore strongly recommended.
• A registration fee is requested separately from the annual fee.
• Some schools (e.g. Verita International School) apply a particularly inclusive and flexible admissions policy for families moving mid-year; this is an important advantage for families relocating to Greece in the middle of the calendar year due to the Golden Visa process.
• Sibling discounts are widely applied at most schools.

Fee Structure: The "Xeno Scholeio" Cap System

Greece runs a fee-cap system through the Ministry of Education under the "xeno scholeio" (foreign school) status for schools applying a foreign curriculum. Most established international schools in Athens are positioned slightly below this legal cap; this makes year-on-year fee increases relatively predictable. The IB Diploma years (the last two grades) are usually in the highest fee segment; capital/enrolment fees are less common than at counterparts in London or Madrid.

Most schools' base fee covers basic education, textbooks, school-wide activities and guidance/counselling services. Transport, meal and exam fees (IGCSE, A-Levels or IB exam fees) are usually billed separately.

English-Language Options at University Stage

If the children of Golden Visa families are not EU citizens (have not yet naturalized), English-language undergraduate options at public universities remain limited; however, the number of master's and doctoral programs designed for international students is growing rapidly. The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) offers English-language master's programs in fields such as health sciences, economics and classical studies; Aristotle University of Thessaloniki likewise has select English-language programs. If the child naturalizes as a Greek citizen after 7 years of residence, they can fully benefit from the free undergraduate education available to EU citizens.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which are the most popular international schools for a Golden Visa family?
Among the schools most often chosen by Golden Visa families are ACS Athens, Campion School, St Catherine's British School, Pierce College, American College of Greece and, in Thessaloniki, Anatolia College. These schools have long served the expat and diplomatic community, hold international accreditation and have strong university-placement records. Which school is "best" varies by the family's priority (curriculum type, location, budget); it is therefore recommended to visit at least 2-3 schools and speak with admissions offices before deciding.

2. What documents are required for international school admission?
As standard, previous school records/transcripts, birth certificate, vaccination records and a registration form are requested. Especially for students whose first language is not English, most schools apply a language proficiency assessment or a short interview. The Golden Visa residence permit document is usually also requested as part of the admissions file. Some schools apply a more flexible and inclusive admissions policy for families moving mid-year; even so, having documents complete and prepared in advance speeds up the process.

3. Should the northern suburbs or the southern coast be preferred?
This depends on the family's lifestyle priority and property location. The northern suburbs (Kifisia, Halandri, Marousi) are known as the classic expat belt and host established schools like ACS Athens, St Catherine's British School and Campion School. The southern coast (Glyfada, Voula, Vouliagmeni) serves a growing coastal expat community with schools like St Lawrence College. Because a daily school commute from north to south is generally impractical due to Athens traffic, it is recommended to plan property and school choice together, within the same regional cluster.

4. How much do international school fees actually cost?
Annual base fees range from €5,000-9,000 in early childhood, €7,000-13,000 in primary/middle school, and €10,000-18,000 in high school and especially the IB Diploma years; an analysis comparing 15 schools calculated an average annual fee of about €10,469. On top of this, additional costs like registration fee, transport, meals and exam fees add €1,500-3,500 more per year. Sibling discounts are widely applied at most schools, which can somewhat reduce the total cost for families with more than one child.

5. Can my child enrol in school if we move to Greece mid-year?
Yes, it is possible; but this is a matter of flexibility that varies from school to school. Some institutions like Verita International School apply an inclusive admissions policy designed especially for families moving mid-year and facilitate this. While mid-year enrolment is generally possible at other established schools too, availability at popular grade levels can vary by demand and waiting lists can form. It is therefore important to start school research early, in parallel with the Golden Visa process, and to contact multiple schools to ensure a smooth transition in a mid-year move.

Note: The school information, fees and admissions policies in this guide are based on general observations and can vary from school to school and year to year. Contact us to determine together the most suitable school and area for your child and to manage the admissions process.