A wide range of scientific research requires the formal permission of the Greek authorities. The NIA facilitates scholars and students of the universities participating in the Institute and members of the Friends of the NIA with applications for different types of permissions.
Please note that the procedure of acquiring a permission may take several months, so it is vital that you apply well in advance.
Study, photographing and/or drawing of material held in Greek museums:
Required documents:
- A list with the items you wish to study. Please indicate whether the material has been published and by whom (with full page references and scans of any relevant illustrations). If the material is unpublished, you will need the permission of the excavator (if alive) or otherwise of the relevant archaeological institution
- The museum/s, collection/s or site/s where the material is located
- The purpose of the study
- If the material comes from a project of another foreign school or institute in Athens, the application must be accompanied by a written permission letter from that school for the applicant to study and/or publish the material. If the applicant is a student, a letter of support is required from their research supervisor
- The period during which the study can take place and, in case of a group study, a detailed list of the students involved
All documents should be sent by email as soon as possible and certainly well in advance as it may take several months before you receive the permission.
Permit for sampling and analysis of archaeological material
Please read the Circular for sampling and fill out the sampling application form:
Required documents:
- Purpose and aims of the analysis and details of any publication envisaged
- The museum/s, collection/s or site/s where the material is located
- A catalogue of all objects or fragments of objects to be sampled, with description
- Details of the analytical technique/s, sampling equipment to be used and how the sample will be prepared, and the location where the sampling and analysis is to be carried out
- If material is organic, the proportion of the whole to be used
- Permission from the person holding exclusive publication rights
All documents should be sent by email as soon as possible and certainly well in advance as it may take several months before you receive the permission.
Use images of archaeological content in publications
Photographing and use of photographs can be done under the restrictions (Photographing and use of photographs) set by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports. Applicants should fill in this application form and send it by email as soon as possible and certainly well in advance as it may take several months before you receive the permission.
Free admission to archaeological sites, historical sites, monuments and museums owned by the State
Please check this link for the categories of visitors that are entitled to free admission to archaeological sites, historical sites, monuments and museums owned by the State and managed by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports.
Applying for a free entrance card/permission
(only for NIA members that are graduates of archaeology or history and members of the VVNIA and only for educational group visits)
Required documents:
- A list of participants indicating names and birth dates (In case of school visits the list should be signed by the director of the school)
- A detailed program
- A letter from the director of the school certifying the teaching profession for the teachers and indicating that the excursion in an educational trip (only for school visits)
All these documents should be in English and must have the logo, the stamp of the school/the University and the signature (credentials, name and surname) of the director of the school/head of the department.
Permit for free on-site guiding
Permanent archaeologists of the Ministry of Culture or graduates of archeology or history are allowed to conduct guided tours (without payment) with the permission of the General Directorate of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage to: a) persons who visit the country during official international visits, b) Groups of holders of the Culture Card c) students and pupils in the context of educational programs. In the latter case the tour can be given by the accompanying teacher.
Applying for a guiding permit
(only for NIA members that are graduates of archaeology or history and members of the VVNIA and only for educational group visits)
Required documents:
- A list of participants indicating names and birth dates (In case of school visits the list should be signed by the director of the school)
- A detailed program
- A letter from the director of the school certifying the teaching profession for the teachers and indicating that the excursion in an educational trip (only for school visits)
All these documents should be in English and must have the logo, the stamp of the school/the University and the signature (credentials, name and surname) of the director of the school/head of the department.
