Good morning everybody,

I would really like to know has anyone ever dealt with DIKATSA( recently) I dealt with them in the past and they were horrible, they didn't understand /know my field. I would also like to know if it is legal according to EU standards ? I have a job now but it would be nice if I could ever receive an equivalent diploma in my field.

Kouklitsa

Good morning. ΔΙΚΑΤΣΑ is now ΔΟΑΤΑΠ, and I submitted my papers to them a few weeks ago.

Their website (www.doataop.gr) has a list of the documents you need (http://www.doatap.gr/en/dikaiolog.php) and on Wednesday mornings there are 'field advisors' available to meet with the public if there is a question about your degree.

My degree is in English, which is quite common, so I can't speak to their ability to deal with other fields (nor do I know anything about the legality vis-a-vis the EU). I have a friend who is a veterinarian and another who holds a degree in German language/literature, and neither of them had any trouble getting their degrees recognized (both in the last 18 months). I was told by my field avisor that I may have to sit an exam or two in linguistics (as my degree was heavier on the literature), but that there should be no major problems-- though the process may take several months or more (depending on the degree and how often the ten people who must sign off on you application actually get to the office to sign papers...).

Cheers.

Thank You so much, I will definitely look at these sites.

My degree is a little bit more complicated then English.
but I will contact them, thank you very much !!!

Thanks very much for pointing me in the direction of this thread when I lost it Ass......

A young lady friend of ours here in Kalamata from the UK got her degree in Modern Greek (a 1st at Cambridge) and last year it took her 9 months of 'to-ing and fro-ing' and around 500 euros in costs before she could get her Greek equivalent from DOATAP!!! They drove her mad over it!

She says that they will only recognise 4 year degrees, not 3 year degrees and will only accept them if there is a Greek equivalent!
She has another degree, a strange one in music, but because there is no equivalent course in Greece, they won't let her have a Greek paper for it!
So, although she is fluent in reading and writing Greek, French and Spanish, and a very technically accomplished musician, with firsts from Cambridge, all she has managed to do is to get a job teaching English at a Frontistirio!

Greece have really taken 'protectionism' to the limit in this and most other things, but when in the UK, expect jobs etc as a right!
So much for the wonderful EU members equality!

Well said KP,

I don't like working in a frondistiro the pay is peanuts here in Corfu,I know in Athens it's a bit better.
This is the reason I started my own company.

On that note :God Bless America and the UK !

Okay kouklitsa, so you started your own business....... you must be incredibly brave to do that here and survive! At the minute, I know of more Greek business people bailing out of their businesses than starting them! Whether one decides to go 'self-employed' or register a 'proper' company, the IKA, the taxation and the intrusions of the various types of so-called 'enforcers' and 'assessors' who each are out to make life as difficult and expensive for any business person, guarantees to make Greece the most difficult place in the world to do business or set up or run a business! The system in Greece is designed to actively discourage anybody to do business!

Yes, I risked quite a bit , to start a business BUT I have to do something being that first I'm a very active person and secondly I don't want my kids to simply say that mom isn't trying, I want to set a good example for my kids.

My business is legal and yes Greece is the most difficult place to start a business, continue your career, make any progress what so ever, VERY DIFFICULT !!! Thank GOD my husband helped me with all the paperwork.


I had to give it a try, so far I'm ok. ( as you know it's an online store)

We will see how it goes !

I just checked out the site, I have already paid these fees in drachmas ( many years ago) I was told that I have to re-go to college!!! Ridiculous !!!!!!!

not THE most difficult, but there are 151 other countries where it is easier

http://greeceishome.gr/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1935

I just read the link about doing business in Greece. In the states small businesses esp. runned by women are encouraged and many grants are available. In Greece this is not true, I checked there isn't one pamphlet on how women or young people may start a new business and if they give you ( proper) information as I read in one post you need at least 6 months.
There's no help in Greece in anything. By this I ,mean , Students in school, receive no motivation ( at least here in Corfu), people wanting to start a business ( no information) , Obtaining certificates of any sort, no assitance( thank god now for forums.Wish they existed when I first came to Greece. To get a job in the public sector you must have huge connections,. Thank god my husband works otherwise we would've been in the good ole USA !!!

BTW: My husband (thank god) helped with the e-store ,website,paperwork, legality etc.He has the patience I don't.

Have a fabulous day everyone !!

I went to a talk recently about grants available to women starting up businesses in Greece.
These grants are usually a combination of EU and Greek funds. It involves a bit of running around and I haven't had time yet to follow up the info I picked up in this talk. But the money is there! And so I think I'll try to get a bit of it.

I went to one of these seminars it's a lot of running around and you have to write a business plan in Greek and if you don't know you pay your accountant to do it. Then you will have a follow up and inspections. I only went to the seminar 1 week 9 -2. I met a few people. I enjoyed it I must say and yes the money is there. I did it on my own without the funds.
It's a bit tricky with the grants.
That's just my opinion.

So . . . there you are then.
We can conclude that grants are indeed available just like in the good ol' US of A!


(Me, confused? Never!)

It's not the same as the USA ,I still say it's much different and waaaay harder !

Got a friend here who's an Economist, got his degrees, up to Masters, at Manchester Uni, so speaks good English and he handles the complete grant application for clients and takes a small percentage on success!
He does all sorts of grant applications for businesses, such as the one you're talking of, but mostly the various grants available for businesses wanting to buy capital equipment, or build or renovate a hotel, cafe, etc.
Anybody interested, I'm happy to send you his telephone number as he speaks good English and is always in Athens working on applications a few days each week as well.....

No need to overwhelm me with your thanks I'm just a nice and helpful sort of guy.