GreeceResidence permit

residence permit for workers in Greece

A residence permit for third-country nationals taken on by a specific employer in Greece. The permit is tied to a particular employer and type of work; it operates within the «Work and professional activity» section of the official list of residence permit categories. After five years of continuous lawful residence you may apply for long-term resident status, and after seven years with long-term resident status, or after twelve years on an ordinary work residence permit, you may apply for naturalisation.

Processing time

The decision takes 50-80 days from the date of filing.

Work

The right to work is tied to a specific employer and type of work.

Source: Υπουργείο Μετανάστευσης και Ασύλου (migration.gov.gr)

Who the programme suits

The work residence permit is obtained by foreign workers who have concluded an employment contract and entered Greece on a national D visa for employment. The permit is issued for the term of the employment contract, but for at least a year of full-time work.

It suits you if you

Have obtained a national D visa for employment
Have concluded an employment contract with a Greek employer
Plan to work full time in Greece
Are able to confirm health insurance

It does not suit you if you

Work on your own account (as a sole trader)
Want to work in several places at the same time
Plan to study or to carry out research
Expect a minimum below the wage of an unskilled worker

When the programme is not a fit

You work on your own account or have opened your own business

Turn to the programme for self-employed people (residence permit for independent economic activity, art. 18, or self-employed persons, art. 19)

You want to study at a Greek university

Use a student D visa or a residence permit for study (art. 13)

You have no employment contract, or you are only looking for work

First find an employer and conclude a contract, then apply for the visa and the residence permit

You want to move to Greece without taking employment

Consider other residence permit categories: for financially independent people (art. 20), investors (art. 21) or other grounds

What it costs

Fee for filing and processing the applicationAn electronic fee (code 2107), paid through the e-paravolo system at an ELTA post office, at a bank counter or through online banking	150 EUR
Printing of the electronic residence permitPrinting of the card (code 2119)	16 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	166 EUR

Paid separately

D visa — Obtained separately through the Greek consulate; it is part of the procedure for obtaining a visa for employment
Employment contract — Concluded between the employee and the employer independently of the residence permit
Health insurance — Paid at the rates of the Greek insurer (IKA, OGA, OAEE or EFKA); it forms part of the compulsory social insurance system

Documents to gather

Documents are filed online through the portal.immigration.gov.gr portal or on the spot at one of the regional administrations. All documents in a foreign language must be originals or certified copies with an official translation into Greek or English.

Passport or other identity document (certified copy of every page, valid for the period of the residence permit)
National D visa for employment
Employment contract signed by both parties and certified by a state authority, stating a salary no lower than the wage of an unskilled worker under the national general collective agreement
The employer's notification of hiring the worker (where required)
Confirmation that an application for health insurance has been filed with one of the insurers (IKA, OGA, OAEE) or an extract confirming registration in the EFKA system
Four colour photographs measuring 40x60 mm on a white background, high resolution
Digital copies of the photographs in JPEG2000 format on a CD
Birth certificate from the country of origin, officially certified and translated into Greek; the place of birth must be given in Latin letters

How the process runs

Filing for and issuing the work residence permit involves several stages: preparing the documents, paying the fees, filing the application online and awaiting the decision.

1
Preparing the documents and confirming health insurance
2-4 weeks
Collect certified copies of the passport, the employment contract signed by both parties and certified by an authority, and confirmation of registration from the insurer. Make sure the salary under the contract is no lower than the minimum rate. Prepare four colour photographs of 40x60 mm and digital copies in JPEG2000.
2
Payment of the state fees
1 day
Pay EUR 150 (electronic fee, code 2107) and EUR 16 (printing of the card, code 2119) through the e-παράβολο system. This can be done at an ELTA post office, at a bank counter or through online banking. Keep the payment receipts.
3
Filing the application online
30 minutes
Register on the portal.immigration.gov.gr portal, complete the application form and upload scans of the documents (a maximum of 10 MB per file, in PDF format). State the passport details, the address of residence, the work address, a contact telephone number and an e-mail address. The system will give you an application number.
4
Checking of the documents by the administration
7-15 days
The regional administration checks that the documents are complete. If information is missing, a request will be sent to you on the portal. Reply within the period stated in the request.
5
Examination of the application and the decision
60-75 days
The administration examines the application. Under the new Law 5275/2026 the decision has to be taken within 90 days of the date on which the complete set of documents was filed. Where necessary the administration may extend the period by 30 days.
6
Receiving the positive decision and the card
3-7 days
After a positive decision you will be sent a notification on the portal. Visit the office indicated with the receipt for the card printing fee (EUR 16) and be ready to have your fingerprints scanned. The residence permit card will be ready within 3-7 days.
7
Collecting the residence permit card
1 day
Come to the regional office of the administration and collect the plastic card. This permit gives you the right to work in the position and for the employer stated in the application.

Who you can bring with you

Close relatives of the main permit holder may apply for a family permit, which is issued for the same period as the main one.

Spouse or official partner

Receives a residence permit for the same period as the holder of the main permit (3 years for the first issue, 5 years for renewal under the new law). A marriage certificate or certificate of registered partnership, certified copies of the passport, photographs and confirmation of health insurance are required.

Minor children

Receive a residence permit for the same period as the parent. A birth certificate with a translation, a copy of the child's passport, photographs and confirmation of the child's health insurance through the Greek system are required.

Adult dependants (for example parents unable to work)

Possible in exceptional cases where financial dependence and an inability to live independently are proved. Documentation of the family relationship, a medical certificate of incapacity and a financial statement are required.

Renewal and the grace period

The residence permit for employment has to be renewed 30 days before it expires. On renewal the new permit is valid for 5 years (under the new Law 5275/2026, as against 3 years previously). The fee remains the same: EUR 150 plus EUR 16 for printing the card. With the renewal application you have to enclose the current residence permit, a tax statement for the period of validity of the previous permit, confirmation from the EFKA system that health insurance is in force, and four new photographs of 40x60 mm. If there are arrears of tax or insurance, the administration is entitled to refuse renewal. Filing late (after the 30-day period) attracts a fine of EUR 100.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

After 5 years of continuous lawful residence you apply for long-term resident status. An absence must not exceed 6 consecutive months, and all absences together must not exceed 10 months over the five-year period.

Route to citizenship

On an ordinary work residence permit you apply for naturalisation after 12 years of lawful residence. The period falls to 7 years if you first obtain a title from the list in the Citizenship Code — for example long-term resident status.

Frequently asked questions about residence permit for workers

Can I change employer if I already hold a work residence permit?

No, the work residence permit is tied to a specific employer and type of work. If you change employer you have to file a new application for a residence permit. If you change employer while your renewal application is being examined, the administration may refuse the renewal or issue a new permit with a change of employer.

What is the minimum salary required in order to obtain the residence permit?

The salary under the employment contract must be no lower than the minimum wage of an unskilled worker under the national general collective agreement of Greece. This requirement is checked when the application is examined. The exact amount is set every year and depends on the category of worker.

How long is the first residence permit valid and can it be renewed?

Under the new Law 5275/2026 the first residence permit is issued for 3 years. On renewal the new permit is valid for 5 years. The permit is renewed automatically if you continue to work for the same employer and there are no grounds for refusal (tax arrears, security concerns and so on). Each time you renew you have to confirm that you have health insurance and submit an income statement for the past period.

After how many years will I be able to apply for permanent status (long-term resident)?

After 5 years of continuous lawful residence in Greece you may apply for long-term resident status. In calculating the period, absences of no more than 6 consecutive months and no more than 10 months over the whole five years are permitted. Once you hold long-term resident status you may apply for naturalisation after 7 years, whereas on an ordinary work residence permit 12 years of continuous residence are required.

Which documents does my family need in order to obtain a residence permit?

A spouse and children receive a residence permit for the same period as the main holder. For each family member the following are required: a marriage or birth certificate (certified copies), a copy of the passport, four colour photographs of 40x60 mm, and confirmation of health insurance through the Greek system. The fee is EUR 150 plus EUR 16 for each family member.

Where and how are the EUR 150 and EUR 16 fees paid?

The fees are paid through the e-παράβολο system (electronic receipts) in three ways: at an ELTA post office, at the counter of any bank, or through online banking. You need the fee codes: 2107 (EUR 150 for the examination) and 2119 (EUR 16 for printing the card). Payment may be made before the application is filed online; the payment receipt numbers will be needed when the form is completed on the portal.

Other ways to move to Greece

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Greece.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.