Greece Work Visa Requirements

A work permit/residence visa is typically required by all foreign nationals to provide them with full authorization for the right to engage in full time employment in a country where he/she would not naturally be eligible to work in.  The authorization must come from the relevant authority in the country he/she intends to work in and will generally be in the form of a standard document or, more commonly, a stamp in your passport. The requirement of obtaining a work permit/residence visa will depend largely on your nationality.  It must be noted that depending on the country you seek employment and residency in; some individuals are not required to obtain a work visa. Generally all jurisdictions with reciprocal treaty agreements (for example the European Union) do not stipulate that an EU citizen must obtain a work visa for undertaking employment in those countries. Every country will lay down conditions which must be satisfied in order to qualify for a work visa.

Who requires a Greece Work Permit?

If you are an EU (EEA) national then you are entitled to reside and work in Greece without the necessity or a work permit or residence visa, EU nationals can work and live visa free for a period of 90 days in Greece before they are required to simply register their right to reside with the relevant Greek authority.  EU nationals have the right to reside in Greece visa free due to Greece’s EU membership status. Greece adopts the freedom of movement act under EU Law and therefore allows for EU citizens to move freely within the member states.

Non-EU citizens are legally required to seek a work permit and residency visa in order to engage in full time employment in Greece.  The applicant must be intending to partake in fulltime employment and not part time as this will not qualify him/her under the Greece work permit regulations.  It is necessary for the foreign national to obtain his/her work permit prior to commencing his/her employment in Greece.  Typically the work permit required by the foreign national is applied for on behalf for the applicant by his/her Greek sponsor company (future employer).

Greece Working Holiday Visa

Greece is currently in negotiation stages with Australia with respect to introducing a working holiday visa for Australian citizens.  This work visa will enable Australian nationals to visit Greece for a maximum period of 12 months, and it also entitles the holder to engage in employment during their visit as a means to support their stay in Greece.

Greece Work Permits

Greek work permits have a validity period respective of the type of employment contract and nature of work of the foreign national.  The applicants sponsor company must apply for the employees work permit to the Ministry of Labor in Greece as a work permit can only be issued in Greece.  It is important to acknowledge that no form of business activity or employment can commence in Greece prior to obtaining a work permit.

Application procedure for a Greece Work Permit

Greece, unlike many other EU member states, does not adopt a special visa for the highly skilled workers category.  Instead a Greek employer must lodge an application with the Ministry of Labor for the right to hire a foreign national over an EU citizen to fulfill the current employment gap.  Once the Ministry of Labor approves the sponsor company’s application to hire a foreign national, the approval is sent to the local police department in Greece for their final consent. The sponsor company’s application is then sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Greece whom will issue the visa to the candidate.

Once the applicant arrives in Greece a residency visa will be issued to him/her.  Typically the residence visa is valid for a period of 1 year and can be renewed up to 5 times.

The application for a work permit tends to be much quicker and less complex where the applicant is to work in a specialist area or will undertake a position of high level management.

Greece Work Permit (company transfer)

In this situation, the applicant will be employed by an international (foreign) company and is intending to transfer to the company’s Greek branch.  For authorization of a company transfer to Greece, you employer must submit relevant documents on you behalf detailing your qualifications, specialist areas of expertise, work experience and the position you intend to adopt once you relocate to the Greece branch.  This type of working case in Greece is by far the easiest to administer and process.

Greece Permanent Residency Permit

Under the EU Directive 2003/109/EC 2003, Greece adopts two main forms of residency permits.

1)      Residence permit with a 5 year validity period, renewable on expiry for all long term Greece resident.

2)      Residence permit with an indefinite validity period, this type of permit is only issued to an individual after they have resided in Greece for 10 years.

A Greek residence permit is generally difficult to obtain, there are a number of condition to satisfy including a language test.

Required Documentation for a Greece Work Permit

The following documentation is required when applying for a work permit and must be submitted to the Ministry of Labor in Greece.

- Completed and signed visa application form (this application is made by the candidates sponsor company in Greece)

- Valid passport (for U.S residents, you must also submit your US resident card)

- One passport photo (recent)

- Documentation proving you have sufficient funds to support your stay before you receive your income

- Formal written contract of employment from your sponsor company, the contract must detail the type of position the applicant will be filling and the nature of the work

- Submission of the relevant work permit fee (this can be reimbursed by the sponsor company)

 Print This Page