Greece Visa & Work Permit Guide

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Greece's main employment-based routes are the standard Single Permit (Type E.4) for salaried work and the EU Blue Card for highly qualified professionals, both combining work and residence rights into one process.

A major immigration reform, Law 5275/2026, took effect on February 6, 2026, shortening the minimum contract length for standard permits, extending permit validity periods, and introducing new categories, such as the Tech Visa and Talent Visa.

Non-EU employment in Greece is generally subject to a biennial quota system, though EU Blue Card applicants, intra-company transferees, and certain strategic investment hires are exempt from the quota.

RemoFirst's RemoVisa service helps employers navigate Greece's immigration requirements, manage documentation, and support compliant work authorization processes.

Work Authorization and Legal Residence Overview

Most non-EU nationals need a combined work and residence permit before they can legally work in Greece. The Ministry of Migration and Asylum handles the permit process, while the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs oversees labor market aspects, such as quotas and employer authorization.

A major overhaul, Law 5275/2026, took effect on February 6, 2026, transposing EU Directive 2024/1233 and introducing a single application procedure for the combined work-and-residence permit. The reform shortened minimum contract requirements, extended permit validity periods, tightened employer reporting obligations, and introduced new visa categories aimed at attracting skilled talent, including a Tech Visa and a Talent Visa.

Summary: Most non-EU nationals need a Single Permit (Type E.4) or an EU Blue Card before they can legally work in Greece.

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Types of Work Visas and Permits Available

EU Blue Card

The EU Blue Card is a residence and work permit designed for highly skilled non-EU nationals who have a valid job offer in Greece and applicants are exempt from Greece's biennial quota system. The goal is to attract international talent to sectors experiencing skill shortages by offering long-term employment rights, easier mobility across the EU, and options for family reunification.

Under Law 5275/2026, the card is now valid for three years instead of two and can be renewed every three years.

Timeline: Up to 8 months
Validity: 3 years
Renewable: Yes
Transferable: Yes
Dependents Permit: Family reunification through a different procedure
Dependents allowed for the procedure: Spouse or registered partner, minor children (under 18)

High-Level Eligibility:

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss national
Higher education degree or equivalent professional qualifications
Binding job offer or work contract in Greece for at least 1 year
Annual salary that's at least 1.6 times Greece's average salary
Job offer relevant to the applicant's qualifications
Valid health insurance or proof of enrollment in Greek public healthcare
Proof of accommodation in Greece
Clean criminal record from countries of recent residence
Not pose a threat to public policy, security, or health

Single Permit (Type E.4)

The Single Permit (Type E.4) is the standard route for non-EU nationals in salaried employment with a registered Greek employer. Since Law 5275/2026, it combines what were previously separate work authorization and residence permit tracks into one unified procedure, and the worker can generally begin employment once the application is submitted, without waiting for the physical permit card.

Timeline: Roughly 3–6 months in total, combining employer authorization, visa issuance, and the single permit application
Validity: 3 years
Renewable: Yes, in 5-year increments
Transferable: Limited — employer changes are permitted after a 6-month minimum tenure with the original employer (or sooner in cases of contract breach or mutual agreement); otherwise a new application is generally required
Dependents Permit: Family reunification through a different procedure
Dependents allowed for the procedure: Spouse or registered partner, minor children (under 18)

High-Level Eligibility:

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss national
Valid employment contract (6-month minimum) with a Greek-registered employer
Role falling within Greece's current biennial quota for the relevant sector and region
Salary at least equal to the Greek minimum wage for the role
Employer authorization from the Decentralized Administration confirming the position couldn't reasonably be filled by a Greek or EU/EEA candidate
Type D national visa, obtained at a Greek consulate abroad before travel (where applicable)
Valid health insurance and proof of accommodation in Greece

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Tech Visa

The Tech Visa (Z.13A) is a new category introduced under Law 5275/2026, designed for highly qualified non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals employed by companies registered in Greece's National Startup Registry ("Elevate Greece"). It grants immediate work authorization once issued, and is designed to help registered startups recruit skilled talent quickly without going through the standard quota and labor market test process.

Timeline: Not clear as this is a recent development, although likely faster than the Single Permit given its stated purpose of enabling quick hiring
Validity: 12 months
Renewable: Not clear, however visa holders have the option of converting to an EU Blue Card after 1 year (provided they meet all applicable criteria)
Transferable: No, the visa is tied to the sponsoring startup, so if employment ends, so does the visa
Dependents Permit: Spouse or registered partner and minor children under 18

High-Level Eligibility:

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss national
Employment offer from a company registered in Greece's National Startup Registry (Elevate Greece)
Employment contract of at least 12 months
Gross annual salary of at least 1.6 times the national average gross salary
Quota-exempt, unlike the standard Single Permit

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Talent Visa

The Talent Visa (Z.15) is another new category introduced under Law 5275/2026, created for highly educated individuals. It's designed for recent graduates of top-ranked international universities, allowing them to move to Greece to look for a job or start a business without employer sponsorship.

Timeline: Not clear, as this is a new visa category
Validity: 12 months
Renewable: Not applicable in the traditional sense — holders are expected to transition to an appropriate residence permit category (e.g., a Single Permit or EU Blue Card, once employed) before the Talent Visa expires
Transferable: Not applicable
Dependents Permit: Not clear

High-Level Eligibility:

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss national
Master's, PhD, or postdoctoral qualification from an institution appearing on at least two recognized international university ranking lists
Proof of sufficient financial resources to support the stay
Must find employment or establish a business, and transition to an appropriate residence permit category, within the 12-month window

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Exemptions From Work Permit Requirements

Certain individuals may work in Greece without obtaining a standard Single Permit, including:

Greek citizens
Citizens of EU member states, EEA countries, and Switzerland, who can work in Greece without a permit (though they must register their presence if staying beyond 90 days)
Foreign nationals admitted under Greece's strategic investment fast-track procedures
Intra-company transferees, who fall under a separate quota-exempt category

⚠️ Most other non-EU nationals still need a Single Permit, EU Blue Card, or Tech Visa before starting work in Greece.

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Common Hiring Scenarios in Greece

Scenario	Permit Required?	Notes
Skilled professional meeting the salary and qualification thresholds	EU Blue Card	Exempt from the quota system
Standard employee hired by a Greek company	Single Permit (Type E.4)	Subject to biennial quota and labor market test
Employee of an Elevate Greece-registered startup	Tech Visa	Requires salary at least 1.6× the national average
Recent graduate of a globally ranked university	Talent Visa	No job offer required to enter; 12 months to find work
Seasonal worker in agriculture, tourism, or hospitality	Seasonal Work Visa	Maximum stay extended to 9 months per 12-month period
Foreign employee transferred from a non-EU company to a Greek branch	Intra-Company Transfer / Specialized Technical Personnel visa	Quota-exempt
Spouse of a foreign worker	Dependents Permit	Separate procedure tied to the primary permit holder

Most Common Route for Foreign Employees

The standard pathway for hiring a foreign worker in Greece under the Single Permit generally follows this structure:

Employer confirms the role fits within the current biennial quota for its sector and region.
Employer submits an electronic authorization application to the Decentralized Administration, including the employment contract and proof it can pay the offered salary.
Once authorization is approved, the employee applies for a Type D visa at a Greek consulate abroad.
After entering Greece, the employee submits the Single Permit application — work can generally begin once this application is submitted.
The Decentralized Administration issues the permit card, targeted within 90 days of a complete application.
The employee registers for a tax number (AFM) and social security number (AMKA) as part of onboarding.

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Is Employer Sponsorship Required?

It is for the Single Permit, EU Blue Card, and Tech Visa. The employer must submit the authorization application, confirm the offered salary and role, and demonstrate compliance with Greek labor law.

For the Single Permit, the employer must also show the role couldn't reasonably be filled by a Greek or EU/EEA candidate. Employer sponsorship is not required for the Talent Visa.

Source:

https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/migration-and-asylum/eu-immigration-portal/employed-worker-greece_en

Eligibility and Employer Requirements

Who Qualifies (Employee Side):

Foreign nationals seeking employment authorization in Greece generally are required to have:

Valid passport
Signed employment contract with a Greek-registered employer
Relevant qualifications or professional experience for the role
Health insurance and proof of accommodation
Criminal record certificate from countries of recent residence

What the Employer Must Provide:

Company registration and tax compliance documentation
Proof it can pay the offered salary (tax certificate)
Justification that the role fits within the current quota and couldn't be filled locally (for the Single Permit)
The signed employment contract meeting Greek salary and labor law requirements

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Other Important Considerations

The 2026 Immigration Reform

Law 5275/2026 resulted in significant changes to work visa regulations in Greece.

Key changes include:

A shortened minimum contract length (6 months, down from 12) for the Single Permit
Extended permit validity (3 years, up from 2, renewable in 5-year increments)
Longer late-renewal grace period (3 months, up from 1)
Quotas are now set by employment sector, rather than by specialty

Quota System

Greece sets maximum numbers of non-EU workers allowed per sector and region every two years. Even with a qualifying job offer, approval depends on quota availability at the time of application. The quota can be increased by up to 15% for urgent needs under the new law.

New Talent-Focused Visa Categories

Law 5275/2026 introduced the Tech Visa (for employees of Elevate Greece-registered startups) and the Talent Visa (for recent graduates of highly ranked universities), both designed to attract skilled talent outside the standard quota and Blue Card frameworks.

Changing Employers

Under Law 5275/2026, Single Permit holders may change employers, but generally only after completing a 6-month minimum period with their original employer. Earlier changes are permitted in limited cases, such as a documented breach of the employment contract by the employer or a mutual agreement between employer and employee. Outside these circumstances, changing employers before the 6-month mark typically requires a new application.

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Long-Term Residence and Permanent Residency

Non-EU nationals who have lived in Greece continuously and lawfully for 5 years may become eligible to apply for a long-term resident permit, provided they also meet an integration requirement — typically demonstrated through a Greek language and culture exam, though a few alternative routes exist (such as holding a family residence card tied to a Greek citizen, or 12 years of residence in lieu of the standard integration proof).

Long-term resident status is granted for an indefinite duration once the 5-year continuous residence and integration requirements are met. The physical residence document itself is valid for at least 5 years and is automatically renewable on application; this is a documentary formality, not a re-qualification of the underlying status. Eligibility also requires stable and sufficient income

Sources:

https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/migration-and-asylum/eu-immigration-portal/employed-worker-greece_en

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Typical Processing Times and Common Delays

Single Permit (E.4) Timeline (Illustrative):

Employer authorization application and quota confirmation: Several weeks
Type D visa processing at a Greek consulate: 2–4 weeks
Single Permit application after arrival: Work can begin upon submission; the permit card itself targets issuance within 90 days
Full process from initial filing to permit card in hand: Commonly 3–6 months

EU Blue Card Timeline (Illustrative):

Document collection (qualifications, salary confirmation, health insurance): 1–2 months
Application submission and review: Several weeks to months
Government review and approval: Up to 8 months in more complex cases
Family member permits, if applicable: Generally issued within 6 months of application

As the Tech Visa and Talent Visa just launched, it’s too early to provide detailed information regarding timelines.

Common Sources of Delays Include:

Quota unavailability for the requested sector or region
Incomplete labor market test documentation
Missing or improperly translated qualification documents
Salary or contract terms not clearly meeting the applicable threshold
General government processing backlogs, especially while procedures adjust to the 2026 reform

Employers should confirm current quota availability before finalizing a start date, and build in time for the reform's implementing guidance to fully stabilize.

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How RemoFirst (RemoVisa) can Help

Navigating Greece's work permit and residence process can be complex and confusing. RemoVisa can help. We support employers and foreign hires by:

Managing employer-sponsored visa applications: We confirm quota availability, draft compliant job documentation, and submit authorization requests through the Decentralized Administration.
Ensuring compliant work permit + residence processing: We coordinate required documents (passport, contracts, health insurance, accommodation proof) and monitor approvals.
Leveraging global coverage (110+ countries): Greece is just one of many countries where we can help you hire and scale as part of our global EOR network.
Providing managed support from immigration experts: Our team knows the nuances, common pitfalls, and how to anticipate delays — particularly important while Greece's 2026 reforms continue to roll out.
Bundling visa support with payroll, benefits, onboarding: Foreign hires become fully integrated employees without burdening your internal HR.

Plus: If your new hire has dependents (spouse or minor children), we can help with dependent permits, housing support, and compliance with resident-application requirements.

Find out what specific permits or visas in Greece we support under our Employer of Record and RemoVisa services.

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Disclaimer

This guide is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration laws and work permit requirements in Greece may change — and changed significantly with Law 5275/2026 — and final decisions are made by local authorities. Always consult an immigration professional for the most up-to-date, personalized guidance — including services like RemoVisa.

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