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How to Get A Work Permit in Greece

Understand how to legally live and work in Greece with a Work Permit. Our immigration attorneys will support your dream to work in a new country.

How can a lawyer help me with a Greek Work Permit?

Getting a Work Permit in Greece involves several steps and a good deal of paperwork. Here’s how our expert legal team can make the process more straightforward for you:

1. Comprehensive Guidance: Our immigration law experts will guide you through the entire process. From the initial application for an entry visa at your local consulate, right up to the final submission of your residence and work permit application at the Ministry of Immigration.

2. Document Preparation: We will arrange for all of your documents to be translated, certified and reviewed before you meet with consular authorities for your visa interview.

3. Language Support: Our team offers full assistance in multiple languages, including English, Greek, French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.  

4. Settling in Greece: Once you arrive in Greece, we’ll advise on the paperwork and requirements for a smooth transition to Greek life and work. This includes helping you register for social security with the National Security Organization, guiding you through opening a Greek bank account and obtaining a tax number.

5. Healthcare Partnerships: We collaborate with healthcare insurance providers to make sure you have access to world-class private medical coverage in Greece. 

¨We will be with you each step of the journey.¨

 

What is a Work Permit for Greece?

Interested in working from Greece but you’re not a member of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA)? You’ll need a work permit.

This special documentation grants you the right to work and reside in Greece for a specific length of time, usually ranging from 6 months up to a year.

If you’re from a country outside of the EU or EEA, you must have a valid residence and work permit to be employed in Greece. It’s important that you get this document before starting any employment activity in the country.

How do I get a Work Permit for Greece?

If you’re from a country outside of the EU or EEA and want to work in Greece, start by getting a long-stay Visa D. Once you’re in Greece you can apply for a residence and work permit. 

If you entered Greece on a work-based visa, you’ll need an employment contract with a salary at least equal to that of an unskilled worker to get a residence permit.

The Process of getting a Greek Work Permit

Leading Immigration
Assistance

To get a work permit in Greece, there are a few hoops you need to jump through. In general, the process goes as follows:

1. Enter Greece on a Visa: First, you’ll need a visa to enter Greece.

2. Apply for a Permit: Before your visa expires, apply for a residence permit.

3. Know where to go: File your application at the one-stop service in the Directorate of Foreigners and Immigration of the Decentralized Administration. These offices are generally located in your place of residence.

4. Become employable: Once you get that residence permit, you’re legally allowed to work in Greece. Your permit is valid for two years.

5. Renew on time: Plan to renew your permit? You can extend it for an additional 3 years. Make sure you renew your permit at least two months before it expires.

What are the requirements?

Before you arrive in Greece, you first need to schedule an in-person visit to the Greek Consulate Authority in your country of residence. You’ll start the process with an interview to get a Visa D, which usually takes about 10 days to issue and is valid for a year. 

Once you arrive in Greece, you can then apply for the residence permit by submitting the following information.

  • Copy of your passport
  • Two passport photos
  • An employment contract with a net salary
  • A copy of your criminal record
  • Medical and travel certificates

If your family is joining you, you will also need:  

  • A marriage certificate that’s translated into Greek and certified
  • A birth certificate for each child that’s translated into Greek and certified

Need to renew your work permit? You’ll need to  file an application with the following supporting paperwork:

  • Proof that all taxes have been paid
  • Proof of healthcare insurance coverage
  • Evidence of how many days they worked during the year.

We get it; navigating immigration for work is complex. That’s why our legal team is experienced in handling cross-border issues in Greece and other European countries. We’ll help you cut through the red tape, so you can focus on your job.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re running a little late on your work visa renewal, you can still renew it for up to one month after it expires. But be prepared to pay an extra €50. 

The costs can vary depending on your personal situation. In general, to get your Greek work visa, expect to pay between 180-285 EUR.

The short answer is no. The Golden Visa won’t allow you or your family members to work in Greece. If you try to apply for a work permit, it will most likely be rejected. However, something you can do as a Golden Visa owner is start a business in Greece. 

You can switch jobs and work for a new employer in Greece. But keep in mind, your new job shouldn’t conflict with your initial work permit and employment terms.

If your first work permit is nearing expiration, your new employer can jump in and apply for a fresh permit on your behalf. Once that’s approved, you’re good to go with your new job in Greece. Just ensure your new employment doesn’t violate the conditions of your first permit.

There are a number of reasons why your application for a Greek work visa could be rejected. The most common are:

  • Incorrectly filled-out documents
  • Providing false or misleading information, including fake invitations
  • Lack of adequate financial means for your stay
  • Violating Schengen area residence rules
  • No health insurance policy in place
  • Previous fines or issues with Schengen country authorities

If your application is rejected, you do have the right to appeal. If the issue is as simple as errors in your paperwork, you can resubmit corrected documents along with any additional fees required. Make sure to get it right the second time to avoid further complications.

OUR WORK

We are a department formed by qualified legal experts who have been trained in the field of immigration law. We work on these requests every day and it’s our passion. For us, Lexidy is a way of life and what excites us the most is to be able to deliver the happiness and satisfaction of a successful immigration process. We want to help you achieve your goals and dreams.

Eleftheria Charalambous

Eleftheria Charalambous

Lawyer, Head of Athens Office
Eleni Maderaki

Eleni Maderaki

Head of Corporate Department Athens
Maria Balaoura

Maria Balaoura

Paralegal
Charalampos Zachariadis

Charalampos Zachariadis

Lawyer

IS TO MAKE CLIENTS HAPPY

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Mario
Mario
19:38 06 Mar 24
Good service and fast help!Thanks to Miss Maria B
Meir Rosinnes
Meir Rosinnes
09:33 14 Feb 24
Lexidi, Ms. Eleni Menderaki, helped me to issue an importer EORI nunber and authorization to DHL to enable clearing goods which were shipped from a non-EU country. Without help, Customs procedures were very cumbersome, but very professional and efficient service from Lexidi made it easy and sucessful. Very pleasant friendly conduct by Eleni.
Aditya Swarup
Aditya Swarup
18:35 06 Oct 23
Beat all expectations! We worked with Maria and she was phenomenal! She was able to clearly explain a very complex process and helped us meet a tight deadline in record time.10/10 would recommend!
Gabriel
Gabriel
02:50 07 Aug 23
I used Lexidy in Athens via email correspondence. The experiece was excellent and every detail was looked after as if I was in person in Athens. I highly recommend them for your legal needs.
Janett Riebe
Janett Riebe
12:18 04 Aug 23
Our experience with Maria and Eleni was immaculate. Responsive and personable communication, every detail simply and beautifully explained, and we felt completely untouched by the complexity of all immigration and legal processes thanks to their support. The speed and ease they brought to our residency and tax processes exceeded all expectations.
Tala Re
Tala Re
06:41 03 Aug 23
I worked with Eleni Maderaki, she helped me with opening an bank account. It was a very good experience. I’m happy that I worked with them.
zaneta freyer
zaneta freyer
13:20 30 May 23
With Lexidy Law Boutique I had a very nice experience. Eleni Maderaki is very competent but at the same time practical. She is service minded and interested in customs needs. Lexidy Law Boutique meets my Norwegian standards!
Daniel Matcham
Daniel Matcham
08:27 12 May 23
Eleni has been exceptional every step of the way! She guided me through the formation of my company in Greece (as a foreigner), set the up tax number, opened me a bank account, set up civil liability insurance and more. I would recommend her to anyone!
beyouta myriam
beyouta myriam
08:28 22 Feb 23
Very nice experience.We feel that we do not know how to begin with such as many procedures to establish a new company. Lexidy Law Boutique giving us all facilities and clarification.Assistance highly appreciated step by step.They answered to all our questions and didn't leave any doubts to succeed, very responsive rate through all channels, phone ,emails.Thank you Lexidy, you made my dream a reality.I recommend very much.Bonne continuation !
Rosa Akbari
Rosa Akbari
16:07 10 Jan 23
Lexidy staff were speedy, straightforward, and reassuring. No hesitation to recommend to anyone needing help navigating residency bureaucracy.
Julians Mjankovs
Julians Mjankovs
08:10 21 Nov 22
I got everything I needed. Big thanks to Eleftheria and Maria for help! You just ask what you need, and they'll figure out how you can get it.
Natasha Halicki
Natasha Halicki
09:51 09 Nov 22
Genuinely welcoming and friendly! As well as very knowledgeable, professional and have great integrity. We hit a few bumps in my visa process but I was supported the whole way through and didn't give up and I was finally successful in my application thanks to their hard work going above and beyond. I wouldn't have been able to do it alone and I would certainly use Lexidy again.
Stephanie Bratnick
Stephanie Bratnick
13:28 05 Sep 22
I can't recommend Lexidy enough. They made our move to Greece incredibly smooth and went up and beyond their regular legal duties to help my family. They new all the ins and outs of the Greek immigration, and the whole process went flawlessly all due to their expertise. Thank you so much! And we will definitely use their services for many years to come.
Kenneth Shen
Kenneth Shen
00:32 24 Aug 22
If you’re looking for knowledgeable, responsive, and extremely supportive lawyers on your side - look no further. Lexidy and Eleftheria made my process of applying for residency smooth and easy. It’s hard to imagine working with someone with more professionalism and knowledge of the subject than the team at Lexidy.
Rossy Rojas
Rossy Rojas
12:28 23 Mar 22
Max is the best and Lexidy LegalTech Boutique solved our immigration process with great aplomb. we were very lucky!
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