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
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.
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
Lawyer, Head of Athens Office
Maria Balaoura
Paralegal
Charalampos Zachariadis
LawyerIS TO MAKE CLIENTS HAPPY
How Can We help you?
Subscribe to our newsletter
Stay ahead of the changes that matter to you