Greece is known for being a beautiful country, and it has a growing startup sector. However, it’s challenging for non-EU and non-EEA citizens to secure work and obtain a work visa in the country.
Types of work visas in Greece
Greece has 2 overarching categories of work visas — short stay “C” visas and long stay “D” visas. Short stay visas allow people to transit or stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days uninterrupted or 90 days counted in stages over 180 days. Most people choose this visa for:
- Tourism
- Family visits
- Short business trips
- Conferences, exhibitions, fairs, or shows
Employees will most likely need a long-stay or type-D visa that allows them to enter Greece and apply for a residence permit. Work visas in this category have a maximum validity of a year. Anyone with a type-D visa must apply for a residence permit within 30 days of entering the country.
The most common reasons individuals request this visa include:
- Work
- Studies
- Family reunification
- Practical training, vocational training, and research
Requirements to obtain Greece work visas
Employees will need to put together all the required documents in addition to their application to obtain a work visa in Greece. These include:
- Fully completed D visa application form in English or Greek.
- Passport with at least 2 blank pages and valid for at least 3 months after the expiration date of the D visa.
- Copies of the data page and residence permit.
- A recent passport-size color photo no older than 6 months.
- Travel medical insurance valid for the D visa’s period.
- A medical fitness certificate.
- A copy of the applicant’s criminal record.
After obtaining a working visa, employees must obtain a residence permit for employment in Greece to legally work for your company. Employers must be locally licensed and incorporated to get a work permit on behalf of employees. Residence permits based on employment include the right to work, which means that employees need a residence permit for employment after obtaining a long-stay visa to legally live and work in the country
Work permits are usually employer-, occupation-, and location-specific and are typically valid for 2 years and each renewal is valid for a 3-year period.
Application process
International workers can apply online for the issuance of their first residence permit in the country at portal.immigration.gov.gr. The work permit they need depends on what position they have, and this can also impact how long the permit will be valid. The basic application steps include:
- Obtaining a tax number from the local tax office and a Social Security Registration Number (AMKA).
- Filling out a residence permit form.
- Showing a copy of a visa, passport, passport photos, certificate of medical insurance, and health certificate from a state hospital.
- Providing an employment contract with a Greece-based company; degree or other qualification certificate or documentation proving that the employee has at least 5 years of relevant work experience and labor market test approval.
- Proving a local address, ability to support oneself, and payment of the required fee.
After completing these steps, the employee will get a blue form that acts as a receipt showing the application is being processed. They can begin working for as soon as they get this form.
Other important considerations
Employees will need to renew their work permit at their local municipal office or prefecture at least 60 days before it expires. If the employee is a citizen of a third country, they can apply exclusively online to renew the residence permit or residence card. They need a valid passport, photocopies of the passport’s pages, a certified copy of the original work permit, a completed application form, and possibly more depending on the type of permit.
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At this moment, G-P does not offer support in the processing of work visas or permits in this particular location. For any other inquiries, contact us today.