A Greece work permit is issued in two stages under Law 5038/2023, the country’s current Immigration Code. First, you apply for a Type D national visa at a Greek consulate in your home country. Then, after you arrive in Greece, you file for a residence permit that also functions as your work authorization. The process involves your Greek employer, the consulate, and several Greek agencies once you land, and each stage depends on documents produced in the previous one.
Pick the Right Permit Category First
Greece offers several work-based residence pathways, each tied to a specific employment situation. Applying under the wrong category is one of the fastest ways to get rejected, so this decision comes before anything else.
- Standard salaried employment. The most common route. A Greek employer must first obtain a hiring authorization through the Decentralized Administration in their region, which is then forwarded to the consulate handling your visa.1National Registry of Administrative Public Services. Employment/Hiring Authorisation Under an Employment Relationship (E.4)
- EU Blue Card. For highly qualified employment. You need a recognized higher education qualification and an employment contract paying at least 1.6 times the average gross annual salary in Greece. For 2024 that threshold was €31,918.83 per year.2European Commission. EU Blue Card in Greece
- Seasonal work. Temporary roles in agriculture, tourism, and similar industries. The permit runs between two and six months total within a single year.3Hellenic Ministry of Labour. Legislative Framework for the Access of Third-Country Nationals to the Labour Market for Seasonal Work
- Digital Nomad Visa. For remote workers employed by companies outside Greece. Minimum monthly income is €3,500 as a solo applicant, €4,200 with a spouse, or €4,830 with a spouse and one dependent.
The steps below describe the standard salaried employment path, since it covers most foreign workers. The general sequence of visa first, then residence permit is the same across categories, but each has its own fees, documents, and employer obligations.
Documents for the Type D National Visa
Before you appear at the consulate, your file needs to be complete. A missing item or an expired certificate is a common reason for delay.
- Valid passport with at least two blank pages and an expiration date well past your planned stay.
- Employment contract and hiring authorization. Your Greek employer submits the signed contract with the hiring authorization request to the Decentralized Administration in their area. Once approved, both are transmitted to the consulate handling your visa.1National Registry of Administrative Public Services. Employment/Hiring Authorisation Under an Employment Relationship (E.4)
- Criminal record certificate from your home country’s authorities, showing no serious criminal history. Greek consulates generally require it to be no older than three months at submission.
- Medical certificate from a recognized healthcare provider, confirming you do not have a communicable disease classified as a public health threat by the World Health Organization.
All foreign public documents need an Apostille stamp under the Hague Convention.4Decentralized Administration of Attica. The Hague Apostille U.S. applicants get apostilles from the secretary of state in the issuing state, or from the U.S. Department of State for federal documents such as FBI background checks. State apostille fees typically run between $2 and $20. Every document also needs a certified translation into Greek, either from a sworn translator or through the consulate’s own translation service.
Because the criminal record certificate expires quickly, order it last. Get it only once the employer’s hiring authorization is well underway, so you have room for the Apostille, translation, and any consular delay.
Applying at the Consulate
Schedule an appointment at the nearest Greek consulate or embassy once your documents are ready. Staff take biometric data, including fingerprints and a photograph, during the interview. Standard employment visas typically cost €75. Certain specialized categories, such as executives of investment companies or teachers at foreign schools, cost €180.5European Commission. International Service Provider in Greece
Greek consulates do not publish fixed processing times for Type D national visas the way they do for Schengen tourist visas. Expect anywhere from two to eight weeks depending on the consulate’s workload and whether your file needs additional verification. The consulate reviews your package against Law 5038/2023 before issuing the visa sticker in your passport, which authorizes you to enter Greece and start the residence permit process.
Registrations to Complete After Arriving
Once you land, several registrations have to happen before you can file for the residence permit. Each produces an identification number that feeds directly into the permit application, so none of these are optional.
Tax Identification Number (AFM)
The AFM is your Greek tax ID. You get it at the local Tax Office, called a DOY. You need the AFM to sign an employment contract, open a bank account, rent an apartment, and file taxes.6Gov.gr. Attribution of Tax Identification Number (AFM) and Key to Natural Person Without it, almost nothing else moves, so make this your first stop.
Social Security Number (AMKA)
The AMKA registers you in Greece’s national healthcare and social insurance system. You obtain it from a Citizens’ Service Center, known as a KEP. Your employer needs your AMKA to register you with the social security fund (EFKA) and begin payroll contributions.
Housing and Health Coverage
You need a registered lease agreement, filed electronically through the Taxisnet platform, which serves as your proof of a fixed address. You also need proof of health coverage, either from the public social security system through your employer or from a private policy. Both are required fields on the residence permit application.
Filing the Residence Permit Application
The residence permit application is filed through the Ministry of Migration and Asylum’s online portal.7Ministry of Migration and Asylum. Residence Permits You upload digital copies of your AFM, AMKA, validated employment contract, health insurance, and lease agreement, and pay the e-paravolo, an electronic government fee of approximately €150.
After submission, the system generates a bebaiosi katathesis, a certificate of filing that functions as your temporary proof of legal residence. This document lets you live and work in Greece while your permit card is processed. If you travel outside Greece during this period, carry the bebaiosi with your passport, since border authorities may ask for evidence that your application is pending.
You will be called in for a biometric appointment at a Decentralized Administration office to finalize the physical card. Once issued, the card serves as your combined residence and work authorization for its duration. You can track the status of your application online through the General Secretariat for Migration Policy’s portal by entering your surname and passport number.8General Secretariat for Migration Policy. Third Country National Application Status
If Your Application Is Rejected
A denial is not the end of the road. You have the right to file an administrative objection within two months of receiving the rejection decision.9National Registry of Administrative Public Services. Residence Permit for Highly Qualified Employees (E.1) – Renewal Common reasons for rejection include incomplete documents, expired certificates, and a mismatch between the employment contract and the permit category. Fixing the specific deficiency and resubmitting is often faster than a formal appeal.
Renewal and Long-Term Resident Status
Submit your renewal application at least two months before your current permit expires.9National Registry of Administrative Public Services. Residence Permit for Highly Qualified Employees (E.1) – Renewal Renewal runs through the same Ministry of Migration and Asylum online portal as the original application. Missing the deadline can create a gap in your legal status that complicates employment and travel, so put it on your calendar early.
After five continuous years of legal residence, you become eligible for long-term resident status. Short absences during that period are permitted, as long as no single absence exceeds six months and total time outside Greece stays under ten months. You must demonstrate Greek language proficiency at an A2 level (basic conversational ability) and a general understanding of Greek history and culture. You also need to show annual income at or above the minimum wage, which was €10,560 as of 2025. Long-term resident status does not expire, though the physical card must be renewed every five years.
Bringing Family Members
Once you hold a valid residence permit, you can apply for family reunification to bring your spouse (over 18) and your unmarried minor children, including adopted children in your legal custody.10European Commission. Family Member in Greece You have to show proof of the family relationship, adequate housing, and stable income that meets the minimum wage threshold increased by 20% for your spouse and 15% for each child. Full medical coverage for all family members is also required.
One detail catches people off guard. Your family members cannot work in Greece during their initial permit period. They gain the right to take salaried employment or provide services only after the first renewal of their residence permit.10European Commission. Family Member in Greece Plan your household budget accordingly.
What Happens If You Work Without a Permit
Greece enforces its immigration rules on both sides of the employment relationship. Employers who hire unauthorized workers face significant administrative fines per employee. Foreign nationals who work without a valid permit or overstay their authorized period risk deportation and a multi-year ban on re-entering Greece. These consequences apply regardless of how long you have been in the country or whether your employer knew about the violation. Staying current on your permit status and renewal deadlines is the simplest way to avoid a situation that is very hard to reverse.