To work legally in Greece, a non-EU citizen needs a Greece work visa, which the government issues as a Type D national visa from a Greek consulate or embassy before you travel. The Type D covers any stay beyond 90 days and functions as your entry document; once you arrive, you convert it into a residence permit through the Ministry of Migration and Asylum. Greece rewrote large parts of its immigration framework with Law 5038/2023, so older guidance you may find online no longer matches the current rules.
Who Needs a Work Visa
Citizens of EU member states, the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), and Switzerland can live and work in Greece freely, with no visa or work permit required.1Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece. Visas Everyone else is a third-country national and needs a Type D visa before entering for employment. That includes citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
The visa requirement applies whether or not you already have a job lined up. Coming in on a tourist entry or Schengen short-stay visa and then trying to start work is illegal and can lead to deportation and a re-entry ban. Apply from the Greek consulate or embassy in your home country or country of legal residence.
Which Type D Category Fits Your Situation
Greece doesn’t issue one generic work visa. The Type D visa splits into several categories, and the one you apply under decides what documents you’ll need and which residence permit you receive later.
- Dependent employment (Type A) is the standard route for someone hired by a Greek employer on a regular contract. It requires a labor market test.
- The EU Blue Card is for highly qualified professionals with a higher education degree, or three to five years of equivalent experience, and a contract paying at least 1.6 times the Greek average gross salary. For 2024 that threshold was €31,918.83, and the figure adjusts each year.2European Commission. EU Blue Card in Greece
- Seasonal work covers agriculture, tourism, and other cyclical industries. Under Law 5275/2026, seasonal workers can stay up to nine months within any rolling 12-month period.
- Intra-company transfer applies to managers, specialists, or trainees moving to a Greek branch or subsidiary of their current employer.
- The digital nomad visa is for remote workers employed by companies outside Greece. A solo applicant must show roughly €3,500 in monthly net income, with higher thresholds when family accompanies. It runs up to 12 months and is renewable.
The Labor Market Test
For standard employment visas, Greece requires proof that hiring you won’t displace a local worker. Your employer files a request with the regional Decentralized Administration, which weighs the position against unemployment data, the supply of Greek and EU workers in that specialty, and the interests of the national economy.3European Commission. Seasonal Worker in Greece This can add weeks to your timeline, and it happens on the employer’s side before you file with the consulate.
EU Blue Card applicants and intra-company transferees face a lighter version because their roles assume specialized skills. Digital nomads skip the test entirely because they aren’t entering the Greek labor market.
Documents You’ll Need
Assembling the file is where most of the real work happens, and it typically takes several weeks because some documents need translation and an Apostille before you can submit them.
Employment and Identity
A signed employment contract sits at the center of the application. For standard employment, the Decentralized Administration in the region where the job is located must validate the contract, confirming the employer can support the hire and has followed labor regulations.4European Commission. Employed Worker in Greece
Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the date you plan to leave Greece, and you’ll want at least two blank pages for the visa and entry stamps.5U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Greece. Passport Validity Requirements You’ll also need recent passport photos that meet Schengen biometric standards.
Background, Health, and Insurance
You’ll need a criminal record certificate from every country where you’ve lived in recent years, generally issued within the previous three months. U.S. citizens obtain an FBI Identity History Summary. A medical certificate from a recognized health authority confirming you’re free of contagious diseases is also required. Travel health insurance must provide at least €30,000 in emergency medical and repatriation coverage for the full visa period.
Translations and the Apostille
Any document not originally in Greek must be translated by a translator on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs registry; only registered professionals are recognized.6Gov.gr. Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Translations Documents also need an Apostille from the competent authority in the issuing country to verify authenticity.
Applying at the Consulate
Once your file is ready, you book an in-person appointment at the Greek consulate or embassy serving your area. Walk-ins aren’t accepted. Appointments can be scarce during peak periods, so book as early as you can.
At the appointment, a consular officer reviews the file and interviews you. Expect detailed questions about the job, the employer’s business, your qualifications, and your plans. Officers are trained to catch fraudulent offers, so you should be able to speak specifically about your role and your employer’s operations.
The application fee for a standard Type A employment visa is approximately €180. Processing times vary widely. Some applicants get a decision in a few weeks; others wait two months or longer, depending on the consulate’s workload and whether the labor market test is still pending. When approved, the visa is stamped into your passport.
After You Arrive: Residence Permit, AFM, and AMKA
The Type D visa is temporary. Once in Greece, you apply for a residence permit through the Ministry of Migration and Asylum; the government portal accepts the application online.7Gov.gr. Issue a Residence Permit for the First Time (for Citizens of Third Countries) File promptly. Late or unjustified applications can draw a €100 fine.8Ministry of Migration and Asylum. Residence Permits
You’ll visit an immigration office for biometric data, including fingerprints and a digital photograph. After filing, you receive a confirmation document commonly called the Blue Certificate, which serves as temporary proof that your application is pending and lets you live and work legally while the card is produced.7Gov.gr. Issue a Residence Permit for the First Time (for Citizens of Third Countries)
The initial residence permit for employed workers is valid for two years.4European Commission. Employed Worker in Greece Fees depend on the category. Standard employed workers pay around €300 for the initial permit; EU Blue Card holders pay €150 plus a €16 card-printing fee.9Greek Government Services. Residence Permit of a Highly Qualified Employee – Initial Granting Renewal applications should be filed at least 30 days before the permit expires.
Before you can legally receive a paycheck, you also need two Greek identification numbers. The AFM (Arithmos Forologikou Mitroou) is your nine-digit tax ID, obtained in person at the local tax office (DOY) with your passport, residence permit or Blue Certificate, and proof of address. You can also appoint an accountant to handle it through a power of attorney. The AMKA is your social security number, mandatory since 2009 for anyone working or planning to work in Greece.10Ministry of Labour. Social Security Registration Number (AMKA) You get it at any Citizens’ Service Centre (KEP) or an e-EFKA branch with your passport, residence permit, and employment contract.
If Your Visa Is Denied
A rejection isn’t the end of the road. Under Law 5038/2023, you can file an administrative appeal within two months of receiving the formal rejection.11Greek Government Services. Highly Qualified Residence Permit in the Context of a Change of Purpose Procedure Pursuant to Article 12 of Law 5038/2023 – Initial Granting The appeal moves back through the immigration system rather than to a court. If it fails, judicial review is the next option.
The most common grounds for denial are incomplete documentation, an employer that failed the labor market test, and criminal record issues. Read the rejection letter closely before choosing your next move. If a missing document was the problem rather than something substantive, reapplying with a complete file is often faster than the appeal.