🇬🇷 Greece · Work Visa
Work permit categories, eligibility, sponsorship, application steps, and processing times.
Quick answer
Non-EU nationals need a work-authorising residence permit; EU citizens work freely. Routes include employed work, the EU Blue Card and a digital-nomad visa. The Ministry of Migration and Asylum handles residence permits.
Residence and work permits for non-EU nationals are handled by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum; the EU Blue Card and investor (golden visa) routes are also available.
- Most non-EU workers need a residence permit that authorizes employment.
- The golden visa grants residence to qualifying real-estate and other investors.
- EU/EEA and Swiss nationals do not need a work permit.
Step-by-step
- 1
Secure a job within the quota
Secure a job with a Greek employer for a position included in the periodic labour needs (quota), or use the EU Blue Card for highly qualified roles.
- 2
Employer applies for approval
The employer applies for approval to employ a third-country national through the relevant decentralised authority.
- 3
Apply for a national visa (type D)
Apply for the national entry visa (type D) at the Greek consulate with the approval and job documents.
- 4
Enter Greece
Enter Greece within the visa validity.
- 5
Apply for the residence permit
Apply for the work residence permit at the immigration authority (Ministry of Migration and Asylum).
- 6
Renew and count toward long-term residence
Renew before expiry; continuous legal residence counts toward long-term residence.
Checklist
- Job within the labour-needs quota (or EU Blue Card)
- Employer approval to hire a third-country national
- National entry visa (type D)
- Entry within the visa validity
- Work residence permit (Ministry of Migration and Asylum)
- Greek tax number (AFM) + social security (AMKA)
- Health insurance
- Long-term residence pathway considered
Official authorities
- Ministry of Migration and Asylum
Residence permits and immigration.
Frequently asked questions
Do EU citizens need a work permit in Greece?
No — EU/EEA and Swiss citizens work and live freely, registering residence after a period.
Is there a digital-nomad visa in Greece?
Yes — Greece offers a digital-nomad visa and residence permit for non-EU remote workers with foreign income.
What is the EU Blue Card?
A residence permit for highly-qualified non-EU workers with a qualifying job offer and salary.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.