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Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe, known as the “cradle of Western civilization” and home to the birthplace of democracy, philosophy, and the Olympic Games, among other achievements.
To work and settle in Greece, non-EU/EEA citizens typically need a work visa (Type D) and then a residence permit, which requires a job offer from a Greek employer and meeting specific requirements like having a clean criminal record and health insurance.
Fast Facts
In Greece, obtaining permanent residency through the Golden Visa program by investing at least €250,000 in real estate is a common path, and after seven years of continuous residency, you can apply for Greek citizenship.
Permanent Residency (Golden Visa):
1. Investment: Non-EU citizens can obtain a 5-year residency permit by investing a minimum of €250,000 in Greek real estate.
2. Renewal: The residency permit can be renewed every five years, provided the investment is maintained.
3. Family: The Golden Visa can also be extended to include family members.
To be eligible for a Greece Golden Visa, you must be a
1. non-EU/EEA citizen,
2. over 18, have a clean criminal record,
3. Make a qualifying investment in Greece, such as real estate, with a minimum threshold of €250,000.
1. Right to reside in Greece:
The Golden Visa grants the holder the right to live in Greece without mandatory stay requirements.
2. Visa-free travel within the Schengen Area:
Holders can travel freely within the 26 European countries that form the Schengen Zone.
3. No minimum residency requirement:
Unlike some other residency programs, Greece doesn’t require investors to spend a minimum amount of time in the country.
4. Renewable residency permit:
The residence permit can be renewed every five years as long as the investment is maintained.
5. Family members can enjoy the same rights:
Family members can enjoy the same rights as the primary investor, including the right to reside in Greece and travel visa-free within the Schengen Area.
The Greece Golden Visa grants a five-year residence permit, renewable indefinitely as long as the investment is maintained, with a potential path to citizenship after seven years of residency.
Unlike most other countries that issue Golden Visas, you do not need to live in Greece at all in order to renew the residence permit. You can keep renewing it every five years, as long as you have still maintained your investment.
To renew the residence permit, you have to provide proof that the real estate property is still in your ownership or a solemn declaration by the relevant representatives that the investment is still ongoing.
Basic Documents
1. Valid Passport
2. Passport Photos
3. Application Form
4. Proof of Payment
5. Health Insurance
6. Proof of Funds
Investment-Related Documents:
1. Real Estate Purchase Agreement
2. Land Registry Certificate
3. Investment Agreement
Family Member Documents (If applicable)
1. Marriage Certificate
2. Birth Certificates
3. Single Status Certificates
4. Dependent Parents
To apply for a long-term family reunification visa in Greece, you’ll need a:
1. Application Form
2. Passport
3. Photographs
4. Proof of Sufficient Funds
5. Police Clearance Certificate
6. Medical Certificate
For stays longer than 90 days in Greece, you’ll need a long-stay “national visa” (D-type visa), while for shorter stays (up to 90 days within any 180-day period), you’ll require a short-stay “Schengen visa” (C-type visa).
In Greece, you can obtain a residence permit for various reasons, including work, study, family reunification, or investment, with temporary and permanent options available. After 5 years of legal residence, you can apply for a long-term residence permit, which is automatically renewable.
Benefits of having a Greece residence permit:
1. visa-free travelling
2. Tax optimisation
3. Getting EU citizenship
4. Getting residence permits is fast
5. Golden Visa Greece
6. Access to greek bank accounts
7. Investment opportunities
8. Low investment threshold
9. Residency for the entire family
10. Qualified medical help
To work in Greece, both EU and non-EU citizens need to obtain the appropriate work visa or residency permit, and Greek work culture emphasizes work-life balance, with flexible working hours, especially in tourism and hospitality. Greece offers job opportunities for international workers, particularly in tourism, IT, healthcare, and education, with the country’s economy recovering and seeking skilled labor. To work in Greece, you’ll need to obtain a work visa and residence permit, and research the market and target companies.
Greece had an employment rate of 61.8%, with strong demand in tourism, IT, and healthcare, while the Public Employment Service (DYPA) helps job seekers find work and guidance.
Job Opportunities for Expats:
1. Tourism Sector:
Greece’s thriving tourism industry creates opportunities for hotel managers, tour guides, and hospitality staff.
2. IT Sector:
The IT sector is expanding, with companies seeking software developers, engineers, and marketers.
3. Healthcare Sector:
Healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and caregivers, are in demand due to Greece’s aging population and a shortage of medical workers.
4. Other Opportunities:
Other job opportunities include positions in finance, marketing, and customer service.
Greece’s economy is dominated by the service sector (85%), followed by industry (12%) and a smaller agricultural sector (3%). Key industries include tourism, shipping, and manufacturing, with tourism and shipping being particularly significant for foreign exchange earnings.
The majority of Greek contracts are open-ended. The normal Greek work week comprises 40 hours. When you start a new job, the first two months are usually a probationary period, during which either party can terminate the employment contract without penalty. To terminate an open-ended contract, an employer has a prior-notice period of up to four months. The amount of severance indemnity has been determined at a maximum of 12 salaries for 16 years of work.
Employees earn 125% of their wage for the first five hours of additional work per week (known as “extra work”) and 150% for each additional hour thereafter (classed as “overtime”). The legal annual leave allowance is set at 20 days, increasing incrementally up to 26 days per year after 25 years of work. Greek companies also pay employees for six public holidays, including Christmas and New Year’s.
New mothers receive a total of 17 weeks of maternity leave, eight weeks before childbirth and nine weeks afterwards. If the mother works and does not take advantage of her legal entitlement to leave after the baby is born, than the father is entitled to take this period of leave. Additionally, for 30 months after returning to work, either the mother or the father may work one hour less per day without receiving a reduction in pay.
Greece work visas categories:
1. Part Time Work Visa:
Most student visas will allow you to work for up to twenty hours a week while you are in Spain. You should check the specific terms of your visa before finding a job.
2. Seasonal workers Visa:
In seasonal workers Visa, the employee needs to apply for a visa in the same manner as other work visas. The employer takes the lead role in this application, and work visas allow a stay period of six months. After this, an extension of up to a further three months can be allowed for a Seasonal workers Visa.
3. Self-employment Visa:
An applicant can get an Greece work visa as an entrepreneur; if you plan to work for yourself when you are in Greece you must apply for a self-employment visa, following the same process as outlined.
