Metaklisi (employer invitation)
Waiters, cooks, farm workers, tradespeople — with the worker still abroad.
- Quota-based · worker abroad
- Several months end to end
← All servicesImmigration: visas & residence permits
Visas & residence permits, the right route for each hire
The immigration part of a move: the national visa at the Greek consulate and the residence permit with the Greek migration authorities. For a non-EU hire, that means a permit that grants labour market access — on the right route, in the right order, with documents that survive scrutiny.
We check the right route before you make the offer, then put the scope and a fixed fee in writing. Licensed Greek counsel handles the legal work where it's required, and HR can follow the case live from start to finish.
Which route fits your hire?
EU Blue Card
Degree-level hires with a salary above the national threshold.
- Degree + salary threshold
- Family from day one
Intra-company transfer (ICT)
Managers and specialists moving from a group company abroad.
- Same group
- Managers & specialists
Already in Greece on another status
Students, family members and other permit holders switching to work.
- No need to leave Greece
- Status checked first
EU citizens and their families
No permit for the EU citizen; papers for non-EU family members.
- No permit
- Registration, AFM & AMKA numbers
How the process runs
- 01Days 1–5
Route check
A lawyer reviews nationality, role, salary and timing, and tells you which route best fits the situation and what it realistically costs — before you make the offer.
- 02Weeks 1–4
Document pack
Contract, company filings, qualifications, apostilles and certified translations. The employee gets a personalised checklist and we chase what's missing.
- 03Varies by consulate
Consular or in-country application
National (type D) visa application at the Greek consulate abroad, or an in-country application where the employee's status allows it.
- 04First weeks after arrival
Arrival and biometrics
Residence permit application at the migration office, biometrics appointment, and the blue receipt that legalises stay while the card is produced.
- 05Ongoing
Card, tax number (AFM), social security (AMKA) and payroll
Residence card collection plus tax number (AFM), social security number (AMKA), bank account and everything payroll needs to run cleanly.
Route details
Open the route that fits your hire. Every route follows the process above; what differs is who qualifies and what the file needs.
EU Blue CardHighly qualified hires with a degree or equivalent experience and a salary above the threshold.
The EU Blue Card is a residence and work permit for highly qualified non-EU nationals employed in Greece — the Greek implementation of EU Directive 2021/1883.
Family reunification from day one, and after a qualifying period the holder can move to highly qualified employment in another EU member state under simplified rules; that time counts toward long-term EU residence.
Who qualifies
- A Greek employment contract of at least 6 months. A highly qualified position with a signed contract or binding job offer from an employer established in Greece.
- Higher professional qualifications. A higher-education qualification (normally 3+ years of study, recognised in Greece) or, for eligible occupations, several years of documented relevant experience.
- Salary at or above the national threshold. Set as a multiple of the average gross national salary and updated periodically. We confirm the figure that applies on your filing date before you commit to an offer.
- Valid travel document and health insurance. A passport valid for the requested permit period, plus cover until social security (AMKA) registration.
- Regulated professions. For health, engineering, law and other regulated roles, the qualification must be recognised by the competent Greek authority first.
Criteria and thresholds are set by Greek law and revised periodically. This is general information, not legal advice — we confirm the rules in force for your filing date before you commit.
Intra-company transfer (ICT)Managers, specialists and trainees moving inside the same group from a non-EU entity to a Greek one.
Managers, specialists and trainees moving from a group company abroad have their own ICT permit route, with different documents and duration rules from a local hire.
The route check confirms whether the transfer qualifies and which documents the group needs to provide from both sides.
Already in Greece on another statusMoving to an employment permit from inside Greece.
Students, family members and other permit holders can sometimes switch to employment status without leaving the country — the current permit's type and expiry decide it.
The same applies to the EU Blue Card: someone already legally residing in Greece can often switch without leaving. A lawyer needs to check the current status and its expiry date first.
EU citizens and their familiesNo permit for the EU citizen; registration and documents for the family.
No permit needed for the EU citizen. They still need registration, a tax number (AFM) and a social security number (AMKA) — and non-EU family members need their own documents.
Typical document pack
8 documents · click to open the list
- Signed employment contract with role, salary and duration
- Passport valid for the full requested permit period
- Company documents: GEMI registration, tax clearance, legal representative ID
- Proof of qualifications, apostilled and officially translated where required — for the EU Blue Card, recognised in Greece
- Criminal record certificate from the country of residence
- Medical certificate where the category requires one
- Health insurance cover until EFKA registration
- Proof of accommodation in Greece
Exact requirements depend on nationality, role and the consulate or migration office handling the case. We confirm your list before anything is filed.
Questions we get asked
How long does a Greek work permit take?
It depends on the route, the consulate and the migration office. Consular visa stages and in-country permit stages each add time, and document gathering is usually the longest part. We give you a case-specific timeline after the route check rather than a generic number.
Can the employee start work while the permit is pending?
Only once they hold a status that grants labour market access. In many cases the blue receipt issued after filing allows lawful stay and work — but this must be confirmed for the specific category before anyone starts.
Who signs and who is liable — the employer or the employee?
Both have obligations. The employer provides company documentation and the contract, and carries compliance duties around employment and social security; the employee provides personal documents and attends appointments.
Can the family come at the same time?
Usually yes, through family reunification filed in parallel rather than after arrival. Spouses often gain labour market access depending on the main permit type.
What happens at renewal?
Renewals are submitted before expiry and need up-to-date payroll, tax and insurance evidence. We keep track of the expiry date with you and start the renewal file in good time.
What is the EU Blue Card salary threshold in Greece?
The threshold is set as a multiple of the average gross annual salary in Greece and is revised periodically, so the number that matters is the one in force on the day your file is submitted. We confirm the current figure and check your offer against it before you sign the contract.
Another question? See all our FAQs
Have a hire waiting on a permit?
Tell us the nationality, the role and the start date. We'll map the route, the documents and the realistic timeline on a 20-minute call.