Greek work permits, handled end-to-end
Hiring a non-EU national into a Greek entity means a residence permit for employment — filed in the right order, with documents that survive scrutiny.
- Licensed Greek immigration counsel runs the case end to end
- Your HR team tracks every step in the dashboard
- Fixed fee quoted before you commit, government charges at cost
When you need a work permit route
Third-country nationals joining a Greek entity
Anyone outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland needs a residence permit that grants labour market access before they can lawfully start work in Greece.
Highly qualified roles
Degree-level or equivalent roles often qualify for the EU Blue Card, which can offer a more streamlined and portable route than the standard employment permit for eligible hires.
Standard employment roles
Roles below the Blue Card threshold typically run through the invitation (metaklisi) procedure or another employment category, depending on the sector and the current quota.
Intra-company transfers
Managers, specialists and trainees moving from a group company abroad have their own ICT permit route, with different documents and duration rules.
Already in Greece on another status
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.
EU citizens and their families
No permit needed for the EU citizen. They still need registration, AFM and AMKA — and non-EU family members need their own documents.
How the process runs
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.
Document pack
Contract, company filings, qualifications, apostilles and certified translations. The employee gets a personalised checklist and we chase what's missing.
Consular or in-country filing
National visa application at the Greek consulate abroad, or in-country filing where the employee's status allows it.
Arrival and biometrics
Residence permit application at the migration office, biometrics appointment, and the blue receipt that legalises stay while the card is produced.
Card, AFM, AMKA and payroll
Residence card collection plus tax number, social security number, bank account and everything payroll needs to run cleanly.
Typical document pack
- 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
- 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 filed before expiry and need up-to-date payroll, tax and insurance evidence. We track expiry dates in the dashboard so a renewal is never a surprise.
Related services
Most cases touch more than one workstream. Here is what usually comes before or after this step.
Metaklisi (invitation)
The national quota route for hiring outside the EU.
See how it worksEU Blue Card Greece
Fast-track permit for highly qualified hires.
See how it worksRelocation & housing
Housing search, leases, utilities and the move itself.
See how it worksSettling in
AFM, AMKA, banking, schools and family support.
See how it worksHave 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.