When do you need your people at work? Work back from there.
Pick the date your workers should start. The planner counts back through the usual metaklisi stages — file preparation, application, consulate, arrival — so you can see when each one needs to happen.
For a seasonal business: the first day you need the team in place.
Positions for each year are set by a Cabinet act issued in the last quarter of the year before. Once a sector's positions are used up, new applications are not accepted — so earlier is safer.
Indicative timeline
Indicative — confirmed on the call- 1
Prepare the employer file
Between 14 December 2026 – 28 December 2026
Company documents, tax and insurance clearance, the signed contract — about 2–4 weeks.
- 2
File the metaklisi application
Between 11 January 2027 – 10 February 2027
The 2026 ministry circular recommends a contract start 60–90 days after filing.
- 3
Consulate: appointment and visa
Between 7 February 2027 – 7 March 2027
Once the application is approved. Usually 4–8 weeks before arrival; it depends on the consulate.
- 4
Arrival and residence permit application
By 4 April 2027
The residence permit application is made straight after entry.
- 5
First day at work
11 April 2027
The date you entered.
What this planner assumes
- Work starts about 7 days after arrival; the residence permit application is made on arrival (Law 5275/2026, art. 61).
- The consular stage takes 4–8 weeks; by law the consulate informs the one-stop service within 30 days of its decision, and the service informs you within 15 (art. 27).
- The application is filed 60–90 days before the contract start (Circular 51210/2026).
- Preparing the employer's file takes 2–4 weeks.
- Quota: the yearly Cabinet act must have positions left for your sector.
General planning aid, not legal advice. Timelines depend on the authorities, the consulate and the completeness of the file; no date is guaranteed. Mazi prepares the file; licensed counsel handles filing where required.
Planning next season's hires?
Tell us how many people, in which role and for when — we'll check the quota and turn this plan into real dates.