Greece Work Visa: A Full Guide for Employers and Employees in 2026

A Greece Work Visa is a type of national visa for employment that allows non-EU/EEA country nationals to live and work legally in Greece. As part of the European Union, Greece requires non-EU workers to obtain both a work visa and a residence permit before starting employment.

To work legally in Greece, non-EU citizens need to first secure a job offer from a Greek employer. The employer must then obtain the necessary approval from the Greek Ministry of Labor, after which the applicant can apply for a National Long-Stay (Type D) Visa through their local Greek embassy or consulate.

This guide will break down all the steps toward obtaining a Greece Work Permit, including the application process, required documents, processing times, and fees.

Greece Work Visa: Key Takeaways

Non-EU citizens who want to work in Greece need a job offer from a Greek employer, a National Type D Visa, and a Type E.4 Single Permit before they can live and work in the country.

Greece offers several work visa routes, including the Type E.4 Single Permit, Greece EU Blue Card, Tech Visa, Talent Visa, Seasonal Employment Permit, and Greece Digital Nomad Visa, each designed for different types of workers.

Under Law 5275/2026, most employment-based applicants can begin working as soon as their digital Single Permit application has been submitted and a certificate of submission has been issued.

The full application process takes between three and six months, while government fees for standard employment routes start at approximately €620.

Work permit holders can bring their spouse and dependent children to Greece, and can become eligible for EU Long-Term Resident status after five years of legal residence.

Foreign nationals can apply for Greek citizenship after seven years of continuous legal residence, while qualifying residents can also benefit from Greece’s tax incentives, including the 50% income tax exemption and the Greek Flat Tax Regime.

A Greek Work Visa is a type of national visa for employment that allows non-EU/EEA citizens to live and work in Greece legally. The specific visa required depends on the job type, duration, and professional background. In most cases, you must first secure a work contract from a Greek employer before applying. Additionally, a valid residence permit is required for long-term employment. The process usually involves obtaining a work permit, applying for a national (Type D) visa for employment, and then securing a residence permit after arriving in Greece.

01/ Highly skilled and innovation Visas

• EU Blue Card (Type E.1): The EU Blue Card is designed for highly skilled professionals, including executives, IT specialists, and senior managers. Applicants need a recognized university qualification or at least five years of relevant professional experience, along with a job offer that meets the minimum salary threshold. Following the 2026 reforms, the EU Blue Card is now valid for three years instead of two.
• Tech Visa (Type Z.13A): A fast-track option for technology professionals employed by startups registered on the Elevate Greece platform. It provides immediate work authorization but is tied to the sponsoring startup.
• Talent Visa (Type Z.15): A 12-month job-seeker visa for recent Master’s, PhD, or postdoctoral graduates from internationally recognized universities. It allows holders to live in Greece while searching for employment and can be converted into a work permit once a job offer is secured.

02/ Remote work visa

Greece Digital Nomad Visa: The Digital Nomad Visa is for remote employees, freelancers, and business owners who work exclusively for employers or clients outside Greece. Applicants must show a minimum monthly income of €3,500, with higher financial requirements for accompanying family members. The visa does not permit employment with Greek companies.

03/ Employment and business visas

• Type E.4 Single Permit: The Single Permit is the main work visa for non-EU nationals employed by Greek companies. Applicants must have a job contract of at least six months. Under the 2026 reforms, the permit is valid for up to three years, and workers can begin employment once the digital application has been submitted.
• Greece Intra-Corporate Transfer Visa (Type E.2): This visa allows managers, specialists, and trainees to transfer from an overseas branch of a multinational company to its Greek office. Stays are limited to three years for managers and specialists and one year for trainees.
• Specialized Technical Personnel Visa: This route is intended for foreign specialists working on large-scale industrial, engineering, or technical projects in Greece. It is mostly issued for up to 12 months and could provide a pathway to an EU Blue Card if eligibility requirements are met.

04/ Temporary and special purpose visas

• Seasonal Employment Permit (Type E.8): The Seasonal Employment Permit is commonly used in agriculture, tourism, and hospitality. It allows non-EU workers to work in Greece for up to nine months within a 12-month period and can support recurring seasonal employment.
• Special Purpose Permit (Type E.3): The Special Purpose Permit is available to professionals whose work serves a specific economic, cultural, or public interest purpose. Eligible applicants include journalists, university professors, sports coaches, and senior company representatives.

Under the Single Permit framework introduced by Law 5275/2026, applying for a Greek work visa is a multi-step process involving both your employer in Greece and the Greek consulate in your home country. The process consists of three main stages: employer authorization in Greece, obtaining a National Type D Visa from a Greek consulate, and securing a Single Permit after arriving in Greece.

Step 01/ Receive a job offer from a Greek employer

Most Greek work visa routes require a job offer from a Greek employer. The process begins with the sponsoring employer in Greece and cannot usually be initiated by the foreign worker.

Step 02/ Employer completes the labor market check

The employer has to register the vacancy and demonstrate that the role cannot be filled by a Greek, EU, or EEA citizen. The position should also adhere to Greece’s regional employment quotas.

Step 03/ Employer submits an electronic recruitment application

The employer submits an electronic recruitment request through the official Greek government portal (gov.gr) to the competent Decentralized Administration. The application includes:

• An employment contract with a minimum duration of six months under Law 5275/2026
• Proof of tax compliance
• Proof of social security compliance
• Financial statements demonstrating business viability
• Payment of the €200 government processing fee

Step 04/ Obtain employment authorization approval

If the application is approved, the Decentralized Administration issues an employment authorization notice. This approval is transmitted electronically to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Greek embassy or consulate responsible for processing the applicant’s visa application.

Step 05/ Schedule a National Type D Visa appointment

Once employer approval has been granted, the applicant must schedule an appointment at a Greek Embassy, Consulate, or authorized Visa Application Centre in their country of citizenship or legal residence. Greece generally does not allow individuals to enter as tourists and convert their status to a work visa from within the country.

Step 06/ Prepare the required documents

Applicants must prepare a complete National Type D Visa application package, including all required documents such as a passport copy, health insurance, an employer’s employment authorization approval notice, and more.  

Step 07/ Attend the consular interview

The applicant attends the visa appointment in person to:

• Submit the application with all the required documents
• Pay the applicable visa fee
• Provide fingerprints and biometric information
• Complete any required interview

The consular officer verifies the application against the authorization already transmitted by the Greek authorities.

Step 08/ Receive the National Type D Visa

Processing takes between 30 and 60 days, depending on the consulate and visa category. If approved, the applicant receives a National Type D Visa in their passport, which allows them to travel to Greece for employment purposes.

Step 09/ Travel to Greece

Once the visa has been issued, the applicant can enter Greece and begin the final stage of the immigration process.

Step 10/ Submit the single permit application

Before the Type D Visa expires, the applicant or their legal representative must submit an application for a Single Permit, which combines residence and work authorization into one document.

The Single Permit framework now covers several employment categories, including standard employment permits and EU Blue Cards.

Step 11/ Begin working under law 5275/2026

One of the most significant changes introduced by Law 5275/2026 is that eligible applicants can begin working immediately after the digital Single Permit application has been successfully submitted.

Upon submission, the applicant receives a temporary certificate of submission. This certificate authorizes them to legally work and receive a salary while the authorities process the physical permit card.

Step 12/ Complete biometric registration

Applicants are required to attend a local appointment with the Greek immigration authorities, police department, or relevant residence permit office to provide biometric information for their permit card.

Step 13/ Receive the single permit card

Once the application has been approved, the applicant receives a biometric residence and work permit card. For standard employment routes, the permit is generally issued for three years under the current framework.

Step 14/ Renew your Permit

Provided the employment relationship continues, and all requirements are met, the permit can be renewed. After maintaining continuous legal residence in Greece for five years, workers can become eligible for long-term residency, with citizenship eligibility beginning after seven years of legal residence, subject to additional requirements as well.

The fees for a Greek Work Permit Visa can vary depending on several factors, such as the type of visa, your nationality, and the specific consulate or embassy where you apply. Here is an outline of the fees involved in obtaining a work permit and visa for Greece:

 The overall process for work permit approval, visa application, and residence permit approval can take 3 to 6 months, depending on the specific circumstances and whether all required documents are in order.

Yes, you can bring family members to Greece on a work visa. However, the timing, application process, and family members who qualify depend on the specific permit category you hold under the Single Permit framework introduced by Law 5275/2026.

Who qualifies as a dependent?

Under Greek immigration law, eligible family members generally include:

• Your legally married spouse, provided they are over the age of 18
• Your unmarried children under the age of 18
• Children for whom you or your spouse has legal custody

Can parents and grandparents be included?

In most cases, no. Unlike the Greek Golden Visa, which allows dependent parents and grandparents to be included under its three-generation family model, the standard Type E.4 Single Permit and most other employment-based permits generally restrict family reunification to a spouse and dependent minor children.

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