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Greece · Ελλάδα Employer guide · Southern Europe · GR

Hiring foreign workers in Greece

Greece's sponsor-side burden sits heavily with the employer or host institution. Standard employment, seasonal work, the EU Blue Card, intra-corporate transfer, and researcher filings all depend on the sponsor choosing the correct route first, preparing the invitation or host-side approval file, and staying available for follow-up from the migration or labour authorities. Greece does not offer a general sponsorless work-search route in the core system covered here.

01

Overview

Greece's sponsor-side burden sits heavily with the employer or host institution. Standard employment, seasonal work, the EU Blue Card, intra-corporate transfer, and researcher filings all depend on the sponsor choosing the correct route first, preparing the invitation or host-side approval file, and staying available for follow-up from the migration or labour authorities. Greece does not offer a general sponsorless work-search route in the core system covered here. 1Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs — Work for third country nationals in Greece5National Registry of Administrative Public Services — Residence permit for highly qualified employees ('E.1') following approval of the employer's request – Initial granting6National Registry of Administrative Public Services — Inter-company transfer residence permit – Initial issuance ('E.2')9Ministry of Migration and Asylum — Researchers (Article 61) - initial granting

The Blue Card salary threshold is dynamic, so sponsors should check the current Mitos route page and live threshold before issuing the final contract package. 5National Registry of Administrative Public Services — Residence permit for highly qualified employees ('E.1') following approval of the employer's request – Initial granting4Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Codification of legislation on the entry, residence and social integration of third-country nationals in Greece

02

Sponsor-backed routes

Dependent employment permit

Greek employer

The employer is the trigger for the standard work route and has to run the invitation process, issue the compliant contract, and keep the immigration file aligned with the job actually offered.

  • Submit the employer-side invitation or approval file required for the category.
  • Issue the employment contract with the role, remuneration, and duration that match the filed case.
  • Stay available if the authorities ask for clarifications on the role, wages, or employment conditions.
1Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs — Work for third country nationals in Greece8Ministry of Migration and Asylum — Residence permit for dependent employment (Article 15) - initial granting

EU Blue Card

Greek employer

The sponsor has to back the Blue Card with the qualifying high-skill contract, the route's salary logic, and the approval path needed before the worker files after arrival.

  • Issue a highly qualified employment contract of at least six months that matches the Blue Card route.
  • Keep the salary and role evidence aligned with the live highly qualified threshold.
  • Support any ministry follow-up, especially if the employer is relying on the recognized-employer fast-track timing.
5National Registry of Administrative Public Services — Residence permit for highly qualified employees ('E.1') following approval of the employer's request – Initial granting4Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Codification of legislation on the entry, residence and social integration of third-country nationals in Greece

Intra-corporate transfer permit

Greek host entity within the group

The Greek entity has to support the secondment file and prove that the transferee fits the permitted ICT role type and group-company structure.

  • Submit the host-side approval package before the worker seeks the visa and permit.
  • Show that the assignee is a manager, specialist, or trainee employee within the group.
  • Keep the transfer duration and host-company details consistent with the filed case.
6National Registry of Administrative Public Services — Inter-company transfer residence permit – Initial issuance ('E.2')

Researcher residence permit

Greek university or research organisation

The host institution carries the researcher route by issuing the hosting agreement and, where relevant, proving the organisation's approval status for the researcher framework.

  • Issue the hosting agreement that defines the research relationship.
  • Provide the approval basis if the host research body is private.
  • Answer any authority request about the host arrangement or research basis.
9Ministry of Migration and Asylum — Researchers (Article 61) - initial granting7Ministry of Migration and Asylum — Residence Permit Categories for Third Country Citizens & Documents to be Submitted

Seasonal work visa

Greek employer in agriculture, livestock, or fishing

Seasonal cases are tightly sponsor-led and available only in the listed sectors, with accommodation and invitation rules that the employer has to satisfy.

  • File the seasonal invitation within the permitted sector and quota framework.
  • Provide suitable accommodation and clear rental terms where the worker is expected to pay rent.
  • Keep the contract duration and seasonal role aligned with the filed invitation.
1Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs — Work for third country nationals in Greece2Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs — Legislative framework for the access of third-country nationals to the labour market for seasonal work

03

Employer requirements

04

Documents

Signed employment contract or offer package

Sponsors need the route-compliant contract, and Blue Card cases must show at least six months of highly qualified employment.

8Ministry of Migration and Asylum — Residence permit for dependent employment (Article 15) - initial granting5National Registry of Administrative Public Services — Residence permit for highly qualified employees ('E.1') following approval of the employer's request – Initial granting

Invitation or approval file

Standard employment, Blue Card, ICT, and seasonal cases all rely on a sponsor-driven approval or invitation stage before the worker can complete the rest of the immigration process.

1Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs — Work for third country nationals in Greece6National Registry of Administrative Public Services — Inter-company transfer residence permit – Initial issuance ('E.2')

Hosting agreement or host approval proof

Researcher sponsors need the hosting agreement, and private research bodies also need the approval basis shown in the ministry checklist.

9Ministry of Migration and Asylum — Researchers (Article 61) - initial granting

Accommodation terms for seasonal workers

Seasonal sponsors must document suitable accommodation and clear rental terms where rent is charged.

1Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs — Work for third country nationals in Greece2Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs — Legislative framework for the access of third-country nationals to the labour market for seasonal work

05

Process

1

Choose the route and prepare the sponsor-side file

Before the worker applies, the sponsor has to decide whether the case is standard employment, Blue Card, ICT, researcher, or seasonal work and prepare the route-specific approval file.

1Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs — Work for third country nationals in Greece7Ministry of Migration and Asylum — Residence Permit Categories for Third Country Citizens & Documents to be Submitted
2

Issue the contract, host agreement, or transfer documents

The sponsor then supplies the signed contract, hosting agreement, or intra-group transfer package that the worker will rely on for the visa and residence stages.

8Ministry of Migration and Asylum — Residence permit for dependent employment (Article 15) - initial granting5National Registry of Administrative Public Services — Residence permit for highly qualified employees ('E.1') following approval of the employer's request – Initial granting9Ministry of Migration and Asylum — Researchers (Article 61) - initial granting
3

Support the visa and permit stages until decision

Sponsors should expect to stay involved through the D-visa stage, the online residence filing where applicable, and any authority follow-up on wages, role fit, host status, or accommodation.

3Ministry of Foreign Affairs — National Visas6National Registry of Administrative Public Services — Inter-company transfer residence permit – Initial issuance ('E.2')2Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs — Legislative framework for the access of third-country nationals to the labour market for seasonal work

06

Warnings

Warning

Sponsors cannot skip route selection

Authorities split Greece's non-EU work system into distinct categories, so sponsors that start with the wrong route can end up rebuilding the file rather than correcting a minor formality.

1Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs — Work for third country nationals in Greece7Ministry of Migration and Asylum — Residence Permit Categories for Third Country Citizens & Documents to be Submitted
Warning

Seasonal accommodation duties are explicit

Seasonal employers have to provide suitable accommodation and transparent rental terms where rent is charged, so this route should not be treated like a simple short fixed-term hire.

1Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs — Work for third country nationals in Greece2Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs — Legislative framework for the access of third-country nationals to the labour market for seasonal work

07

Official sources

1

Work for third country nationals in Greece

ypergasias.gov.gr/en/labour-relations/individual-employment-relations/work-for-third-country-nationals-in-greece/

official · Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs · checked 2026-04-23
2

Legislative framework for the access of third-country nationals to the labour market for seasonal work

ypergasias.gov.gr/en/brexit-2/legislative-framework-for-the-access-of-third-country-nationals-to-the-labour-market-for-seasonal-work/

official · Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs · checked 2026-04-23
3

National Visas

www.mfa.gr/en/services/national-visas/

official · Ministry of Foreign Affairs · checked 2026-04-23
4

Codification of legislation on the entry, residence and social integration of third-country nationals in Greece

www.mfa.gr/missionsabroad/images/docs/ethnikes_theoriseis/codification_of_legislation_en.pdf

legislation · Ministry of Foreign Affairs · checked 2026-04-23
5

Residence permit for highly qualified employees ('E.1') following approval of the employer's request – Initial granting

en.mitos.gov.gr/index.php/%CE%94%CE%94%3AResidence_permit_for_highly_qualified_employees_%28%E2%80%98E.1%E2%80%99%29_following_approval_of_the_employer%E2%80%99s_request_%E2%80%93_Initial_granting

official · National Registry of Administrative Public Services · checked 2026-04-23
6

Inter-company transfer residence permit – Initial issuance ('E.2')

en.mitos.gov.gr/index.php/%CE%94%CE%94%3AInter-company_transfer_residence_permit_%E2%80%93_Initial_issuance_%28%E2%80%98E.2%E2%80%99%29

official · National Registry of Administrative Public Services · checked 2026-04-23
7

Residence Permit Categories for Third Country Citizens & Documents to be Submitted

migration.gov.gr/en/migration-policy/metanasteusi-stin-ellada/katigories-adeion-diamonis-politon-triton-choron-dikaiologitika%E2%80%8B/

official · Ministry of Migration and Asylum · checked 2026-04-23
8

Residence permit for dependent employment (Article 15) - initial granting

migration.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/1.1.1-Residence-permit-for-dependent-employment-Article-15-1.docx

official · Ministry of Migration and Asylum · checked 2026-04-23
9

Researchers (Article 61) - initial granting

migration.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/3-3-1-%CE%95%CF%81%CE%B5%CF%85%CE%BD%CE%B7%CF%84%CE%AD%CF%82-%CE%86%CF%81%CE%B8%CF%81%CE%BF-61-.docx

official · Ministry of Migration and Asylum · checked 2026-04-23