As of March 1, 2024, a total of 4,790 third-country nationals have applied for Greece’s new residence permit that allows them to take up jobs in the country.
Greece decided to start issuing these new types of permits that remain valid for three years in an attempt to offer legal employment to those who meet the requirements and to regularise their situation, SchengenVisaInfo reports.
As soon as the new rules became effective, a large number of third-country nationals expressed their interest and decided to apply for the document.
As the authorities have revealed, of the third-country applicants who have applied for the permit so far, 828 have already received a residence permit.
On the other hand, 3,952 applications for the permit are yet to be processed.
The number of applications is expected to increase in the next months, with the authorities saying that over 10,000 people have visited the digital application platform since February 9, when the digital platform for submitting applications was activated.
These Are the Requirements for Obtaining the New Residence Permit for Employment
To be eligible for a residence permit for employment in Greece, third-country nationals must meet several conditions.
The applicants need to have a job offer declaration for a Greek employer, displaying employment under a dependent employer.
In addition, the applicants must prove that they had been residing in Greece without a residence permit until November 30, 2023, and that they continue to reside in the country.
Third-country nationals applying for the permit must also prove that they have been residing in Greece for a minimum period of three consecutive years prior to submitting their application.
Moreover, the applicants must hold a passport, regardless of its validity and must prove that they have no criminal records.
Lastly, those applying for the new residence permit for employment are required to pay a €300 fee and €16 for the printing of the residence permit.
Application Process for New Residence Permit is Completely Electronic
The application for the new residence permit for employment needs to be submitted electronically to the local authority service of the Decentralised Administration in the region where third-country nationals intend to work.
Once the application is submitted, the authorities thoroughly check all the information, and within 40 days, a certificate of application submission is issued.
As soon as the certificate is issued, third-country nationals then have another 60 days to submit supporting documents for the commencement of employment. All the documents need to be submitted electronically.
Those who fail to submit the required documents within the given timeframe are rejected for their first application.
Approved residence permit applications are valid for a period of three years from the date of issuance.
