Greece
Introduction
Greece has been a member of the European Union since 1981. While initially closing its free labor market to the eight A8 countries that joined the European Union in 2004, as of May 1st, 2006, citizens of these countries are free to work in Greece.
Living and Working in Greece
EU/EEA Citizens
For EU/EEA citizens, living in working in Greece - as with most other EU nations - is not a difficult process, beyond a simple registration procedure with the local authorities. However, citizens of Bulgaria and Romania must still get a work permit to take employment in Greece, which will only be granted if another EU citizen cannot be found to fill the position.
Non-EU/EEA Citizens
If you are a third country citizen wishing to reside and take employment in Greece, a proper visa and residence permit are required, and in most cases, a work permit. You must first apply for the appropriate long-term visa at a Green consulate that serves your country of nationality. In the case of citizens of nations who do not normally require a visa to enter Greece as a visitor, this long-term visa is still required.
Once the visa is granted, you can enter Greece and submit your documents to the appropriate municipal authority for granting of a residence permit. If you are going to work for a Greek or international employer based in Greece, you will need to submit documentation from your employer (contract, duration of employment, confirmation of making at least minimum wage) when applying for the residence permit.
Proof of registration with the state social insurance authority is required as well, along with appropriate health insurance.
Other documents include:
- Three color passport-format photographs
- Copy of your passport
- Health certificate showing that you do not suffer from contagious diseases defined by the World Health Organization
The fee for a residence permit ranges between 150 and 900 Euros, depending on the class and duration of the permit. Some immigrants are exempt from this fee, such as those receiving residence based on humanitarian grounds, such as victims of human traffiking.
Starting a business or investing in Greece
For many countries, starting a business provides an alternate route to immigrating to a country. Immigrants wishing to start a business in Greece must have 60,000 Euros deposited in a personal Greek bank account. Those wishing to receive a residence permit based on investment purposes must make an initial investment of at least 300,000 Euros.