Greece Skilled Worker Visa (Type D)
Greece GRC
Greece's Skilled Worker Visa, restructured under Law 5038/2023 and amendments through 2024, is a Type D long-stay residence permit for non-EU skilled workers employed by a Greek employer. The route covers both standard sponsored employment and the EU Blue Card variant for highly-qualified professionals (€41,650/year salary threshold for Greek Blue Card from 2024). Greek employer sponsors handle the bulk of the application, including the work-permit nulla osta from the Migration Ministry. Standard naturalisation requires 7 years of physical residence plus B1 Greek language and the Panhellenic Naturalisation Examination — the longest among major southern-EU routes. The 50% Impatriate Regime (Article 5C) provides a meaningful tax incentive for qualifying inbound employees.
Program Details
- Category
- Skilled Worker
- Processing Time
- 6 months
- Application Fee
- $320
- Minimum Income
- $30,000/mo
- Minimum Investment
- —
- Family Included
- Spouse and minor children may join via family reunification once main applicant holds residence permit
- Path to PR
- Yes — 5 years
- Path to Citizenship
- Yes — 7 years
- Physical Presence
- Continuous Greek residence required; absences over 6 months affect renewal and naturalisation timelines.
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Tax Impact
- Tax resident on worldwide income from 183-day rule. Standard progressive PIT to 44%. The Greek 50% Impatriate Regime (Article 5C) and the Special Tax Regime for HNWIs (€100,000 lump-sum) may apply to qualifying employees.
- Renewal Cost
- $200
Approximately €27,000/year (1.5x Greek average salary for the EU Blue Card variant); standard skilled worker route requires above the Greek minimum wage and varies by sector and quota.
Application Timeline
Apply
6mo processing
Visa Granted
Initial permit
Permanent Residency
After 5 years
Citizenship
After 7 years
Key Requirements
- ✓Employment contract with Greek employer above sector-relevant salary thresholds
- ✓Migration Ministry nulla osta (work-permit authorisation)
- ✓Recognised qualification under Greek regulatory framework (where applicable)
- ✓Adequate accommodation in Greece
- ✓Clean criminal record
- ✓Valid health insurance (transitions to EFKA after enrolment)
Am I eligible for Greece Skilled Worker Visa (Type D)?
Quick self-check based on the published criteria. Not legal advice. No data leaves your browser.
Nationality eligibility
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Minimum monthly income
Programme requires $30,000/month.
Fill in the fields above to see a verdict.
This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.
Nationality Restrictions
This program restricts applications from nationals of: EU/EEA/Swiss nationals do not require this visa
Application Process — Step by Step
- 01
Greek employer secures Migration Ministry nulla osta
destinationGreek employer applies for work-permit authorisation (nulla osta) at the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, demonstrating labour-market need and meeting sector-specific salary thresholds.
Typical duration: 60-120 days
- 02
Apply for Type D entry visa at Greek consulate
home countryWith nulla osta in hand, apply at the Greek consulate in your country of residence. Submit application, biometrics, and supporting documents.
Typical duration: 30-60 days
- 03
Travel to Greece and apply for residence permit
destinationWithin 6 months of visa issuance (3 months of arrival), submit residence permit application at Decentralised Administration of region of residence.
Typical duration: 60-180 days
- 04
Register AFM, AMKA, EFKA
destinationObtain Greek tax number (AFM), social security number (AMKA), and EFKA enrolment for healthcare and pension contributions.
Typical duration: 2-4 weeks
- 05
Apply for Article 5C Impatriate Regime if eligible
destinationWithin the first year of becoming Greek tax resident, apply for the 50% income-tax exemption under Article 5C if profession qualifies.
Typical duration: 2-4 weeks
Documents Required
| Document | Issued By | Apostille | Translate to | Validity (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid passport (6+ months) | Home country | No | — | 180 |
| Migration Ministry nulla osta (work permit) | Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum | No | — | 180 |
| Employment contract | Greek employer | No | el | 180 |
| Educational / professional qualification | Educational institution / professional body | Yes | el | — |
| Criminal record certificate | Home country | Yes | el | 90 |
| Proof of accommodation | Landlord / property registry | No | el | 180 |
| Health insurance | Insurer | No | el | 365 |
Realistic Costs
Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: lawyer_fee_low, lawyer_fee_high, translations, relocation_misc.
Greek employer typically bears the nulla osta application costs. Legal/agent fees borne by applicant or employer depending on contract terms.
Realistic Timeline
- Consulate wait4–16 weeks
- Decision → arrival4 weeks
- Residence card issuance24 weeks
- Total to residence card32–60 weeks
Decentralised Administration backlogs vary widely by region — Attica (Athens) is significantly slower than peripheral regions.
Renewal
- First renewal after
- 24 months
- Subsequent cycle
- 36 months
- Renewal fee
- $200
- Requirements
- Continued employment, sufficient income, EFKA contribution compliance, clean criminal record.
Path to Permanent Residency — Details
- Years required
- 5
- Integration test
- Not required
Path to Citizenship — Details
- Years required
- 7
- Language test
- Yes (B1)
- Civic test
- Required
- Oath
- Required
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
Tax Residency
- Trigger
- 183 days/year of presence
- Taxation scope
- Worldwide income
- Exit-tax country
- No
Special regimes
- Greek Impatriate Regime (Article 5C)50% exemption on Greek-source employment / self-employment income for 7 years
Tax resident outside Greece in the prior 5 of 6 years; commitment to remain Greek tax resident for at least 2 years; activity primarily in Greece.
Duration: 7 years
source ↗
Health Insurance
- Mandatory
- Yes
- Minimum coverage
- $30,000
- Public system access
- After 1 months
Examples: EFKA (public), Allianz Care, Cigna Global, Interamerican
Family Specifics
- Spouse work rights
- Spouse receives residence permit with full work rights after family reunification
- Child school enrolment
- Full access to Greek public schools and international schools
- Parent inclusion
- Eligible (min age 65)
- Sibling inclusion
- Not eligible
Gotchas — Things to Watch For
- ⚠7-year naturalisation timeline plus B1 Greek + Panhellenic Examination is among the longest in southern EU
- ⚠Article 5C Impatriate Regime requires committed 2-year Greek tax residence — early departure may trigger clawback
- ⚠Decentralised Administration processing varies dramatically by region
- ⚠Greek qualification recognition (DOATAP for academic, professional bodies for regulated professions) is a separate process and can be slow
What This Visa Does NOT Allow
- ×Employment with employer other than the visa-sponsoring entity without work-permit modification
- ×Self-employment (use Greece Self-Employment route)
Common Rejection Reasons
- •Salary below sector-specific threshold
- •Migration Ministry refusal of nulla osta on labour-market grounds
- •Inadequate qualification recognition
- •Insufficient employer documentation
Recent Legislative Changes
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the Skilled Worker route different from the Greek EU Blue Card?+
Both are for non-EU skilled employees of Greek employers. The EU Blue Card requires a higher salary threshold (€41,650/year for Greece in 2024) and a recognised university degree or 5+ years of equivalent experience. In return, EU Blue Card holders get faster intra-EU mobility (move to another EU country after 12-24 months) and accelerated permanent residency in some scenarios. The standard Skilled Worker route is more accessible at lower salary thresholds.
Does the 50% Impatriate Regime apply to all skilled-worker employees?+
It applies if you have not been Greek tax resident in the prior 5 of 6 years and commit to remain Greek tax resident for at least 2 years. The exemption covers 50% of Greek-source employment or self-employment income for 7 years. Foreign-source income (foreign dividends, foreign rental, foreign capital gains) is not exempt under Article 5C — that's covered under different regimes.
Why is naturalisation 7 years here vs 5 years in Portugal?+
Greek naturalisation by long residence requires 7 years of physical residence, B1 Greek (ΕΛΛ-Β1 certificate from the Centre for the Greek Language), and the Panhellenic Naturalisation Examination — a written test covering language, history, geography, and politics. Portugal's 5-year timeline plus the simpler CIPLE A2 test is materially easier to complete.
Good Fit For
Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.
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