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On 06.02.2026, Law 5275/2026 (the “Law”) on the promotion of legal migration policies and the transposition of Directive (EU) 2024/1233 was published, introducing significant amendments to the Greek Immigration Code. The purpose of the Law is to establish a comprehensive immmigration policy framework that regulates and ensures the attraction of third-country nationals exclusively through lawful procedures and contributes to the prevention and tackling of irregular immigration.
The most significant amendments concern the following areas:
1. The Law introduces:
a) a single application procedure for the granting of a single permit, which allows third-country nationals to reside in the Greek territory for employment purposes, aiming to simplify the admission procedures for such persons and to facilitate the monitoring of their status; and
b) a common set of rights for third-country workers legally residing in the Greek territory, regardless of the purpose of their initial admission, based on equal treatment with that accorded to Greek nationals (article 3).
2. The procedure for submitting a residence permit renewal application is revised as follows:
A third-country national must submit the relevant renewal application within two (2) months prior to the expiry of the residence permit. A late application for renewal of a residence permit may be submitted up to three (3) months after its expiry – instead of one (1) month as previously provided. In this case, a fine of one hundred (100) euros is imposed for each month of delay. After the lapse of three (3) months from the expiry of the residence permit, submission of the relevant application is not possible, unless reasons of force majeure are present (article 12).
3. Third-country nationals entering Greece for the purpose of studies or research, or for studies at a College, may, upon completion of their studies or research, remain in Greece for a period of one (1) year in order to:
(a) seek employment as highly skilled workers, special purpose workers, or employees under a dependent employment relationship; or
(b) establish a business (article 13).
4. The validity period of the “EU Blue Card” is increased from two (2) to three (3) years and is renewed for three (3) years each time (article 19).
5. Lawfully licensed temporary employment agencies with a share capital of €1,000,000 may recruit workers as direct employers for the purpose of further secondment to indirect employers (article 21). The issuance of a Ministerial Decision is expected for the implementation of this provision.
6. Third-country nationals wishing to enter the country as specialized technical personnel of an enterprise established in a third country, within the framework of its contract with a domestic company for the construction of production units in the sectors of technology, pharmaceuticals and industry [provided that the investment exceeds ten million euros (€10,000,000)], are granted a National Visa permitting residence for employment (residence permit type “Z.13”). The visa is issued for a duration equal to the time required for the fulfillment of the contractual obligation undertaken by the enterprise established in a third country and may not exceed, in total, twelve (12) months (aarticle 22).
7. Third-country nationals wishing to enter the country as employees exclusively in companies registered in the National Startup Registry (“Elevate Greece”) are granted a National Visa for entry and residence of twelve (12) months (“Tech visa” – residence permit category “Z.13A”). The third-country national may be accompanied by their family members, who receive a corresponding National Visa and may not change employer during the validity of the National Visa. Before the expiry of the National Visa the third-country national may apply for a residence permit type “E.1” – “EU Blue Card” (article 23).
8. Third-country nationals who have been admitted to Higher Education Institutions and Legal Entities of University Education in the country for a period of up to one (1) year as visiting professors are granted, by the competent Greek consular authority, a National Visa for a period of up to twelve (12) months permitting their residence in the Greek territory for this purpose (residence permit type “Z.14”) (article 24).
9. Third-country nationals who are graduates of a higher education institution abroad (included in at least two (2) international ranking lists) and holders of a master’s, doctoral or postdoctoral degree from a higher education institution abroad (also included in at least two (2) international ranking lists) are granted a National Visa of twelve (12) months for the purpose of admission to seek employment or to develop professional activity (residence permit type “Z.15”) (article 25).
10. Third-country nationals who are students of higher education institutions abroad that have concluded cooperation agreements with Colleges in Greece and exclusively provide studies, on the one hand, under validation and franchising agreements with higher education institutions abroad and, on the other hand, under study programs leading to a postgraduate degree, provided that these programs are accredited by international accreditation bodies, are granted a National Visa of up to nine (9) months (residence permit type “Z.16”) (article 26).