Factsheet for measure
GR-2023-51/3872
– measures in Greece
Residence permit with the right to work for third-country nationals who have been working illegally in Greece up to 31/12/2023
Άδεια διαμονής με δικαίωμα πρόσβασης στην εργασία σε πολίτες τρίτων χωρών που εργάζονται παράνομα στην Ελλάδα έως τις 31/12/202
Background information
On 19 December 2023, during the voting process of Law 5078/2023, addressing issues of the Ministry of Labour, Article 193 also included “Provisions on matters under the competence of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.”
Article 193 provides for the granting of a residence permit for dependent employment to third-country nationals who had not entered Greece legally by 30 November 2023 and are not covered by any of the previous regularisation provisions.
Although the regularisation measure is of limited duration (valid until 31 December 2024), it aims to address the long-standing issue of a large number of third-country nationals who have been working illegally in Greece for years. At the same time, it seeks to meet the demands of the labour market and respond to the intensifying competition from other European countries for agricultural workers and, more broadly, for low and medium-skilled workers.
Content of measure
The new provision, Article 193 of Law 5078/2023, allows for the granting of a residence permit for dependent employment and the provision of services or work to third-country nationals, provided that:
-
they have a job offer from an employer in Greece for dependent employment or service/ work provision and subsequently provide proof of actual employment,
-
they were residing in Greece by 30 November 2023,
-
they continue to reside in the country,
-
they can demonstrate at least three (3) consecutive years of residence prior to submitting the application, based on official public documents,
-
they are in possession of a passport, even if it has expired, and
*no public order concerns apply to them.
The residence permit is granted once, is valid for three (3) years, and upon its expiration, the holder may apply for a change of residence permit category in accordance with Article 12 of Law 5038/2023.
This provision also allows for the regularization of the applicant's spouse and minor children, provided they resided in Greece by 30 November 2023.
Use of measure
It is estimated that the measure concerns approximately 30,000 workers.
Target groups
Actors and funding
|
Actors
|
Funding
|
National government
|
No special funding required
|
Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
|
Trade unions
|
Employers' organisations
|
|
Role
|
No involvement
|
No involvement
|
|
Form
|
Not applicable
|
Not applicable
|
Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
-
No involvement
-
Main level of involvement: N/A
Involvement
There is no involvement of social partners.
Views and reactions
The amendment allowing – under specific conditions – the employment of third-country nationals in Greece was approved by the Hellenic Parliament with a broad majority (262 votes out of 300).
Regarding the social partners, there are no reactions to the measure.
Sources
