New Regulations for Legal Immigration: 90,000 Permits Unblocked

The Ministry of Migration and Asylum is introducing new regulations for legal immigration, aiming to immediately clear a backlog of 90,000 pending residence permits. The draft law seeks to address chronic delays and bureaucratic impasses.

The Minister of Migration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, stated that Greece remains strict towards illegal immigration but is reshaping the legal pathway for those who wish to work, filling gaps in sectors such as agricultural production, construction, and tourism.

According to the ministry, approximately 793,000 legal immigrants currently reside in Greece, while 293,000 applications for residence permits are pending. The new regulations include the automatic renewal of residence permits for employees with the same employer and a minimum duration of two years for each new permit.

Additionally, there is a provision for the re-submission of applications for immigrants who have legally resided in Greece for five years or more and whose application had been rejected for purely formal reasons. Furthermore, decentralized administrations are being strengthened, and the procedures for inviting workers from third countries are being simplified.

Particular emphasis is placed on the possibility of changing employers for those entering the country through invitation, as well as on strengthening interstate agreements with countries such as the Philippines, Armenia, and Egypt.