Greece permanent residence (long-term resident)

The Migration Code created a ten-year permit with full labour-market access for people who have ten years of legal residence and meet the relevant integration criterion of the Citizenship Code, people born in Greece or who completed six grades of Greek school before age 23, adults who arrived as unaccompanied minors and completed three secondary grades, and family members of Greeks with five years of residence. At expiry it converts automatically into long-term resident status if absences stayed under six consecutive months and ten months in total in the last five years.

You need five years of lawful and continuous residence before applying. Income of your own must reach at least the annual minimum wage, plus 10% for each dependent family member; unemployment benefit can count. You need full social security cover for yourself and your family and must meet an integration condition: knowledge of the Greek language and of Greek history and culture, a family residence card as a relative of a Greek, a positive opinion of the Citizenship Committee, or twelve years of legal residence.

Absences shorter than six consecutive months and not exceeding ten months in total during the five years do not break continuity. EU Blue Card holders benefit from wider limits.

Long-term residents receive equal treatment with Greek citizens in employment, education, recognition of qualifications, social security, tax benefits, access to public services and housing, and free movement within Greece. Reasoned refusals can be challenged before the issuing authority or the administrative court.