GreeceWork
Greece seasonal work visa
Seasonal work national visa (E.5) and multi-year seasonal residence permit (E.6)
In short
Greek employers in agriculture, tourism and fisheries can invite seasonal workers within the admission quotas. After the employment approval the consulate issues an E.5 seasonal work visa within 60 days, and you can start work on arrival; holders can then apply for the E.6 permit, valid up to five years for up to nine months of work in each 12.
Apply on Ministry of Migration and Asylum – electronic applications checked 23 October 2026
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to nine months of residence and work in any 12-month period on the E.6 permit; leave Greece for the remaining three months.
- Validity
- E.6 permit up to five years, depending on the employment contract, with multiple entries.
- Fee
- €91E.6 permit fee EUR 75 plus EUR 16 for the card (Mitos). The employer pays separate fees for the invitation.
- Processing time
- Consulate: decision on the E.5 visa within 60 days of a complete application. E.6 permit: estimated 50 to 80 days.
- Work
- Only for the inviting employer and post; changes of employer or job are not allowed during the contract.
- Path to permanent residence
- Seasonal permits do not lead to long-term residence and cannot be changed into another permit category.
- Where to apply
- In person at the Greek embassy or consulate where you legally reside, by appointment with the mission.
How the invitation works
Greece sets maximum numbers of seasonal posts by region and specialty. The employer applies electronically for an employment approval, attaching a seasonal contract that states the type, place, start and duration of work, weekly hours and pay, which may not be below the wage of an unskilled worker. The employer must also prove suitable accommodation and cover the return cost in the cases set by law.
E.5 visa, then the E.6 permit
With the approval, the consulate checks the general national visa documents and must decide within 60 days. The E.5 visa lets you start work immediately after arrival. Before it expires you may apply online for the E.6 permit, which allows several seasons under one approval and one permit.
- Your future employer applies online for the seasonal employment approval within the quota.
- The approval and contract are sent to the Greek consulate; book your national visa appointment.
- Submit the general documents; the consulate decides within 60 days.
- Travel to Greece on the E.5 visa and start work.
- Optionally, before the visa expires, apply online for the multi-year E.6 permit (EUR 75 + EUR 16).
Forms
- Application for a long-stay national visa (Greece) · Signed form that also serves as a solemn declaration under Law 1599/1986.
Overstay and refusal
Not leaving at the end of the season can lead to a re-entry ban of up to five years. Permit refusals can be challenged by a request for review or an administrative appeal; the authority answers within 30 days.
Housing and rights
Employers must report any change of the worker’s accommodation. If inspections find housing unfit or unsafe, the employer is fined EUR 1,500 and barred from inviting seasonal workers for five years. Workers have the rights of legal residents, limited by the temporary nature of their stay.
Documents
Required documents
Identity
- Signed national visa application form with a recent ICAO-standard colour photo; it doubles as a solemn declaration that the data are true.
- Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months after the planned departure, with at least two blank pages.
Work
- Employment approval for seasonal work issued to the Greek employer.
- Seasonal employment contract signed by the employer and you, with pay at least at the unskilled worker level.
Insurance
- Travel insurance for at least the length of the visa, covering emergency care, hospitalisation and medical repatriation.
- Proof of full sickness insurance for all risks covered for Greek nationals during the work period.
Other
- Criminal record certificate from the country of residence; the consulate may also ask for one from the country of nationality.
- Medical certificate on the official model (Annex II) from a recognised public or private institution, confirming no disease that threatens public health.
- For the E.6 permit: employer’s solemn declarations on suitable accommodation and on covering the return cost where required.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change employer during the season?
No. The seasonal visa and permit are tied to the post and employer that started the procedure.
Who pays for my housing?
The employer must provide suitable accommodation and prove it; the contract states any deduction.
Can I switch from seasonal work to a regular work permit?
No. The Migration Code excludes the seasonal permit from changes of purpose.
Official sources
- Mitos – Seasonal work residence permit in tourism (E.6) – initial issuance
- Mitos – Seasonal work residence permit in agriculture (E.6) – initial issuance
- Greek MFA – General supporting documents and procedure for national D visas (Law 5038/2023, MD 22343/2024)
- Ministry of Migration and Asylum – Circular 6 on applying the Migration Code (Law 5038/2023): categories, durations, sufficient resources
- EU Immigration Portal – Seasonal worker in Greece
Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.
Other visa types for Greece
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the whole Schengen area.
- Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the whole Schengen area.
- Transit visa Maximum stay: Only the days needed for the transit, within the 90/180-day limit.
- Medical treatment visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the whole Schengen area.
- Culture, sports and events visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the whole Schengen area.
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the whole Schengen area.
- Investor visa Validity: Five years, renewable for the same period while the investment continues or operates.
Study and training
- Student visa Maximum stay: For the length of studies; the national visa itself is valid for up to one year.
- Researcher visa Maximum stay: For the duration of the hosting agreement.
- Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: For the length of the traineeship agreement.
Work
- Work visa Maximum stay: Long stay; the visa is converted into the residence permit.
- EU Blue Card Maximum stay: Long stay; the card allows residence and work in Greece.
- Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: Total transfer period across the EU: up to 3 years for managers and specialists, 1 year for trainees.
- Digital nomad visa Maximum stay: Visa for up to 12 months; residence permit afterwards.
Family
- Family reunification visa Validity: Family permits run for the same period as the sponsor’s permit.
- Spouse and partner visa Validity: Five years; renewed for another five years where needed for the children’s situation.
Residence
- Golden visa and residence by investment Maximum stay: Permanent residence right while the investment is held; the card is renewed every five years.
- Retirement visa Validity: Under the Migration Code initial permits are, as a rule, issued for three years and renewed for the same period; the exact validity is printed on the permit.
- Permanent residence Validity: M.1: five years, renewable for five years. M.2: ten years, then automatic conversion to M.1 if absences were limited.
Protection
- Asylum and international protection Maximum stay: You may stay until a final decision; the applicant card is valid from 30 days to one year and must be renewed on time.