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Greece work visa (E.4 employment permit)

Work visa and residence permit for dependent employment after an invitation (E.4)

In short

A Greek employer who wants to hire you from abroad requests an employment approval within the national admission quotas. The approval goes to the Greek consulate, which issues the national work visa; in Greece you then apply online for the E.4 residence permit, paying EUR 150 plus EUR 16.

Apply on Ministry of Migration and Asylum – electronic applications checked 23 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Long stay; the visa is converted into the residence permit.
Validity
Under the Migration Code initial permits are issued as a rule for three years and renewed for the same period.
Fee
€166Residence permit fee EUR 150 plus EUR 16 for the card (Mitos, E.4). The work visa has a separate consular fee.
Processing time
Estimated 50 to 80 days for the residence permit after a complete online application.
Work
Yes, for the employer and post approved; changes of employer are possible under conditions after the initial period.
Family
Family members can follow through the family reunification approval procedure.
Path to permanent residence
After five years of lawful residence you can apply for long-term resident status.
Where to apply
In person at the Greek embassy or consulate where you legally reside, by appointment with the mission.

Conditions

The post must fit the admission volumes that Greece sets by region and specialty in a joint ministerial decision. Your employment contract must be for at least one year of full-time work, with pay at least equal to the monthly earnings of an unskilled worker. The employer submits the approval request electronically through the Ministry’s system.

Employment approval, visa, permit

First the employer applies for the employment approval. The one-stop service checks the employer’s income and the available posts and sends the approval with the contract to the consulate. The consulate then examines only the general national visa documents; you sign the contract and receive the visa.

After entering Greece and once the visa is valid, apply online for the E.4 permit with the visa copy, the signed contract, the recruitment announcement and proof that you applied for full health insurance. Do not file before the visa’s start date, or the application is rejected and the fee is lost.

  1. Your Greek employer files the employment approval request online within the open quota for your specialty and region.
  2. After approval, book a national visa appointment at the Greek mission covering your residence.
  3. Submit the general documents, sign the employment contract and receive the national work visa.
  4. Travel to Greece and, once the visa is valid, apply online for the E.4 permit paying EUR 150 and EUR 16.
  5. Keep the certificate of submission, give biometrics and collect your permit.

Forms

Renewal

Renew within the two months before expiry. You need proof that you met your tax obligations and active insurance coverage for the period of the permit; a new contract is not required. Residence permits are renewed online within the two months before expiry; late filing can cost a fine and missing documents lead to rejection.

If the permit is refused

You can file an administrative appeal within two months of service of the decision, with a fee of EUR 50; the authority decides within 30 days. Court review before the administrative courts remains available.

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.
  • For the permit: one colour photo printed and in JPEG2000 on a CD or USB stick.

Work

  • Employment approval issued to your Greek employer, forwarded by the one-stop service to the consulate.
  • Signed employment contract for at least one year, full time, 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.
  • For the permit: certificate that you applied for full health insurance with the competent insurer.

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.

Frequently asked questions

Can I find a job in Greece while on a tourist visa and switch?

Not for the E.4 route: it requires the national visa issued after the employer’s approval. The exception is the EU Blue Card, which can be requested after entry with a C visa or visa-free.

Is there a minimum salary?

Yes, at least the monthly earnings of an unskilled worker, for full-time work.

What happens if I lose my job?

Your permit is renewed on the basis of paid tax and insurance records rather than a contract; periods of unemployment benefit can be counted. Seek a new job within the rules on changing employer.

Official sources

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

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

Work

  • 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.
  • Seasonal work visa 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.
  • Digital nomad visa Maximum stay: Visa for up to 12 months; residence permit afterwards.

Family

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

Greece visa guide