Significant changes in the framework of legal immigration are introduced in the new bill of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum, aimed at addressing chronic malfunctions in the issuance and renewal of residence permits, reducing bureaucracy, and meeting the needs of the Greek economy in terms of labour. The draft law, which will be introduced to the relevant Parliamentary Committee in the coming period, comes at a time when the debate on immigration is once again taking centre stage at both national and European levels, with the government seeking a clear distinction between legal and illegal immigration. “With the new bill on legal immigration, we are putting an end to chronic delays and bureaucratic deadlocks that have plagued workers and businesses,” Immigration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris.

There are currently about 793,000 legal immigrants residing in Greece, but nearly 293,000 applications for residence permits remain pending. Delays in their examination have led to problems for the beneficiaries, as permits are often issued after they have expired, creating insecurity and difficulties in employment and social integration. With the new regulations, some 90,000 pending permits are expected to be cleared immediately, with an estimated 90,000 more expected to be cleared over the course of two years.

The provisions of the bill

The bill introduces regulations aimed at facilitating immigrants who are already in the country legally. Provision is made for the automatic renewal of certain categories of residence permits, especially when the migrant continues to work for the same employer, in order to avoid the repeated submission of files without a substantial reason. At the same time, each new permit will have a minimum duration of two years, so that the administration’s delay does not burden the migrant himself and does not lead to a formal loss of his legal status.

There is a special provision for immigrants who have been legally residing in Greece for five years or more and whose application was previously rejected for purely formal reasons. Those concerned are given the opportunity to reapply and receive a residence permit, provided that the formal omissions are remedied, ensuring their full integration in the country.

At the same time, the ministry is strengthening the decentralized administrations that examine applications and introducing the possibility of transferring files between regions, to decongest services with heavy workloads and speed up the process overall. In the same context, provision is made for migrants over 65, mainly first generation, who have lived and worked legally in Greece for at least 20 years. They will be given the possibility to stay without the obligation to work, provided that they have private health and pension insurance, thus avoiding the burden on the public social security system.

Direct recruitment of workers from third countries

The bill also introduces significant changes to theprocedure for the recall of workers from third countries, to reduce bureaucracy and fill vacancies more quickly. Procedures are simplified, and temporary employment agencies are given the ability to make post-callings on behalf of companies facing immediate staffing needs. Particular emphasis is also placed on major projects, where up to 500 workers are to be recruited immediately, while procedures at consulates are being simplified, reducing the time needed to issue the necessary documents.

An important innovation is the possibility of changing employer for those who enter the country through recall, without losing their legal residence status, enhancing labour market mobility and reducing phenomena of dependency or exploitation. In addition, transnational agreements with third countries, such as the Philippines, Armenia, and Egypt, particularly in areas such as agricultural production, are made with the explicit condition of cooperation in the fight against illegal immigration.

“Greece is reshaping the legal route.”

With the new framework, the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum aspires to create a more efficient and functional legal migration system that will support the economy and the labour market, restore legal certainty for legally resident migrants and at the same time maintain a strict stance against illegal migration.

“We are liberalizing and speeding up the procedures for issuing and renewing residence and work permits, with simpler procedures. Greece remains absolutely strict against illegal immigration but is reshaping the legal route for those who want to work by filling the labour gaps in sectors such as agriculture, construction and tourism,” Plevris stressed, speaking to APE-MPE.

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Source: APE-MPE
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