Visa and documentation for work in Greece – complete guide
If you are planning to work in Greece, it is important to prepare for the visa process in time. Although it may seem complicated at first, with good organisation everything can be completed without major difficulties.
Important: the process of hiring foreign workers in Greece is always initiated by the employer. A candidate cannot obtain a work permit independently — the employer submits the request to the competent authorities in Greece, and after approval forwards it to the Greek Embassy in Belgrade.
Before starting the process, check whether your passport is valid and meets the necessary conditions, as the process cannot continue without this.
Check your passport
The passport must be valid for at least one year (ideally longer) and have at least three blank pages. Without meeting these conditions the process cannot continue.
Preparing basic documentation
You need to prepare the following documentation:
- –Copy of the first page of your passport
- –Two passport-format photographs
- –Employment contract
- –Mandatory travel insurance
Court certificate (proof of no criminal conviction) — approximately 1,300 RSD; submitted at the court, usually issued on the same day.
Police certificate (proof of no administrative offences) — approximately 300 RSD; ready no earlier than 7 days after the request.
These documents do not require additional translation or notarisation.
Medical examination
A medical examination is required, based on the official form from the Greek Embassy website. The form is printed in Serbian and completed by a general practitioner — it must be fully and correctly filled in. Prices start from around 15,000 RSD.
The examination includes:
- –Laboratory tests (blood and urine analysis)
- –Abdominal ultrasound
- –Chest X-ray
- –Psychological and psychiatric assessment
- –ECG
- –Ophthalmological examination
Travel insurance
Travel insurance must meet the following conditions:
- –Covers at least 91 days of stay
- –Minimum coverage of €30,000
- –Includes COVID-19 protection
A multi-entry policy is recommended — costs around 22,000 RSD and provides greater flexibility. A single-entry policy costs around 14,000 RSD.
Scheduling an appointment at the Greek Embassy
Once you have collected all the necessary documentation, schedule an appointment at the embassy. On the day of the appointment you must bring your passport. The visa fee is paid at the embassy and amounts to approximately €180.
Our advice
Collect documents in parallel — court, police, medical and insurance — to avoid unnecessary delays. Once you receive the employer's approval, contact the embassy immediately, as waiting times can be longer during peak periods. If you get an early appointment, you can suggest a date a few days later to allow time to complete all documentation.
What happens after the embassy?
Once the employer receives approval of the request, it is forwarded to the Greek Embassy in Belgrade. The employee attends the scheduled appointment with complete documentation, signs the employment contract and pays the fee. The decision on visa D approval is usually made within a few days.
Visa D for work in Greece is initially approved for a period of up to 91 days and is therefore called the entry visa. During this period you must enter Greece in order to obtain the first electronic confirmation of the work permit. After that you can begin the procedure for obtaining the necessary documents (AFM, AMKA, bank account). The entire procedure must be completed within 91 days, otherwise you lose the right to obtain a residence permit of 9–12 months.
Important: you must not enter the country before the start date of your visa, as entry may be treated as a tourist entry and affect the further procedure. For example, if the visa starts on 30 April — enter on 30 April, not on 29 April.
Upon arrival in Greece
You must submit an application at the competent Directorate for Foreigners and Migration. Exact location details are provided by the employer or lawyer. Copies of all pages of the passport must be submitted — not just the pages with stamps, otherwise the application will not be accepted.
Before submitting the application, you must pay the administrative fee (e-paravolo) of approximately €150, which can be paid at a bank or post office, after which you submit proof of payment.
Can a lawyer handle the entire process?
Yes. If an authorised lawyer handles the entire process, the procedure can be simplified. After entry, the employee sends the lawyer scanned photographs of all pages of the passport by email. The lawyer provides a power of attorney form, which is printed in at least two copies and notarised at the nearest KEP (Citizens' Service Centre). One notarised copy is scanned and returned to the lawyer, who then submits the application for the electronic confirmation of residence and work.
The approximate cost of legal services for the entire process is around €700 + VAT.
Obligations upon arrival at the place of employment
AFM – tax number
Obtained at the nearest tax office, issued on the same day. You need to bring: passport, copy of passport, migration confirmation (βεβαίωση), and sometimes the employment contract and address of residence in Greece.
Employment registration – ERGANI
The employer registers the employee in the ERGANI system. Only personal details and the AFM number are required.
Opening a bank account
Any bank in Greece (e.g. National Bank, Alpha Bank). Bring: passport, AFM, migration confirmation (βεβαίωση), employment contract, and sometimes a Greek phone number and proof of address. You receive an IBAN.
Nikana Connect is a platform that connects candidates and employers but does not participate in the hiring process or administrative procedures. The information in this article is for informational purposes only and is subject to change.