Employers in Greece who plan to hire non-EU workers in 2027 do not have to wait until January. Under a notice dated 6 October 2026, the Ministry of Migration and Asylum accepts employment approval applications now for employment contracts that start in 2027.
What it provides
In its written reply no. 196204 of 06/10/2026, issued following relevant questions, the General Secretariat for Migration Policy informed the country's Decentralised Administrations and the Directorates for Aliens and Migration of the following:
- Employers can file employment approval applications for 2027 immediately, through the Ministry's online services. An application is "for 2027" when the employment contract starts in 2027.
- The one-stop services of the Decentralised Administrations and the Ministry reserve the corresponding positions. This covers dependent work, seasonal work and highly qualified work, as long as positions are available, either in the occupation itself or from surplus positions.
- The services issue the approval and send it both to the competent Greek consulate and to the employer.
- The employment approval is issued straight away. The start of the national entry visa, however, is tied to the start of employment in 2027, as set out in the employment contract.
What this means for employers
Hiring from abroad takes several steps: employment approval, an interview at the consulate for the issue of the visa, entry into Greece and then a residence permit. Applying now means the approval is ready before 2027 begins, so the worker can arrive close to the date the business needs them.
The start date in the employment contract needs care. It must fall in 2027, and the visa start depends on it. If the start date is set in 2026, a position will be reserved from those currently available (if and as long as any remain). If it is set later than the business actually needs, the worker will not be available when needed.
Positions are reserved only if they are available. In September 2026 the Ministry announced an internal reallocation of 11,000 positions under the same Cabinet Act 35/27.11.2025 (A' 241), because positions in some occupations had run out very quickly. Applying early lowers the risk that no position is left in the occupation you need.
If you are planning to hire third-country workers in 2027, our firm can handle the application and the employment contract. Contact us.