Jobs in Greece – Work Permit, Visa, Salary & Hiring Guide

Greece is a European Union member state and one of the most celebrated and historically significant countries on earth, situated in Southeastern Europe at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, with over 6,000 islands and islets scattered across the Aegean and Ionian seas. A founding member of the European Union and a full member of the Schengen Area, Greece combines a rich ancient heritage, a world-class tourism industry, a significant maritime and shipping sector, a growing digital economy, and a Mediterranean lifestyle that consistently attracts millions of people from across the globe.

Greece is facing one of its most acute and well-documented labour shortages in recent history, with an estimated requirement for 360,000 foreign workers to meet the demands of the tourism, agriculture, construction, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors. The country approved over 180,000 foreign job positions between the most recently reported consecutive years, and has signed bilateral labour agreements with multiple countries — including a landmark agreement to bring 50,000 Indian workers — to address critical workforce gaps. In tourism alone, approximately 85,000 positions remain unfilled at the start of each summer season, and the construction sector faces a shortfall of more than 100,000 workers across projects worth over €20 billion.

According to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), the average gross monthly salary in Greece is approximately €1,400 for full-time employees, with top management roles averaging over €6,000 and IT specialists averaging approximately €2,243. The statutory minimum wage is €910 per month — effective from the most recent April adjustment — and is supplemented by a unique Greek tradition of 14 salary payments per year: 12 monthly payments plus half-month bonuses at Christmas, Easter, and summer holiday periods.

This guide covers everything you need to know about jobs in Greece — including 40 verified shortage occupations with salary data, and a complete, accurate guide to the Residence Permit for Dependent Employment, EU Blue Card, Seasonal Work Permit, and Type D visa process based exclusively on official Greek government sources. Whether you are a job seeker, an employer, or a recruitment agency, Moving2Europe.eu is here to connect you with verified opportunities across Greece and the wider European region.

Europe Job Market Overview

Europe is experiencing structural and sustained labour shortages driven by ageing populations, demographic change, and economic growth that domestic labour forces cannot meet. Greece occupies a distinctive position in this dynamic — a country with unemployment that remains above the EU average in headline terms, yet faces critical, sector-specific labour shortfalls, particularly in tourism, agriculture, construction, and healthcare, where the required skills and workers are not available domestically.

The Greek government has responded by significantly expanding the quota for foreign worker admissions, implementing a new Migration Code that streamlines the work permit and residence permit process, establishing an online portal for first residence permit applications at portal.immigration.gov.gr, signing bilateral labour agreements with source countries in South and Southeast Asia, and introducing a Digital Nomad Visa to attract remote workers. Greece also offers a significant 50% income tax exemption for up to seven years for new tax residents who are employed in Greece, one of the most attractive tax incentives for international workers in the European Union.

For international job seekers, Greece offers access to one of the world's most desirable living environments, a rapidly growing technology sector, a booming tourism economy, consistent year-round employment in healthcare and construction, and a unique combination of EU legal protections and Mediterranean quality of life. For employers, the bilateral agreements and expanded quota system provide growing official support for international hiring. For recruitment agencies, Greece represents one of the fastest-growing and most urgently active international labour markets in Southern Europe.

Jobs in Greece – Market Overview

Greece's economy is driven by tourism — which accounts for approximately 25% of GDP and employment — a globally significant maritime and shipping industry, agriculture and food processing, construction and infrastructure, a growing IT and digital services sector, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare services under sustained demographic pressure.

Key industries actively hiring international workers include:

Tourism and Hospitality: Tourism is Greece's most economically dominant sector and its most acute labour-shortage area. Over 85,000 positions are unfilled at the start of each summer season. Hotels, resorts, restaurants, bars, and tourism operators across the mainland, the islands — particularly the Cyclades, Dodecanese, Ionian Islands, and Crete — and coastal destinations consistently need chefs, servers, hotel receptionists, housekeepers, resort staff, and bar workers.

Construction and Infrastructure: Greece is managing an infrastructure investment pipeline worth over €20 billion, funded in significant part by EU structural funds and Recovery Fund allocations. The construction sector faces a shortfall of more than 100,000 workers. Welders, bricklayers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, heavy machinery operators, and construction supervisors are all in acute shortage.

Agriculture: Greek agriculture — producing olives, olive oil, grapes, citrus fruits, tomatoes, and a range of other produce — generates consistent demand for harvest workers, farm operatives, greenhouse workers, and livestock farm workers, particularly in Crete, the Peloponnese, and mainland agricultural regions.

Information Technology: Athens is becoming a technology hub, with consistent demand for software developers, IT specialists, cybersecurity experts, data analysts, and digital transformation professionals. Greece aims for full digital economy transformation, with over 82% of employers reporting difficulty finding skilled IT workers. The IT sector pays the highest salaries in Greece's private sector.

Healthcare and Social Care: Greece's rapidly ageing population and the emigration of healthcare professionals to Western Europe have created a consistent and well-documented shortage of nurses, caregivers, elderly care specialists, doctors, and physiotherapists — particularly in rural regions and smaller islands.

Manufacturing and Food Processing: Greece's food, dairy, and olive oil processing sector generates consistent demand for factory workers and machine operators. The government has projected an additional 3,000 positions in food and dairy production.

Top Cities for Jobs in Greece

Jobs in Athens

Athens is Greece's capital and its dominant economic, financial, and technology hub. The city offers the highest average salaries in the country and the widest range of employment opportunities for international professionals. Athens is home to Greece's most significant concentration of IT companies, financial institutions, multinational headquarters, pharmaceutical companies, and professional services firms.

IT professionals in Athens earn €1,800–€4,000 or more gross per month. Finance and banking professionals earn €2,000–€5,000. Engineers earn €1,800–€3,500. The city's large international community, growing English-language business environment, and direct transport links to all of Europe make it the most readily accessible location for international professionals in Greece.

Jobs in Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki is Greece's second-largest city and the commercial capital of Northern Greece. The city has a growing technology and startup ecosystem, significant manufacturing and logistics operations, and consistent demand in healthcare, IT, engineering, and construction. Thessaloniki offers competitive salaries at a notably lower cost of living than Athens and is increasingly recognised as an attractive alternative destination for international professionals.

Jobs in the Islands, Crete, and Agricultural Regions

The Greek islands — particularly Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Corfu, and Crete — generate enormous seasonal demand for tourism and hospitality workers from April to October. Crete, the Peloponnese, and Central Macedonia are the primary agricultural regions, generating consistent seasonal demand for harvest and farm workers. Construction and infrastructure demand is spread across all regions and is driven by the national investment pipeline.

Job Opportunities in Greece

Blue-Collar Jobs in Demand in Greece

The following 20 blue-collar roles represent Greece's most critical shortage occupations in skilled and trades sectors, based on verified data from ELSTAT, EURES Greece, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, and the Federation of Greek Industries employment data.

Register as a Truck Driver → Browse Welder Opportunities →

White-Collar Jobs in Demand in Greece

The following 20 white-collar roles represent Greece's most critical shortage occupations in professional and highly skilled sectors, based on verified data from ELSTAT, EURES Greece, CEDEFOP, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

Register as a Healthcare Worker → Explore All Opportunities →

Salary in Greece

Greece offers salaries that are below the Western European average but rising steadily, with consistent year-on-year nominal wage growth. Salaries are supplemented by a unique Greek system of 14 payments per year — 12 monthly salaries plus three additional bonus payments totalling one extra month of pay annually — at Christmas, Easter, and the summer holiday period.

According to ELSTAT, the average gross monthly salary in Greece is approximately €1,400 for full-time private sector employees. The minimum wage is €910 gross per month from the most recent April adjustment. Top-management roles average over €6,000 in gross monthly pay. IT roles average approximately €2,243 gross monthly. Athens and Thessaloniki pay the highest average salaries. Greece also offers a 50% income tax exemption for up to seven years for new tax residents employed in Greece — one of the most attractive tax incentive schemes in the European Union, significantly enhancing net take-home pay for international workers.

Work Permit Process in Greece

Greece's work permit and residence system for non-EU nationals is governed by the Migration Code (Law 5038/2023). It is administered jointly by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs at ypergasias.gov.gr. Residence permit applications are submitted online through the official immigration portal at portal.immigration.gov.gr. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes visa information. Greece is a full member of the EU and the Schengen Area.

Greece integrates work rights directly into its residence permit system — the residence permit for dependent employment serves as both the right to reside and the right to work. The country operates a quota system, set by joint ministerial decision every two years, determining the maximum number of third-country nationals permitted for salaried employment by region and job specialisation.

Types of Work Authorisation for Non-EU Workers

• Residence Permit for Dependent Employment: The primary combined work and residence permit for non-EU nationals in long-term salaried employment. The employer applies for approval from the Decentralised Administration, demonstrating that the role falls within the current quota. Valid initially for up to two years, renewable for three-year periods thereafter.
• EU Blue Card: For highly qualified professionals with a recognised university degree of at least three years, an employment contract of at least six months, and a salary meeting the applicable EU Blue Card threshold. No quota restriction applies. Provides a pathway to long-term residence and EU mobility rights.
• Seasonal Work Permit: For temporary employment in agriculture and tourism for up to six months per calendar year. Strongly used for harvest and summer season positions.
• Digital Nomad Visa: For remote workers employed by or freelancing for employers registered outside Greece. Minimum monthly income requirement of €3,500. Valid for up to 12 months with the option to renew.
• Intra-Company Transfer Permit: For specialists and managers transferred within multinational company groups.
• Highly Skilled Worker Permit: For professionals with a university degree or at least five years of relevant professional experience in their field.

The Metaklisi — Invitation Procedure

For long-term dependent employment (in any sector) and seasonal work in agriculture and livestock, the employer must use the formal invitation procedure — metaklisi — to bring a foreign worker to Greece. This requires the position to be included in the current joint ministerial decision setting the quota for foreign worker admissions.

Step-by-Step Work Permit Process

Step 1 – Secure a Confirmed Employment Contract. The process begins with a signed employment contract from a legally registered Greek employer. The contract must be for at least 1 year for dependent employment, and must specify a monthly salary at least equal to the minimum wage for an unskilled worker. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens may work freely in Greece without any permit.

Step 2 – Employer Applies for Approval from the Decentralised Administration. The employer applies to the competent Decentralised Administration in the region of employment, providing the employment contract and a tax certificate demonstrating the capacity to pay the agreed salary. The Decentralised Administration confirms the role is within the current quota and approves the invitation.

Step 3 – Employer Notifies the Consular Authority: Approval from the Decentralised Administration is forwarded to the relevant Greek consular authority in the worker's home country. The worker is invited to present themselves at the consulate to sign the employment contract and apply for their visa.

Step 4 – Worker Applies for the Type D Long-Stay Visa The worker applies for the Type D long-stay visa at the nearest Greek embassy or consulate in their home country. All visa information is published at mfa.gr. Processing typically takes four to twelve weeks.

Step 5 – Travel to Greece. The worker enters Greece on the Type D visa.

Step 6 – Apply for the Residence Permit Within 30 Days of Arrival. Within 30 days of entering Greece on a Type D visa, the worker must apply for a residence permit at the online portal at portal.immigration.gov.gr. First residence permit applications are submitted exclusively online. Upon submission, the worker receives a blue confirmation form that functions as proof of lawful residence and the right to begin work while the permit is being processed.

Step 7 – Register for Tax and Social Insurance. The worker must obtain a Greek Tax Identification Number (AFM) from the local tax office (AADE) and register for social security with EFKA, Greece's primary social insurance fund. The employer handles social security registration and contributions.

Step 8 – Biometric Residence Permit Cache: The physical biometric residence permit card is issued after the application is processed. Initial permits are valid for up to two years. Renewals are valid for three years.

Employers ready to begin the international hiring process can register here →

Work Visa Process in Greece

Non-EU nationals who require a visa must apply for a Type D long-stay visa at the nearest Greek embassy or consulate in their home country after the employer has obtained the required approval from the Decentralised Administration. Greece is a full member of the European Area. The visa information is published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece at mfa.gr.

Step 1 – Confirm Visa Requirements for Your Nationality. Visit mfa.gr to confirm whether your nationality requires a Type D visa to enter Greece for employment. Some nationalities may enter Greece visa-free for short stays within the Schengen area but still require a Type D visa for employment purposes.

Step 2 – Confirm Employer Approval Has Been Obtained... The Type D visa for employment may only be applied for after the employer has obtained approval from the Decentralised Administration, as notified by the authorities. Confirm this with your employer before presenting yourself at the consulate.

Step 3 – Apply for the Type D Visa at the Greek Embassy or Consulate.e Submit your visa application with all required documents. Processing typically takes four to twelve weeks, ks depending on the consulate.

Step 4 – Travel to Greece and Apply for the Residence Permit Within 30 Days Within 30 days of entering Greece on the Type D visa, apply for the residence permit at portal.immigration.gov.gr. The blue confirmation form received after submission authorises you to begin work immediately.

Embassy Guidance

Use the Official Ministry of Migration and Asylum Portal for Residence Permit Applications: All first residence permit applications are submitted online through portal.immigration.gov.gr. This is the only authorised route for first permit applications.

Use the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website for Visa Information: Entry requirements, Type D visa guidance, and Greek diplomatic mission locations are published at mfa.gr.

The Employer Must Apply for Decentralised Administration Approval First: The employer's application to the Decentralised Administration — and the subsequent notification to the consular authority — must be completed before the worker applies for the Type D visa. The visa application cannot proceed without this approval.

Apply for the Residence Permit Within 30 Days of Arrival: The residence permit application must be submitted to portal.immigration.gov.gr within 30 days of entering Greece on a Type D visa. Missing this deadline creates a legal status gap. The blue confirmation form received after submission authorises work while the full permit card is processed.

Regulated Professions Require Greek Professional Recognition: Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, engineers, and other regulated professionals must obtain formal recognition of their qualifications from the relevant Greek professional authority before practising in Greece.

Greece Pays Salaries in 14 Instalments: Greek employers pay salaries across 14 payments per year — 12 monthly payments plus additional half-month bonuses at Christmas, Easter, and the summer holiday period. Ensure your employment contract reflects this structure.

New Tax Residents Benefit From a 50% Income Tax Exemption: International workers moving to Greece who were not previously tax residents and take up employment are eligible for a 50% income tax exemption on employment income for up to seven years. This dramatically increases net take-home pay and is one of the most attractive incentives for international workers in the EU.

Required Documents

The following documents are required for a Type D visa application and a residence permit for dependent employment in Greece, in accordance with official requirements from the Ministry of Migration and Asylum and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Always verify current document requirements at portal.immigration.gov.gr and mfa.gr before submitting.

How to Avoid Rejection

Employer Has Not Obtained Decentralised Administration Approval: The employer must obtain approval from the Decentralised Administration before the worker applies for the Type D visa. The approval confirms the role is within the current quota. Proceeding without this approval results in visa refusal.

Role Not Within the Current Quota: The joint ministerial decision sets the maximum number of foreign workers permitted by region and job specialisation every two years. If the quota for the relevant role and region is exhausted, the application cannot proceed. Confirm quota availability with the employer and the relevant Decentralised Administration before initiating the process.

Failure to Apply for the Residence Permit Within 30 Days of Arrival: The residence permit application must be submitted through portal.immigration.gov.gr within 30 days of entering Greece on a Type D visa. Missing this deadline creates a legal status gap.

Employment Contract Below the Minimum Salary Requirement: The employment contract must specify a monthly salary at least equal to the minimum wage for an unskilled worker. Contracts specifying lower salaries will be rejected.

Regulated Profession Without Greek Professional Recognition: Doctors, nurses, engineers, and pharmacists must obtain formal recognition of their qualifications from the relevant Greek professional body before they may practise. Applications without this recognition will not be approved for regulated professions.

Working Without the Blue Confirmation Form or Residence Permit: Work may begin after the blue confirmation form is received and the residence permit application is submitted. Working before this step is a legal violation.

Hiring Foreign Workers in Greece

Greece urgently needs international workers at scale. With a documented requirement for 360,000 foreign workers across tourism, agriculture, construction, healthcare, and manufacturing, employers who build structured international hiring pipelines gain a decisive competitive advantage in the most active international labour market in Southern Europe.

Why Hire International Workers in Greece? The Greek government has actively expanded quotas, signed bilateral labour agreements with source countries, streamlined the online residence permit application portal, and is advancing legislative reforms further to simplify international hiring. Tourism, construction, and agriculture are the three most urgently understaffed sectors, with documented and measurable shortfalls that domestic recruitment alone cannot address.

How to Begin the Hiring Process

Step 1 – Register as an Employer on Moving2Europe.eu Create your employer profile, specify your sector, required roles, and workforce needs. Register as an Employer →

Step 2 – Confirm Quota Availability. With the Decentralised Administration, contact the competent Decentralised Administration in your region to confirm that your required role and specialisation are within the current quota allocation.

Step 3 – Submit the Approval Application to the Decentralised Administration. Apply to the Decentralised Administration with the employment contract and tax certificate demonstrating the capacity to pay the agreed salary.

Step 4 – Issue a Signed Employment Contract. Issue a formal employment contract specifying the role, salary meeting the minimum wage floor, duration, and working conditions in compliance with Greek labour law.

Step 5 – Support the Visa and Residence Permit Application. Once the Decentralised Administration approval is obtained and the consular authority is notified, assist the worker with their Type D visa application and subsequent residence permit application at the portal.immigration.gov.gr within 30 days of their arrival.

How Job Seekers Can Apply

Step 1 – Confirm Visa Requirements for Your Nationality. Visit mfa.gr to confirm entry requirements and visa requirements for your nationality.

Step 2 – Prepare Your Documents: ts Gather your passport, qualification certificates, police clearance certificate, and health insurance. Ensure all documents are current.

Step 3 – Register on Moving2Europe.eu

• Register as a Truck Driver →
• Register as a Welder →
• Register as a Healthcare Worker →
• Explore All Opportunities →

Step 4 – Apply for Available Positions Browse verified job listings and apply to positions that match your qualifications and experience.

Step 5 – Your Employer Obtains Decentralised Administration Approval Once you have a confirmed employment contract, your employer applies to the Decentralised Administration for approval.

Step 6 – Apply for Your Type D Visa Apply for the Type D visa at the Greek embassy or consulate in your home country.

Step 7 – Travel to Greece and Apply for the Residence Permit Within 30 Days Within 30 days of arrival, submit your residence permit application at portal.immigration.gov.gr and collect your blue confirmation form authorising you to begin work.

Recruitment Agencies & Partnerships

Moving2Europe.eu collaborates with international recruitment agencies, workforce supply companies, and staffing partners to build a consistent, reliable pipeline of pre-screened, work-ready candidates for employers across Greece and the wider European region.

For agencies operating in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, or Eastern Europe, a partnership with Moving2Europe.eu provides direct access to a growing network of verified Greek employers actively seeking international talent across tourism, construction, healthcare, agriculture, IT, and manufacturing.

Why Partner with Moving2Europe.eu?

• Access to a verified network of Greek employers actively hiring across all major shortage sectors
• A structured, transparent matching process aligned with Greece's residence permit and quota requirements
• Compliance support across the Residence Permit for Dependent Employment, EU Blue Card, and Seasonal Work Permit routes
• Long-term business development opportunities as Greece's international workforce demand continues to grow
• A trusted, professional platform built on transparency and accountability

Register as a Recruitment Partner →

Declaration

Moving2Europe.eu provides information on jobs, work permits, visas, and international hiring strictly for guidance purposes. We do not guarantee job placement, work permit approval, or visa issuance under any circumstances.

All applications, hiring decisions, and approvals are subject to individual employer requirements, applicable immigration laws, and the final decision of the respective country's embassy or government authorities.

Users are strongly advised to independently verify all information, ensure the accuracy of their documents, and follow official procedures before submitting any application.