Greece (GR)

Greece is a southeastern European republic and EU member state, birthplace of democracy, philosophy, and the Olympic Games, celebrated for its 6,000 sun-drenched islands, ancient ruins from the Acropolis to Delphi, vibrant Mediterranean cuisine, and a warm culture that draws expats, retirees, digital nomads, and Golden Visa investors from across the world.

Capital: Athens

Region: Europe

Language: Greek

Currency: EUR (€)

Cost of living: Affordable (index 52)

Emergency: 112

Jobs & Work Permits

Everything you need to find work and get authorised to work in Greece.

DYPA

ΔΥΠΑ — Δημόσια Υπηρεσία Απασχόλησης (formerly OAED)

Register online at dypa.gov.gr or visit a local DYPA branch. You will need your AMKA, AFM, and identity documents. Create a profile, upload your CV, and set up your job seeker file (κάρτα ανεργίας). The card must be renewed monthly online or in-person.

Services offered:

✓Unemployment benefit (Επίδομα Ανεργίας) registration and management
✓Job matching and referrals to employers
✓Vocational training programmes (ΕΣΠΑ-funded)
✓Subsidised employment schemes for youth and long-term unemployed
✓Career counselling and CV workshops
✓Access to European EURES job portal for EU-wide job search

Expat eligibility: EU/EEA citizens with AMKA and legal residence are eligible for all DYPA services. Non-EU citizens with a valid work permit and AMKA are also eligible. Unemployment benefit requires at least 125 working days insured in the 14 months prior to unemployment.

Visit DYPA

💼 Work Permits

EU Citizens

EU/EEA/Swiss citizens have the right to work in Greece without a work permit. Register for an AMKA and AFM, and ensure your employer registers the employment contract with ERGANI. No separate permit or visa required.

Non-EU Citizens

Non-EU citizens require a work permit or a residence permit that includes work rights. Employers must usually demonstrate they could not find a Greek or EU candidate (labour market test) unless applying under specific shortage occupation or skilled worker categories. The employer files the application at the Migration Department (Υπηρεσία Αλλοδαπών).

EU Blue Card

Greece issues the EU Blue Card (Μπλε Κάρτα ΕΕ) for highly qualified non-EU workers. Requirements: university degree, job offer with gross annual salary at least 1.6x the national average (approximately €32,000–35,000/year in 2026 for Greece). Permits work for 2–4 years; leads to long-term residence. Apply at the local Migration Department.

Freelancer Visa

Greece introduced a Digital Nomad Visa in 2021 allowing non-EU remote workers to reside in Greece for up to 2 years (extendable). Requirements: income of at least €3,500/month from non-Greek sources, health insurance, clean criminal record. Apply at a Greek embassy or, if already in Greece, at the Migration Department.

⏱️ Work Culture

Typical hours 09:00–17:00 or 09:00–18:00 in offices. Siesta-influenced culture means some smaller businesses still close 14:00–17:00 and reopen. In tourist sectors, summer hours can be very long (split shifts). Greek workers have among the longest working hours in the EU on paper, but productivity norms vary significantly by sector.

Annual leave Minimum 20 working days per year (4 weeks) after 1 year of employment. Increases with years of service: after 10 years = 25 days. Some collective agreements (ΣΣΕ) provide for more. Summer August holiday is culturally entrenched — much of Greece effectively shuts down in the first two weeks of August.

Sick leave IKA/EFKA provides sick pay from day 4 of illness. Employer pays days 1–3. For the first 15 days of illness in a year: employer pays 50% of wages. After 15 days: EFKA pays sickness allowance (50% of insured earnings). Doctor's note required from the first day for any sick day covered by the employer.

Trial period Up to 12 months (standard) for full-time contracts, after which dismissal without notice or compensation is allowed. In practice, most probationary periods are 1–3 months as stated in the contract.

Notice period Statutory notice: 0–3 months' service = no notice required. 12 months+ = 1 month notice; 2+ years = 2 months; 5+ years = 3 months; 10+ years = 4 months; 15+ years = 5 months; 20+ years = 6 months. Notice periods are doubled if reason for dismissal is not given.

Salary range Minimum wage 2026: €880/month gross (Jan–Mar), rising to €920/month from April 1, 2026 (paid 14 times/year: 12 monthly salaries + Christmas and Easter bonuses). Median gross salary: ~€1,200–1,500/month. Tech and finance professionals in Athens: €1,800–4,000+/month. Significant disparity between Athens/Thessaloniki and rural areas.

Pay frequency 12 monthly payments plus 2 compulsory extra payments (Δώρο Εορτών): Christmas bonus (full monthly salary) and Easter bonus (half monthly salary). A summer holiday bonus (also half salary) applies in some sectors.

Contract types

·Indefinite-term (αορίστου χρόνου) — standard full-time employment
·Fixed-term (ορισμένου χρόνου) — specific project or period, renewable up to 3 years
·Part-time (μερικής απασχόλησης) — proportional pay and rights
·Rotation employment (εκ περιτροπής εργασία) — employer can impose in economic difficulty
·On-call/Project contract (σύμβαση έργου) — for contractors, not covered by labour protections

🔍 Job Boards

Kariera.gr

Greece's largest dedicated job board, covering all sectors and experience levels.

LinkedIn Greece

Highly used by professionals and multinationals in Greece. Recommended for white-collar and tech roles.

JobsToday.gr

Strong for entry-level, retail, hospitality, and seasonal positions.

e-DYPA Job Portal

Official DYPA job listings, including subsidised and public-sector positions.

XE.gr / Χρυσή Ευκαιρία

General classifieds site with a jobs section — useful for SME and local employers.

🌍 Expat-Friendly Resources

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EuresGreece

EU EURES portal for finding jobs across the EU. Useful for multilingual roles in Greece.

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Expat.com Greece

Expat community site with a jobs board and networking forum.

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AMCHAM Greece (American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce)

Good resource for jobs at US or international companies operating in Greece.

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Athens Tech Community

Active meetup and Facebook groups for tech professionals in Athens. Also check Athens Startup Week and local tech conferences.

📝 Application Tips

CV format: Two-page professional CV in Greek or English depending on the employer. Europass format is used for public sector applications. Include a photo (still common in Greece). Detailed work history and education sections expected. References (συστατικές επιστολές) are often requested at the final stage.

Cover letter: Expected

Language: Greek language proficiency is essential for most positions outside international companies, tourism, and tech. English is widely spoken in Athens IT, finance, tourism, and multinational sectors. Speaking even basic Greek significantly improves prospects and workplace integration.

Interviews: Greeks are warm and relationship-oriented in interviews. Expect informal conversation alongside competency questions. Nepotism and personal connections (μέσον/meson) play a more significant role than in Northern European markets — use your network. Dress formally for interviews. Second interviews are common. Decision-making can be slow.

🤝 Networking Tips

→Athens startup and tech community events are active — check Athens Startup Week, Startupper of the Year, and local LinkedIn events.
→Professional associations (law bar, engineers' union TEE, medical associations) are influential gatekeepers for regulated professions.
→The Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce, British-Hellenic Chamber, and German-Hellenic Chamber are well-networked for international professionals.
→Personal introductions (σύσταση) carry significant weight — ask contacts for warm introductions rather than cold applications.
→Athens Digital Lab and Colab Athens are co-working spaces with regular networking events for the tech and startup community.
→Consider attending a local business dinner or professional association event — Greeks close deals socially over food and wine.

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