How to Get Job in Greece

Official employment is one of the ways to legalize and obtain a residence permit in Greece. Despite a rather high unemployment rate, it is possible to find work in the country: the main thing is to approach the process seriously, be persistent and consistent in your actions. The country is interested in attracting highly qualified foreign employees with relevant experience in their field. During the high season, there is a shortage of workers in the hospitality sector. Where and how to look for work in Greece? What kind of work is available in Greece for Russians and other foreigners? We discuss this in the Astons Greece blog.

Features of employment in Greece

The Greek labor market has not fully recovered from the 2008 crisis: unemployment is 10.5%, among young people this figure is even higher – about 22%. Finding work in some industries is difficult. Nevertheless, there is a huge list of vacancies available to foreigners: not only unskilled workers can find employment, but also those who have specific specializations.

Any non-EU foreigner planning to work in Greece must obtain a work permit from an employment agency. Working without documents can result in a fine, and in some cases – deportation and a ban on entry to Greece and EU countries.

As for language knowledge – you can find work without knowing Greek, but most often it’s physical labor with low wages (for example, in agriculture). In the hospitality sector, knowledge of English will be required, although in most cases Greek is essential. You can learn the language in short-term courses for foreigners – this will allow you to communicate in Greek at least at a basic level and significantly expand the list of available vacancies.

In-demand industries for foreigners: where can a Russian find work in Greece?

One of the most in-demand sectors of the Greek economy is tourism: every year Greece receives more than 30 million travelers. From April to October, and especially in the summer months, many vacancies appear in bars, restaurants, hotels. They are looking for maids, cleaners, waiters and baristas, salespeople, animators, administrators, cooks. There are many vacancies in shipbuilding and maritime transport: to work as a mechanic or engineer, you will need appropriate qualifications, work experience, and language knowledge.

Greece is experiencing an acute shortage of medical staff, lawyers, economists, and IT specialists. This is especially felt in the periphery: it is much easier to find work here with appropriate education and experience than in the capital and large cities.

The most in-demand work in Greece for Russians is in the service sector: many find jobs in beauty salons and hairdressers, do manicures and makeup at home. In large Russian-speaking communities – in Athens, Cyprus, and Thessaloniki, for example – you can find Russian salespeople in shops, baristas in coffee shops, so work in Greece for Russians is always available. Foreign students in Greece are legally allowed to work only part-time and outside of study time. They are also often employed in the service sector.

Salary levels

The minimum wage in Greece in 2024 is set at €910 per month (for full-time work). Of course, highly qualified specialists can earn €3000 – €4000 per month and more.

I’m looking for work in Greece. Where to start and where to look for vacancies?

You should start your job search by preparing a resume indicating your education, work experience, additional skills, foreign languages you speak. You can look for vacancies on websites, in Telegram channels, thematic groups on social networks, including the professional network LinkedIn. Once in Greece, you can walk around shops and cafes looking for vacancies or even contact local employment centers. Another option is to contact an HR agency or use the services of a career consultant. In addition, personal connections and “word of mouth” are still valid – many find work through acquaintances and on friends’ recommendations.

Here are some reliable websites for job search in Greece:

• Skywalker.gr
• mycarriera.gr
• Kariera.gr
• Jobfind.gr
• careerjet.gr
• indeed.com
• jobinathens.com
• learn4good.com
• manpowergroup.gr
• monster.com

I want to find work in Greece. What do I need to do for this?

To officially get a job in Greece, you need to obtain a work permit from an employment agency. For this, the employer must prepare an invitation to work for the future employee.

After signing the contract and receiving an invitation to work in Greece, a foreigner applies to the Greek consulate (in the country of citizenship or residence) for a national visa D. It allows entry into the country to apply for a residence permit based on employment. For seasonal work lasting no more than 3 months, a residence permit is not required.

Document package for obtaining a D visa to Greece:

• passport valid for at least 1 year;
• internal passport;
• application form;
• invitation from the employer;
• employment contract signed with the employer, indicating working conditions, salary, and contract duration;
• documents confirming education and experience (if applicable);
• criminal record certificate;
• medical insurance with coverage of at least €30,000;
• health certificate;
• documents confirming the address of permanent registration in Greece (rental agreement or property ownership certificate);
• documents confirming the availability of funds for living in the country until receiving the first salary.

Important: It is not possible to come to Greece on a tourist visa and get a job – this is subject to administrative punishment, from a fine to deportation. By law, you need to leave the country and obtain a D visa.

In Greece, a foreigner needs to contact the immigration service and apply for a residence permit based on employment (if you plan to stay in the country for more than 180 days). The document package for a residence permit is the same as for a D visa.

Residence permit through employment offers the following employment options:

Residence permit for dependent work: The salary under the employment contract must be at least the minimum wage of an unskilled employee in the country – from €770 per month. The employment contract must be concluded for a period of at least 1 year. During this year, you can change employers if the employee does not change specialization.

Residence permit for seasonal work is issued for a maximum of 9 months for each year. The employer is obliged to provide foreign employees with accommodation. This type of residence permit does not allow applying for permanent residence and citizenship of the country.

Residence permit for students allows foreign students to work only outside study time and part-time.

EU Blue Card allows highly qualified foreign employees to work officially in Greece. Mandatory conditions include higher education, relevant experience, an employment contract with a local company for at least a year, and a salary at least 1.5 times higher than the average salary level in the country.

Relocation without problems: Greece residence permit for real estate investments

If you want to come to Greece from time to time or live here permanently, but don’t plan to work officially, the most effective and quick solution would be a Greece residence permit for real estate investments.

The Greek “golden visa” program is one of the most effective and affordable (at least until the changes come into effect on September 1, 2024) ways to obtain a European residence permit, and with it – a lot of advantages:

• visa-free travel to Schengen countries;
• access to the international banking system, unfreezing of assets;
• opportunity to get European education;
• access to quality healthcare;
• ability to bring family members – spouse, children, and parents;
• opportunity to obtain permanent residence and citizenship of Greece – subject to certain requirements;
• reliable backup plan in case of unforeseen situations.

According to the program conditions, the investor purchases one or more real estate properties in Greece for a sum of at least €250,000 (from €500,000 in the largest regions of the country – in Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini – a total of 36 municipalities). The property can be rented out or used for personal residence. The residence permit is issued immediately for 5 years – during this time, the property cannot be sold.

From September 1, 2024, the minimum threshold for most major regions will increase to €800,000 per object (all of Attica, Thessaloniki, Santorini, Mykonos, and islands with a population of more than 3,100 people). In other municipalities, the minimum threshold will be €400,000, and the property must have an area of at least 120 sq. m. To make it before the price increase, the investor must make an advance payment of 10% by August 30, 2024, and complete the investment by December 31, 2024.

The investor must be of legal age, have no criminal record and serious health problems, and obtain medical insurance. You will need to come to the country only once – to submit biometric data: the rest of the time you can not live in Greece, but use the advantages of a European residence permit.

Currently, the Greece residence permit program for real estate purchase is suspended for citizens of Russia and Belarus. Nevertheless, you can participate in the program if you have an alternative passport. For example, a Russian citizen with Turkish citizenship can apply for a Greek “golden visa” without restrictions. In addition, there is an opportunity to obtain a Greece residence permit under the old conditions by using a combined program and obtaining Vanuatu citizenship in 3-4 months: a Russian passport is suitable for making a deposit, and alternative citizenship will be needed for submitting documents for a residence permit.

To select real estate and prepare documents for participation in the Greek “golden visa” program, the optimal solution would be to contact immigration specialists: this will help avoid mistakes and unnecessary risks, as well as save time.

Astons is a reliable partner in obtaining investment residence permits and purchasing foreign real estate, with more than 30 years of successful experience. Contact our experts for a free consultation – we will help you find suitable real estate for your budget and preferences, and take care of all bureaucratic issues.