A residence permit in Greece is attractive for those who plan to stay in the country for a long time. Typically, this state is chosen by migrants planning to open a business, purchase real estate, get an education or work. These may also be persons who can live in the country on income received at home. Greece is a country with a special flavor and unique atmosphere, which also plays a role in the decision to move. Let's consider the nuances of obtaining a residence permit in Greece.
What does a residence permit in Greece give to Russians?
Greece is on the list of Schengen countries. Accordingly, on its territory the migration legislation in force for this entire zone is relevant.
Having a residence permit in Greece allows you to move freely within the entire Schengen territory. Also, a residence permit allows you to apply for visas of some other countries in a simplified manner. These include the USA and Canada, which are famous for their strict requirements in this regard.
It is important to understand that this status is temporary and requires extension. A residence permit for Russians in Greece is only the initial stage of legalization. It does not give the right to vote or participate in elections. Apply for government positions, serve in the army. In addition, not all types of this document make it possible to carry out labor activities. For example, when obtaining a residence permit for pensioners, the main condition is a constant income in their homeland, which will allow them to live with dignity in Greece without employment.
After obtaining a residence permit in Greece, the candidate must live in the country for five years. After this, he can apply for permanent residence status - permanent presidency, and after another five years - citizenship. A simplified scheme is available to some categories of immigrants. This applies, for example, to women married to Greeks.
Speaking about what a residence permit in Greece gives you, you need to highlight the following points
- Greece is a country with stunningly beautiful nature, sea, excellent climate and ecology.
- The country is gradually overcoming the crisis, so it provides an opportunity to work or do business.
- A residence permit will allow you to study at any European university.
- If you have education and experience, the chances of finding a good job with a decent salary are quite high.
- Certain types of social security are provided.
To take advantage of these benefits, you need to know the national language, adhere to Greek legislation and respect local traditions.
Work for migrants: vacancies, income
Despite the crisis that the Greek economy is currently experiencing and high unemployment, migrants have the opportunity to find work. Foreigners can work in tourism, agriculture, and construction. Citizens of other countries come to harvest crops, and in the off-season they look after livestock and poultry on farms.
In Greece, which receives millions of tourists every year, tourism workers are especially in demand. Bartenders, waiters, hostesses, guides, animators, maids and administrators are waiting here. The more languages the applicant knows, the more options there are for finding a good position. Builders, mechanics, masons, painters, carpenters and representatives of other construction specialties are needed in Greece.
Workers with higher education and extensive work experience are welcome here. Doctors, programmers, scientists, medical workers and teachers are in demand.
The salary level depends on the qualifications and experience of the employee, as well as language skills. A good salary for Greece is 2000 euros. But this is an exception; immigrants receive from 350 to 1200 euros per month.
Methods and reasons for obtaining
There are several grounds for obtaining a residence permit. The list of required documents and certain rights of the migrant will depend on the chosen method.
FNL
The first method is FNL immigration. The Greek government has developed a special program for financially independent individuals. Financially independent Russians with an annual income of 24 thousand euros can take part in it. If there are dependent family members, each of them must also be provided with another 12 thousand euros. For example, when a married couple moves, their annual income should be 36 thousand. FNLs do not necessarily have to buy housing in Greece, but having one will be an advantage. So, you can confirm your income using the funds you receive from renting out real estate.
There is a special program for the relocation of independent wealthy pensioners from abroad. However, the pension received in Russia is not enough for this, so you will need to confirm additional sources of income, for example, deposits.
Persons from this category can obtain a residence permit for two years with the right to extension. Please note that this type of permit does not allow you to carry out work activities in the country.
Employment
To obtain a residence permit through employment, a Russian citizen needs to enter into an official contract. In advance, the employer usually requests a work permit for a foreign citizen. Priority employment rights remain with Greek and EU citizens. However, if there is no potential candidate among them, the organization will receive the green light to hire a foreigner. The exception is certified and experienced specialists in sought-after areas. They are eligible for the EU Blue Card program and obtain a residence permit for a period of two years.
A person wishing to obtain a residence permit through employment will have to provide the immigration service with an invitation from the employer and an employment contract. Foreigners often use Greece as a springboard for further relocation to other EU countries.
Education
In Greece, you can get education almost free of charge, and it is of high quality. A Greek diploma does not require nostrification and is recognized in all developed countries. It is possible to enroll remotely. You can also come with a different type of visa, and then take an exam or interview in person. Please note that only full-time students are eligible for a residence permit.
After a student is enrolled, he receives an invitation to study and signs a contract. Both documents are the basis for first obtaining a student visa, and then a residence permit. In this case, the years of study will be fully taken into account when naturalizing. Students can also work part-time.
Marriage and family reunion
To obtain a residence permit, the marriage between a foreign citizen and a Greek must be official. It is better to register it in Greece - then translation and legalization of the marriage certificate will not be required. The foreign spouse will receive a residence permit for three years. If during this period the couple divorces, it may be annulled. Please note that the marriage will be tested for reality. Suspicions of a fictitious marriage disappear at the birth of a child.
Moving to Greece for close relatives, which include parents, children, brothers and sisters, is possible with an official invitation from the Greek side. This is done through the immigration service. The inviter can be a person with a Greek passport or a permanent resident of the country. An important factor is the financial viability of Greek relatives. They must provide a written guarantee of financial support for those who have moved, provision of housing and assistance with integration. You need to confirm a sufficient level of legal income.
Buying a property
You can obtain a residence permit in Greece when purchasing your own real estate if its price is more than 250 thousand euros. Moreover, it can be located both in mainland Greece and on the islands.
A residence permit for property owners will be immediately issued for five years. After this, you are not required to live in Greece permanently. Not only close, but also distant relatives of the person who decided to buy real estate can become residents of the country.
Investors and businessmen
Foreign businessmen must first obtain approval of a business plan from the country's Ministry of Economy, as well as place working capital in any bank in Greece and create at least ten jobs.
Investors will need at least 300 thousand euros. Applications for investment must be reviewed by the Ministry of Economy and the Greek Ministry of Internal Affairs. It is necessary to confirm that the capital is of legal origin.
Large investors can immediately obtain a residence permit for 5 years. In the future, they have the right to transform it into permanent residence.
Validity period of the residence permit
If you are receiving a residence permit for the first time, it will be valid for a year. Then you can extend it for two years, and after that - for another two. After five years of residence in the country with a residence permit, you can apply for permanent residence, and after that, Greek citizenship. There are categories of applicants for whom this procedure is simplified.
Many applicants interested in how to obtain a residence permit in Greece are interested in the need to know the national language. In this case it is not required. In addition, Greeks generally speak English well. But if you further apply for permanent residence, you need to know the Greek language - you will need to pass an exam and receive a certificate in it.
If you need to extend your residence permit, contact the immigration service at least one month before the end of your current status. When renewing it, provide the same documents as for the initial submission. You will also need to pay a state fee of 120 euros.
What documents are needed
The first step for a potential migrant from Russia is to obtain a national visa at the diplomatic embassy in Greece on the territory of the Russian Federation. The visa must be category D - national long-term. On this basis you can enter the country. Next, in Greece, you need to contact the immigration service to obtain a residence permit. The Ministry of Immigration Policy has offices in local administration buildings. So, in Patras you can find it in the meri.
An applicant for a residence permit must submit the following documents to this service:
- application form (has a standard form and is filled out in Greek);
- a foreign passport, the validity of which must be no less than the validity period of the status;
- 4 passport size photos;
- confirmation of financial solvency;
- real estate lease agreement or confirmation of its availability in the property;
- certificate of passing a medical examination at a Greek government institution;
- certificate of no criminal record in your home country;
- medical insurance;
- documents confirming the basis for obtaining the status;
- receipts confirming payment for all administrative services.
Pensioners will also need a Russian pension certificate and a certificate confirming the amount of benefits received.
An application for a residence permit must be submitted no less than 1-1.5 months before the end of the visa period. Documents must be translated into Greek and notarized. If necessary, documents on education or marital status must have an apostille affixed to them.
The child receives a residence permit together with one or both parents. If it is executed only by the father or mother, the other parent must confirm consent to this in writing. The consent is translated into Greek and notarized. It must indicate specifically the Greek Republic. If it is not possible to obtain such a document, compelling arguments must be provided. This could be the death of the second parent or his incapacity, which must be documented (with translation into Greek and notarization).
Registration of visa documents
A Greek visa requires the same package of documents as for obtaining permission to enter one of the EU states. Documents must be filled out carefully and in strict accordance with the requirements. Any error in the papers may be grounds for refusal to issue a visa.
Where and with what documents to apply
Any immigration begins with obtaining an entry visa. In order to be issued, the following documents must be submitted to the Greek embassy or consulate:
- a form filled out in Latin letters;
- one photo;
- foreign passport;
- insurance policy for a coverage amount of at least 30 thousand euros;
- statement from the bank;
- certificate from place of work or study;
- papers confirming the purpose of the trip (invitation, letter from the university, agreement with the employer, hotel reservation).
Minor applicants must attach a birth certificate to these documents. If a child is traveling with mom or dad, you must include a notarized consent from the other parent for the child to travel abroad.
Processing times and costs
The consular fee for Russian citizens for issuing a visa is 35 euros. To speed up the procedure for issuing an entry permit, a Russian can contact the visa center operating at the embassy. In this case, the visa price will increase to 60 euros. Documents are reviewed on average within ten working days.
Visa validity and extension
The maximum visa validity period is 90 days. It can also be issued for a shorter period of time. It can be extended in Greece in case of serious illness or other force majeure circumstances. The visa is extended for a period of ten days to one month.
To do this, you need to open an account in the applicant's name at a local bank. You need to put on it the amount calculated according to the formula: 50 euros multiplied by the number of days for which the visa is extended.
Then the complete package of documents is submitted to the district office of the Immigration Police Service. Here the applicant undergoes an interview, based on the results of which a decision is made.
Possible reasons for refusal: what to do
Greece willingly gives visas to foreigners, but there are cases of refusal. The applicant may be refused if he submits an incomplete package of documents or if they contain false information. Also denied are foreigners who are suspected of having links with terrorist organizations and who may threaten the security of the country. If your visa is denied, you can submit the missing papers or resubmit the entire package of documents.
Cost and processing time
The state fee for obtaining any residence permit in Greece is fixed and amounts to 150 euros. You will have to wait no more than a month for a decision on obtaining a residence permit in Greece. If you receive a positive result, you will need to issue a corresponding card, which will take another ten days.
The speed of obtaining a residence permit will largely be determined by whether you have provided all the necessary documents and data. It may also be affected by how busy the immigration office is.
Pros and cons of moving to Greece: reviews from Russians who have moved
According to reviews from our compatriots, the advantages of moving to the republic include:
- warm climate;
- affordable housing;
- developed tourism infrastructure;
- free higher education and all kinds of benefits for students;
- inexpensive products;
- calm rhythm of life.
But this medal also has a flip side. Visitors name the disadvantages of living in a Mediterranean country: bureaucracy, high unemployment, constant strikes by workers in various fields and a high crime rate.
Greece is not the most prosperous European country, and yet it attracts many foreigners with its mild climate, the Mediterranean Sea, the legendary Crete, and the measured and calm rhythm of life. Citizens of other countries seek to obtain a Greek residence permit, become a resident and stay here forever.
Crete, Greece
What to do if you receive a refusal
Refusal to obtain a residence permit is possible, but it will always be justified. Before being refused a residence permit in Greece, you must be informed of the reason for this. Most often, this is due to a lack of documents, provision of false information about oneself (in particular, fake documents), or problems with the law that occurred in the past.
Further actions will be determined by the reason for the refusal. If it is insignificant, for example, the package is missing one document, you can simply deliver it and submit the application again the very next day after the refusal. If you are sure that there is no objective reason and the refusal is unfair, you can submit an appeal letter to the migration service within 14 days.
If the appeal is rejected, all that remains is to appeal to the court of first instance. This is not to say that the Greek judicial system is slow, so it is unlikely that this process will take no more than a month. You will also likely need to pay for a lawyer and a translator. During the period during which the appeal and claim will be considered, you will receive a certificate stating that during this period you are staying in the country on completely legal grounds.
It is quite possible to obtain a residence permit in Greece. Refusals do not occur very often and always have good reasons. It is important to follow all the rules for obtaining a residence permit, prepare all documents and take into account the deadlines for submission.
