Methods and rules of immigration to Greece

For some, the choice of Greece as a country for moving is due to the desire to live on the seashore in a warm country. Others see the starting point for moving on to Europe. In both cases, immigration to Greece will require a documented and financial basis.

What promises migrants to move to Greece

Obtaining resident status in Greece gives its holder the same rights and obligations as local residents, but with some restrictions. The law prohibits foreign citizens living in the country on the basis of permanent residence, but who have not yet received citizenship:

• vote;
• put forward your candidacy in elections;
• serve in the Greek army;
• hold government posts.

Those who manage to get permanent residence in Greece can stay in this status for an unlimited amount of time, periodically renewing the document. If desired, after the first five years of life, you can apply for citizenship on a permanent basis.

The fact that a foreigner has a residence permit or permanent residence gives him the right to enjoy many advantages:

• permanently live and work in Greece;
• live in a healthy Mediterranean climate;
• travel to other EU countries without obtaining a separate visa;
• open accounts with banks in the country;
• use the agreement on avoidance of double taxation between Greece and Russia, Greece and Ukraine;
• in a simplified manner, apply for a visa for Canada, the United States and some other states;
• with a high probability of finding a prestigious job with a higher education, work experience in the profession and knowledge of the language;
• the opportunity to study at any university in Europe.

But in order to take advantage of all these benefits, you need to learn the language, provide yourself with housing (purchased or rented), and prove that you have a source of legal income. Being a resident obliges you to comply with the laws of the Greek state, respect culture and traditions, and pay taxes.

Choosing a way of emigration

To emigrate to Greece from Russia, Ukraine or any other non-EU country, you must have a foundation. Let's briefly dwell on each of them:

1. Employment - this path today can be considered one of the most difficult. First, Greece still has a fairly high unemployment rate (18.6% as of February 2021). Secondly, migrants have to face competition at an early stage. First you need to get a work permit. This responsibility falls on the shoulders of the employer. But for this document to be issued, he will have to prove that there was no suitable candidate among the local residents. To enter at the invitation of the employer, you will need a national visa category D.
2. Doing business - This way of moving to live in Greece will require financial investment. To register an enterprise, you will need start-up capital. For example, to open an LLC, you need to have 4,500 euros, a closed joint-stock company - 20 thousand euros, of which 18 thousand will act as the authorized capital, a joint-stock company - 60 thousand euros. The candidate is issued a residence permit for a period of 2 years. If after this period the business shows good results, it will be possible to obtain permanent status. The first step towards migration on this basis is the submission of a business plan to a special commission on trade and entrepreneurship. Given the interest of Greece in the influx of investors, the decision of the commission is most often positive.
3. Getting an education. Diplomas from Greek universities are recognized all over the world. The most gifted students, having passed the competition, can study for free. Enrollment is carried out on the basis of the graduation score. You can apply to 20 faculties at once. The applications are considered by the Unified Admissions Committee, which works under the Ministry of Education of the country.
4. Purchase of housing - those who have at least 250 thousand euros in stock can get permanent residence in Greece when buying real estate. After 7 years of residence in this status, you can apply for citizenship.
5. Investments - for legalization, you will need to invest in the local economy from 300 thousand euros. Such a contribution gives the right to obtain a residence permit for a period of 2 years, which can be renewed.
6. Family immigration - suitable for those who have children or spouses in Greece who have permanent residence or citizenship. A variation of this method can be considered a marriage with a citizen of Greece: after 3 years of cohabitation, a foreign spouse or spouse can apply for citizenship.
7. Pension program: pensioners with income in the country of their citizenship (from 24 thousand euros per year) can expect to receive a Greek residence permit. Moving on this basis does not provide for the opportunity to work in the country.

How is legalization going

Legalization of status in Greece in 2021 takes place in several stages:

1. Entry with a national visa.
2. Registration of residence permit.
3. Obtaining permanent residence.
4. Acquisition of Citizenship.

It is necessary to apply for a residence permit to the Migration Service immediately after arriving in the country. The candidate will have to go through an interview and submit the same package of documents as for a visa permit. After submitting the application, a certificate will be issued that the documents have been accepted for consideration.

The decision is made within 1-2 months. Temporary status is subject to renewal every 1-2 years.

Moving to Greece for permanent residence on a general basis provides for obtaining this status after 5 years of residence in the country. Those who follow the simplified scheme will be able to do it earlier. For example, the spouses of the Greeks - after 3 years.

The package of documents will be required the same as for a residence permit. But it will need to be accompanied by confirmation of previous extensions of legal status.

It will be possible to obtain a Greek passport after 5 years of residence as a permanent resident.

Package of documents and cost of legalization

You can cross the border for the purpose of emigration only on the basis of a category D visa, which must correspond to the chosen ground:

1. working;
2. student;
3. investor visa;
4. business etc.

Conventionally, we will divide all the papers that will be needed to legalize the status into a main package and an additional one (depending on the basis of the migration and the stage). To obtain a residence permit you will need:

1. Visa application form indicating that the candidate is applying for a residence permit.
2. Photo - 3 pcs.
3. Foreign passport with copies of completed spreads.
4. Certificate stating that the applicant has no criminal record.
5. Medical certificate confirming the absence of dangerous diseases.
6. Medical insurance with coverage from 30 thousand euros.
7. Confirmation of housing availability.
8. Financial guarantees.

To obtain a residence permit, you do not need to take fingerprints (they are entered into the database even when you open a visa), confirmation of the level of knowledge of the Greek language is also not required. As an additional package of papers, there will be proofs of the migration method:

• an invitation from the university;
• work permit and invitation from the employer;
• company registration certificate;
• sale and purchase agreement of property for the required amount;
• marriage certificate, etc.

Applying for permanent residence will require the same package of papers as for a residence permit, to which you need to attach:

• certificates of renewal of residence permit;
• certificate of passing the exam in the Greek language;
• confirmation of the presence of a permanent and legitimate income.

When applying for citizenship you will need:

• Permanent residence as confirmation of the legal basis of residence in the country;
• a medical certificate issued in a Greek clinic, confirming the absence of AIDS and tuberculosis;
• European standard health insurance policy;
• guarantees of financial solvency.

If emigration takes place with children, you must attach to the package of papers:

• Marriage certificate;
• birth certificate of a child;
• consent of the second parent if not the whole family is moving;
• personal travel passport of a minor.

The costs at each stage will look like this:

Why can they refuse

Studying the question of how to leave to live in Greece, it is important to know what may be the reason for the refusal to grant this or that status. So, the decision may turn out to be negative in the following cases:

• low income and the level of security in general;
• the presence of previous convictions and misunderstandings with the law and at the time of filing the petition;
• violation of migration rules and regulations;
• failure to comply with the deadlines for filing applications;
• false personal information;
• fake documents.

The applicant has only 10 days from the date of receipt of the denial notice to file an appeal. If the petition is rejected, you need to go to court. There are exactly 2 months for drafting and filing and filing a claim.

About Russians in Greece

The Russian diaspora in Greece numbers about 400 thousand people. Of this number, about 14 thousand immigrants arrived directly from Russia.

The largest number of Russian-speaking migrants is registered in Thessaloniki and Athens. The first settlers appeared here in the twenties of the last century. Today mainly ethnic Greeks and those who have married or married a Greek citizen / citizen come here.

The main activity of the Russian community is aimed at popularizing Russian culture, history, language and traditions. The result of her work today is Russian schools and kindergartens, shops with products from the Russian Federation, radio stations, periodicals that can be bought in any major Greek city.

Where is the best place to live

In which city life in Greece will be more comfortable and prosperous, it is impossible to say unequivocally. It will depend on the purpose of the move. If labor migration is planned, then it is better to choose large cities and tourist areas; for a more peaceful life, islands, for example, Crete are suitable.

A small overview by region:

• Large cities (Thessaloniki, Athens) - attract those who are looking for themselves in the field of programming, finance, management insurance. The offices of large companies, including international ones, are concentrated here. Adaptation in these cities is quicker thanks to the large Russian community.
• Periphery - in small towns and villages, life is quieter and more relaxed. Here they do not react so sharply to what is happening and to problems in general. But you need to be prepared for the lack of jobs and entertainment.
• Islands - the country includes about 6 thousand islands, of which only 227 are inhabited. Emigrants in Greece in these regions enjoy life by the sea, village life and lack of worries. But this option is suitable only for those who have the means to live and who do not need to think about making money. An important feature of life on the islands is the difficulty of crossing the continent in winter.

Outcomes

Emigration to Greece is carried out on the basis of one of the methods provided by law: doing business, employment, reuniting with relatives, training, investing in the economy, and a pension program. The legalization process takes place in several stages: entering the country with a national visa, obtaining a residence permit, permanent residence, citizenship. For some categories of migrants, there is a simplified scheme for obtaining resident status.