An Immigration Lawyer Athens can provide legal assistance to foreign nationals who live, work, study, invest or wish to establish their legal residence in Greece. Immigration procedures can involve residence permits, employment, family relationships, studies, investment, renewals and the use of foreign documents before Greek authorities.
The Law Office of Anna Deftereou, located in central Athens, assists foreign nationals with immigration and residence matters in Greece. We provide legal guidance based on the circumstances of each case, from identifying the appropriate immigration procedure to preparing documentation and handling applications before the competent authorities where legal representation is permitted.
Greek immigration procedures differ according to nationality, purpose of residence and the applicant’s existing legal status. For this reason, each case should be assessed individually before an application is submitted.
Immigration Lawyer Athens – How We Can Assist
Immigration law covers several different legal procedures. A foreign national moving to Greece for employment does not necessarily follow the same procedure as a student, investor or spouse of a Greek citizen.
Our legal assistance may include:
- residence permit applications;
- residence permit renewals;
- employment-related immigration procedures;
- family-based residence matters;
- residence rights of spouses of Greek citizens;
- student visa and residence procedures;
- Golden Visa and investor residence matters;
- review and preparation of supporting documents;
- foreign civil-status documents;
- Apostille and legalisation requirements;
- official translations;
- electronic immigration applications;
- changes of residence category;
- requests for additional documentation;
- examination of rejected applications;
- legal representation where permitted.
The first step is determining which immigration procedure applies to the individual case.
Immigration Law in Greece
Greek immigration law provides different legal routes for foreign nationals depending on their nationality, purpose of stay and personal circumstances.
Third-country nationals may require a visa or residence permit to remain legally in Greece for an extended period. European Union citizens are subject to a different legal framework.
For non-EU nationals, immigration status may be connected with:
- employment;
- family relationships;
- studies;
- investment;
- professional activity;
- highly qualified employment;
- other grounds recognised under Greek immigration legislation.
The Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum maintains separate residence categories and procedures, and the Directorate of Residence Permits is responsible for the issuance, renewal and re-issuance of residence permits within the categories falling under its competence.
Residence Permits in Greece
Residence permits represent a major part of immigration law in Greece.
There is no single Greek residence permit covering every foreign national. Different categories have different eligibility requirements, supporting documents, durations and rights.
An applicant should therefore determine the appropriate residence category before preparing the application.
For a detailed overview of residence procedures, see our Residence Permit Lawyer Greece service.
Initial Residence Permit Applications
An initial residence permit application generally requires the applicant to demonstrate the legal basis for residence in Greece.
Depending on the category, this may involve evidence relating to:
- employment;
- studies;
- family relationships;
- investment;
- financial circumstances;
- professional activities;
- other qualifying circumstances.
The required documentation differs according to the residence category.
An Immigration Lawyer Athens can review the applicant’s circumstances and assist in determining the appropriate procedure before documents are submitted.
Residence Permit Renewal
Foreign nationals who already hold a Greek residence permit may need to renew it in order to maintain their legal residence status.
Renewal should not automatically be treated as a repetition of the original application.
Changes may have occurred since the initial permit was issued, including:
- change of employer;
- change in professional circumstances;
- change in family status;
- new passport;
- changes to supporting documentation;
- changes affecting the legal basis of residence.
The requirements also depend on the specific permit category.
For dedicated assistance with renewals, see our Residence Permit Renewal Greece service.
Work Residence Permit Greece
Third-country nationals who intend to work in Greece may need an immigration status that permits the relevant employment activity.
Employment-based immigration can involve different residence categories depending on the nature of the work and the applicant’s circumstances.
Applicants should not assume that every residence permit automatically provides identical employment rights.
Where immigration is connected specifically with employment, you can read more about our Work Residence Permit Greece legal services.
Immigration Assistance for International Students
Foreign nationals coming to Greece for university or other qualifying studies may need to complete both entry and residence procedures.
Depending on nationality and circumstances, this can involve obtaining the appropriate visa before entering Greece and subsequently completing the relevant residence procedure.
Educational admission and immigration status are separate matters. Being accepted by an educational institution does not by itself replace the immigration requirements applicable to the student.
For dedicated assistance, see our Student Visa Lawyer Greece service.
We also provide a detailed informational guide concerning the Student Residence Permit in Greece.
Greek Spouse Residence Permit
A third-country national married to a Greek citizen may have a legal basis for residence in Greece through the family relationship.
Marriage, however, does not mean that the residence documentation is issued automatically.
The appropriate application must be made and the necessary documentation demonstrating the relationship and other applicable requirements must be provided.
Cases involving marriages celebrated outside Greece can also raise questions concerning:
- foreign marriage certificates;
- registration of foreign civil-status events;
- Apostille;
- legalisation;
- official translation;
- recognition of foreign documentation.
For these cases, see our Greek Spouse Residence Permit legal services.
Family Immigration Matters
Immigration rights may also arise through other qualifying family relationships.
The appropriate procedure depends on factors such as the nationality and legal status of the family member already residing in Greece and the relationship between the individuals involved.
Supporting documents can include foreign:
- marriage certificates;
- birth certificates;
- family-status certificates;
- other civil-status records.
Documents issued abroad may require authentication and translation before they can be used before Greek authorities.
Golden Visa in Greece
Greece provides residence options for qualifying third-country investors.
The Golden Visa framework is distinct from ordinary employment, student and family immigration procedures and is subject to its own legal requirements.
Where the qualifying investment involves real estate, the immigration procedure can also intersect with Greek property law.
International investors can read more about our Golden Visa in Greece legal services.
Where a property transaction is involved, our Real Estate Lawyer Greece service provides information regarding property purchases, title checks and legal due diligence in Greece.
Foreign Documents for Immigration Procedures
Foreign nationals frequently need to submit documents issued outside Greece.
These can include:
- birth certificates;
- marriage certificates;
- divorce documentation;
- criminal-record certificates where required;
- educational records;
- employment documents;
- corporate documents;
- powers of attorney;
- other official certificates.
Before submitting a foreign document, it is important to determine whether authentication or legalisation is required.
Apostille and Legalisation of Foreign Documents
Foreign documents are not automatically accepted in Greece simply because they were issued by an official authority in another country.
Depending on the issuing country and the type of document, an Apostille, consular legalisation or another recognised authentication procedure may be required.
The Hague Apostille procedure does not apply universally to every country and every document.
The correct procedure should therefore be established before documents are translated and submitted.
Translation of Foreign Documents
Documents issued in another language may also need to be officially translated into Greek through an accepted procedure.
Authentication and translation should be considered together.
Where legalisation or Apostille is required, the appropriate sequence should be followed so that the final documentation can be used before the competent Greek authority.
This is particularly important in immigration cases involving civil-status documents issued abroad.
Immigration and Civil-Status Records
Immigration cases can sometimes depend on civil-status events that occurred outside Greece.
Examples include:
- a marriage celebrated abroad;
- a child born outside Greece;
- a divorce issued by a foreign authority;
- a death occurring outside Greece.
Where the immigration procedure depends on such an event, the foreign record may need to satisfy additional requirements before it can be used in Greece.
This issue frequently arises in spouse and family-based immigration cases.
Change of Immigration Status
A foreign national’s circumstances can change while living in Greece.
For example:
- a student may complete studies and obtain employment;
- an employee may change professional circumstances;
- a person may marry a Greek citizen;
- family circumstances may change;
- an applicant may qualify for another residence category.
A change in circumstances does not necessarily mean that the existing residence permit can simply be renewed under a different legal basis.
The applicant should determine whether a change of purpose or another immigration procedure is legally available.
Immigration Lawyer for Clients Living Abroad
A client does not necessarily need to be physically present in Greece before obtaining legal advice concerning an immigration matter.
In many cases, preparation can begin while the applicant is abroad.
This can be particularly useful where documents must be obtained from the applicant’s country of origin.
Preparation may include:
- collecting civil-status records;
- obtaining employment documentation;
- obtaining educational records;
- arranging Apostille or legalisation;
- preparing translations;
- reviewing passport and visa documentation;
- preparing a power of attorney where appropriate.
Starting this process before travelling to Greece can help identify missing documents at an earlier stage.
Power of Attorney for Immigration Matters
Certain legal and administrative actions may be handled through authorised representation where permitted by the applicable procedure.
A power of attorney may therefore be useful for foreign clients who are outside Greece or who require legal representation for specific actions.
The exact form of authorisation depends on what the lawyer needs to perform.
Where a power of attorney is executed outside Greece, additional authentication and translation requirements may apply.
A power of attorney cannot, however, replace the applicant’s personal attendance where the law or administrative procedure specifically requires the individual to appear.
Electronic Immigration Applications
A number of Greek immigration procedures are now handled electronically.
The precise procedure depends on the residence category and the competent authority.
Electronic submission does not eliminate the substantive legal requirements of the application.
The applicant must still select the correct category and submit the documentation required for that procedure.
The Ministry’s Directorate of Residence Permits is responsible for the control of supporting documents and applications within the categories under its competence, as well as procedures connected with biometric information for residence permit documents.
Biometrics for Greek Residence Permits
Residence permit procedures can require the collection of biometric information.
The Greek immigration administration’s responsibilities include the collection of digital photographs, fingerprints and digital signatures, where applicable, for residence permit documents.
This means that even where a lawyer handles substantial parts of an immigration procedure, personal attendance may still be required at particular stages.
Requests for Additional Documentation
The competent immigration authority may request additional supporting documents during the examination of an application.
The applicant should determine exactly what is being requested and why.
Sometimes the issue is simply a missing document. In other cases, the request may relate to whether a substantive legal requirement has been satisfied.
The response should therefore address the specific issue raised by the authority rather than simply submitting unrelated additional documents.
Rejected Immigration or Residence Permit Applications
An application may be rejected where the competent authority determines that the applicable requirements have not been satisfied.
Where a negative decision is issued, the first step should be to review the written decision and identify the legal and factual reasons for the rejection.
Depending on the type of decision and applicable procedure, there may be an administrative or judicial remedy.
Deadlines may apply, so a rejection should be examined without unnecessary delay.
Immigration Lawyer Athens for Complex Cases
Some immigration matters are relatively straightforward, while others involve several legal or administrative issues simultaneously.
A case can become more complex where:
- the applicant’s existing permit has expired;
- the legal basis of residence has changed;
- documents were issued in several countries;
- family circumstances have changed;
- foreign civil-status records are involved;
- additional documents have been requested;
- a previous application has been rejected;
- employment circumstances have changed;
- there is uncertainty regarding the appropriate residence category.
An Immigration Lawyer Athens can examine these issues together rather than treating each document or administrative step separately.
Common Immigration Application Problems
Problems can arise before or after an immigration application is submitted.
Common issues include:
- choosing the wrong residence category;
- incomplete supporting documentation;
- inconsistencies between foreign documents;
- incorrect personal information;
- expired passports;
- missing Apostille or legalisation;
- translation problems;
- changes in employment;
- changes in family status;
- failure to respond properly to an authority’s request;
- misunderstanding the rights associated with a residence permit.
Early identification of these issues can help avoid unnecessary procedural complications.
Immigration Lawyer Athens – Preparing for a Consultation
Before consulting an immigration lawyer, it is useful to collect the documents relating to your existing legal and immigration status.
Depending on the case, these may include:
- passport;
- existing or previous residence permit;
- visa;
- application receipts or certificates;
- correspondence from immigration authorities;
- employment documents;
- marriage or birth certificates;
- educational documents;
- previous immigration decisions.
Clients should also provide accurate information concerning their current status, the purpose of their residence in Greece and any deadlines that may apply.
This allows the legal issue to be assessed more efficiently.
Legal Assistance for Foreign Nationals in Athens
Athens is home to foreign nationals who come to Greece for many different reasons, including employment, family, education, investment and business.
Immigration matters often overlap with other areas of Greek law.
For example, an investor purchasing property may require both immigration and real estate legal assistance. A foreign spouse may encounter both immigration and civil-status issues. An employee may need immigration advice connected with an employment-based residence category.
Our approach is therefore to examine the immigration issue within the broader legal circumstances of the client where necessary.
Immigration Services for International Clients
The Law Office of Anna Deftereou assists clients who are already living in Greece as well as individuals preparing to relocate from abroad.
Communication and preliminary document review can often begin before the client arrives in Athens.
This is particularly useful for international clients because many immigration procedures require documents issued in their home country.
Identifying the necessary documents in advance can reduce the risk of having to obtain additional documentation after arriving in Greece.
Why Consult an Immigration Lawyer Athens?
An Immigration Lawyer Athens can provide legal guidance at different stages of an immigration procedure.
Legal assistance may be useful when:
- you do not know which residence permit applies to your circumstances;
- you are preparing an initial residence application;
- your residence permit needs renewal;
- you intend to work in Greece;
- you are moving to Greece for studies;
- you are married to a Greek citizen;
- you are considering an investment-based residence permit;
- your circumstances have changed;
- the authorities have requested additional documentation;
- your application has been rejected;
- you need to use foreign documents in Greece.
The purpose of legal assistance is not to guarantee the outcome of an application, but to identify the applicable legal procedure, prepare the case appropriately and address legal or administrative issues that may arise.
Official Immigration Information in Greece
The Ministry of Migration and Asylum is the competent governmental authority responsible for Greek migration policy and residence permit administration.
The Directorate of Residence Permits handles the issuance, renewal and re-issuance of residence permits within the categories under its competence and provides services relating to third-country nationals.
Applicants should always consider the current official requirements applicable to their specific immigration category because procedures and supporting documents can differ between categories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an immigration lawyer in Greece?
A lawyer is not mandatory for every immigration procedure. Legal assistance can nevertheless be useful when determining the appropriate residence category, preparing documentation, dealing with foreign documents or addressing legal and procedural complications.
What residence permit do I need to live in Greece?
The appropriate permit depends on factors such as nationality, purpose of residence, employment, studies, family relationships, investment and existing immigration status.
For residence permit-specific information, see our Residence Permit Lawyer Greece service.
Can an immigration lawyer help me while I am outside Greece?
Yes. Depending on the procedure, legal preparation can often begin while the client is abroad. This can include reviewing the case and identifying foreign documents that need to be collected, authenticated or translated.
Can I work in Greece with a residence permit?
Employment rights depend on the specific residence category. A residence permit should not automatically be assumed to provide unrestricted employment rights.
For employment-related immigration, see our Work Residence Permit Greece service.
Can I obtain residence in Greece by marrying a Greek citizen?
Marriage to a Greek citizen can provide a legal basis for residence, but the appropriate immigration procedure and documentation must still be completed.
Can international students obtain a residence permit in Greece?
There are immigration procedures for qualifying international students. The exact requirements depend on the student’s circumstances and applicable residence category.
See our Student Visa Lawyer Greece service for more information.
Can property investment provide residence rights in Greece?
Greece has investor residence categories, including the Golden Visa framework, subject to applicable investment and legal requirements.
See our Golden Visa in Greece service.
What if my residence permit is about to expire?
The renewal requirements should be examined according to the specific residence category. It is advisable to review the matter before expiry so that any documentation issues can be identified.
Do foreign documents need an Apostille?
Not in every case. Whether an Apostille, consular legalisation or another authentication procedure is necessary depends on the issuing country, document and applicable legal framework.
What happens if my immigration application is rejected?
The written decision should be reviewed to determine the reason for rejection and whether an administrative or judicial remedy may be available. Applicable deadlines should also be checked promptly.
Immigration Lawyer Athens – Contact Our Law Office
If you need legal assistance with an immigration matter in Greece, an Immigration Lawyer Athens can review your circumstances, identify the applicable procedure and assist with the legal and administrative requirements of your case.
The Law Office of Anna Deftereou assists foreign nationals with residence permits, renewals, employment-related immigration, family matters, student immigration, investor residence procedures and related legal issues.
Law Office of Anna Deftereou
39 Stadiou Street, Athens, Greece
Tel.: +30 210 323 8062