Greece Work Visa

Who Should Apply for a Greek Work Visa?

A Greek work visa is relevant to Turkish citizens applying from Türkiye who intend to take up lawful employment in Greece. Long-term employment generally involves a national type D visa, but the correct route depends on the position, contract length and applicant’s circumstances. Seasonal employment, highly qualified work and intra-company assignments may follow different rules, so the category should be established before preparing the application.

A short-stay Schengen visa does not, by itself, authorise employment in Greece. Attending an interview is not equivalent to starting work. A national visa is also not necessarily the final stage of the process: applicants may need to obtain the appropriate residence permit and complete local registrations after arrival.

Application Requirements

Most employer-sponsored applications require a job offer or employment contract from a Greek employer. Documents should clearly identify the employer, role, salary and employment period. Depending on the route, the employer may first need to submit an application or secure approval from the competent Greek authorities. A private job offer does not replace any required official authorisation.

• Hold a valid passport meeting the requirements for the selected visa category.
• Provide evidence that the employment arrangement satisfies the applicable conditions.
• Document qualifications, experience or professional authorisation where required.
• Meet the relevant requirements concerning health, insurance, criminal records and financial support.

Regulated professions may require recognition of qualifications or separate professional licensing. Official documents issued in Türkiye may need an apostille or another form of authentication, together with translations prepared in an accepted format. Check the responsible Greek consular post’s current instructions rather than assuming that every document needs the same treatment.

Application Steps

1. Confirm the route: Establish whether the position falls under standard employment, seasonal work or a specialist category.
2. Coordinate with the employer: Identify any employer-side application or approval required before the visa stage.
3. Prepare the file: Gather personal records, employment documents and relevant approvals using the current checklist.
4. Use the correct appointment channel: Follow national visa instructions issued by the consular post responsible for your address in Türkiye.
5. Follow through after submission: Respond to additional requests and check entry and residence requirements if the visa is issued.

Names, passport details, employer information and proposed employment dates should be consistent throughout the file. A contractual start date does not remove the need for the relevant permissions. Consider the application’s status and the consulate’s requirements before making non-refundable travel or accommodation commitments.

Appointments and Biometrics

National visa appointments may not use the same booking system or submission channel as short-stay Schengen applications. Do not assume that a tourist visa appointment can accommodate a work visa application. Confirm the responsible office, its geographical jurisdiction and its current booking arrangements. Appointment availability can add a separate waiting period before the application is examined.

Applicants may be required to attend in person, undergo an interview and complete the biometric procedures applicable to their category. Previously recorded Schengen fingerprints should not be assumed to waive personal attendance for a national visa. Interview questions may cover the role, professional background, employer relationship and intended living arrangements. Prepare original documents and submission copies separately.

Processing Time

There is no single reliable processing estimate for every Greek work visa application. Planning should distinguish between employer-side approval, appointment availability and consular examination. The category, workload, document verification and additional checks can all affect the overall timeline. Any approximate timeframe currently provided by the authorities is an estimate rather than a promised decision date.

Answer requests for further evidence within the stated deadline and through the specified channel. At submission, ask how to check progress and whether the passport will be retained. Keep proposed travel and employment arrangements flexible enough to accommodate delays.

Reasons an Application May Be Refused

Potential grounds include missing or inconsistent documents, insufficient evidence of the employment purpose, absent employer approvals or failure to meet category requirements. False statements, unverifiable records and relevant public order or health considerations may also affect the decision. Previous visa or stay violations can be assessed according to the individual circumstances.

If an application is refused, review the written reasons and any available review or appeal procedures. A fresh application should address the identified problems; resubmitting an unchanged file does not ensure a different outcome. Applicable deadlines and procedures should be checked against the decision notice.

Applying with Hermes Vize

Hermes Vize can assist with organising an employment-specific document checklist and preparing the application file. Separating the employer’s responsibilities from the applicant’s tasks can make preparation easier to manage. Decisions on visas and related permissions remain solely with the competent authorities.