Greece to admit up to 95,000 foreign workers under new migration bill
Greece plans to admit up to 94,240 workers from third countries in 2026 under a new bill by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum aimed at addressing labor shortages, particularly in agriculture, construction and manufacturing.
The draft law, currently under public consultation, streamlines procedures by allowing foreign nationals to obtain work and residence permits through a single administrative act, with decisions issued within 90 days. Temporary employment agencies will also be allowed to act as employers in recruitment procedures.
The framework introduces special fast-track regimes for construction projects and large infrastructure works, as well as new visa categories such as Tech Visa and Talent Visa to attract highly skilled workers. The validity of EU Blue Cards will be extended, and consular procedures simplified in selected cases.
Workers will be allowed to change employers after six months, or earlier in cases of contract violations, while temporary unemployment will not automatically lead to permit revocation. The bill also guarantees equal pay, working conditions, social security access and labor rights for third-country nationals.
According to a decision by the Ministry of Labor, 44,240 workers will be admitted for salaried employment, 48,000 for seasonal work, and 2,000 for high-skilled positions. Up to 9,000 workers will come from Bangladesh under bilateral agreements, while 5,000 seasonal agricultural workers will arrive from Egypt.
Most incoming workers will be employed in agriculture, construction, manufacturing, logistics and tourism, sectors facing acute labor shortages.
