Rhodope records lowest residence permit and labor transfer requests in Northern Greece, 81 Golden Visa applications from Turkish Nationals
New official statistics released by the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia–Thrace reveal that Rhodope ranks lowest among regional units in applications for residence permits and labor recruitment procedures involving third-country nationals.
The data, covering the period 2021–2025 and compiled by the relevant administrative departments, highlights significant regional disparities across Central and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace in migration, labor mobility, and investment-related residency schemes.
According to the figures, Rhodope recorded the fewest applications for residence permits, while also showing very low numbers in employer requests for the recruitment of foreign workers, including agricultural laborers and tourism sector employees.
The report also provides detailed insights into Greece’s Golden Visa program, showing that 81 applications were submitted in Rhodope by Turkish nationals between 2021 and 2025. Authorities clarified that the figures refer to the prefecture where applications were submitted, which may differ from the actual location of investment.
Regional and National Trends
Across the wider region in 2025, a total of 33,776 residence permit applications were recorded, close to the five-year average. Approximately 70% of these were renewals, while 27% were initial residence permits.
Thessaloniki accounted for the majority of applications (53.2%), followed by Chalkidiki, Kavala, Pella, Imathia, Pieria, Serres, Kilkis, Drama, İskeçe, Meriç, and Rhodope.
The dominant nationality among applicants was Albanian (67.2%), followed by citizens of Georgia, Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Pakistan, China, Ukraine, Serbia, and Egypt.
Most permits were issued for family reunification and employment purposes, particularly in agriculture, seasonal work, and fisheries.
Labor Recruitment and Seasonal Work
Employer requests for third-country workers were heavily concentrated in Central Macedonia, especially in agricultural regions such as Pella, Imathia, and Chalkidiki. In contrast, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace recorded significantly lower numbers.
In total, 4,198 employers across 12 regional units submitted applications for foreign labor in 2025, with peak demand observed during the May–August agricultural season.
Golden Visa Distribution
Golden Visa applications and renewals peaked in 2024 and slightly declined in 2025, although levels remained higher than in the 2021–2023 period.
Selanik again dominated the distribution, with Turkish nationals leading applications (869), followed by applicants from Israel (248) and Russia (187). In Rhodope, Turkish nationals accounted for all 81 recorded Golden Visa applications.
Authorities emphasized that all figures refer strictly to the administrative region of application submission.
Official Statement
Commenting on the data, Dimitris Galamatis, Secretary-General of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia–Thrace, stressed that the services prioritize transparency and strict legal compliance in all migration procedures.
He noted that application processing is complex and time-consuming due to detailed documentation checks and limited administrative capacity, but reiterated that “no compromise is made regarding legality.”
Galamatis added that over the past five years, inspection procedures have become significantly stricter, ensuring that third-country nationals entering Greece for employment, investment, or residence fully meet legal requirements.
