shqiptarëtResidence permits in Greece for Albanian and Kosovo citizens
Albania and Kosovo are not in the EU, so their citizens in Greece follow the rules for third-country nationals. Permits are handled by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, and most applications are made on its online platform.
This is general information from the official sources below, not legal advice. Migration rules change and every case is different: for important decisions ask the Ministry or a lawyer.
- The law
- The Migration Code, Law 5038/2023 (Government Gazette Α' 81/01-04-2023).
- Who decides
- The Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Thivon Ave 196-198, 182 33 Agios Ioannis Rentis – Nikaia. Call centre: +30 213 212 8400.
- Where to apply
- On the online platform portal.immigration.gov.gr: renewal, first grant (including exceptional reasons), other applications, and investors.
- Renewal
- Online only. You can file it yourself or through a lawyer. The platform accepts renewal at the earliest 2 months before expiry, or when the purpose of stay changes.
- Technical support
- e-rvsupport@migration.gov.gr (for the platform).
Steps
- Get ready
You need a mobile number, an email address, the e-paravolo (electronic fee) code where one is required, and scanned documents for your category. If a lawyer applies, their authorisation is uploaded too. - Apply on the platform
Choose your category and upload the documents. The application is also available in English. - Get your certificate
After filing you receive proof of submission and the "Blue certificate" by email. It is valid until a decision is issued. - Biometrics
The notice for your biometrics appointment comes by email only. - The decision
The decision is sent by email. You can follow your file in the "Electronic Process of the File of a Third-Country National".
Main types of permit (the Ministry's list)
- Employment and professional reasons.
- Humanitarian, exceptional and other reasons.
- Study, voluntary work, research and training.
- Victims of trafficking.
- Family reunification, including family members of a Greek citizen or of an ομογενής (a person of Greek descent).
- Long-term residence.
- Special certificate of legal residence.
Items that mention Albanian citizens
- An independent permit for spouses, not of Greek descent, of ομογενείς from Albania (item 5.4.2 of the list).
- Renewal for Albanian citizens whose Special Identity Card for Aliens of Greek Descent (ΕΔΤΟ) was refused (item 1.1.6).
Documents
- For each category the Ministry publishes the document list as a .docx file on its categories page.
- Some of these lists still cite article numbers of the older law 4251/2014. If something does not match, ask the Ministry or your lawyer.
Long-term residence (EU Immigration Portal)
- You need 5 years of lawful, continuous residence in Greece.
- Conditions: income of at least the annual minimum wage, plus 10% for each dependant; full social security cover; and integration (for example knowledge of the Greek language and history, a Greek family member's card, an opinion of the Citizenship Committee, or 12 years' residence).
- Time outside Greece: under 6 months in a row and under 10 months in total.
- Apply to the authority that issued your last permit. The decision is due within 6 months (can be extended by 3 months).
- The permit is valid for 5 years and renews for 5 years.
- Family reunification needs you to have 2 years of residence.
- Note: the EU portal may not fully reflect the 2023 Code. Check with the Ministry.
Fees (paravolo) under the Migration Code, Article 171
- Work permits in category Ε (types Ε.1–Ε.4) and family reunification (Ο.1, Ο.2): €150, for both first grant and renewal.
- Independent 3-year permit (Ο.2) for children turning 21: €450.
- Long-term residence (Μ.1): €150. Renewing it is free.
- 10-year permit (Μ.2): €900 or €300, depending on the case (Article 161 par. 1).
- Reissue of a permit: €100.
- No fee: minors, and third-country family members of a Greek citizen (Article 93 par. 11).
- On top of this, €16 for printing the permit card.
- Paid only by e-paravolo.
- The amounts come from the text of Law 5038/2023 published by the Ministry. The law is amended from time to time: check the amount on e-paravolo before you pay.
Renewing late (Article 11)
- Apply within the 2 months before your permit expires.
- You can still apply up to 1 month after expiry, with a €100 fine.
- After that month the application is not accepted, except for proven force majeure.
- If you applied before expiry and received the certificate of application, it is valid until the decision.
The ΕΔΤΟ card (people of Greek descent from Albania)
- Under Article 168 of the Code, residence documents for ομογενείς from Albania and their family members are issued by the Hellenic Police, under joint ministerial decision 4000/3/10-πβ'/14.11.2012 (Government Gazette Β' 3043), not by the Migration Ministry.
Kosovo citizens: the categories above apply to all third-country (non-EU) nationals. For Kosovo's office in Athens, see the Greece essentials page. Greece: the essentials
Sources
- Ministry of Migration and Asylum: Categories of residence permits for third-country nationals and documents
- Ministry of Migration and Asylum: Migration Code (Law 5038/2023)
- Ministry of Migration and Asylum: Electronic applications platform
- gov.gr: Renewal of residence permits for third-country nationals
- European Commission, EU Immigration Portal: Employed worker in Greece (long-term residence)
- European Commission, EU Immigration Portal: Family member in Greece
- Ministry of Migration and Asylum: Migration Code, Law 5038/2023, full text (PDF; Articles 11, 168, 171)
- Decentralised Administration of Macedonia-Thrace: migration fee codes and amounts, 2023 (PDF)