EU long-term residence permit in Greece: Conditions and procedure for obtaining the long-term resident status

Obtaining long-term resident status is a key objective for many third-country nationals residing in Greece, due to the beneficial consequences it entails (free access to the labor market in other European countries, etc.). In this article, we will describe the conditions that must be demonstrated by any third-country national who wishes to be granted long-term resident status, as well as the necessary procedure that must be followed.

According to article 144 of Law 5038/2023, a third-country national who has resided in Greece legally and continuously for the five (5) years immediately preceding the date of submission of the relevant application is granted long-term resident status, provided that the following conditions are cumulatively met:

1. He has an income sufficient for his own needs and those of his family, which does not come from recourse to the country’s social assistance system. This income cannot be less than the annual earnings of a person paid the minimum wage, increased by 10% for all dependent members of his family, taking into account any amount derived from regular unemployment benefit. In calculating the income, the contributions of family members are taken into account. The regular nature of the above income is proven in particular by the fulfillment of his insurance and tax obligations.
2. He has full health insurance in terms of all the benefits covered for the corresponding categories of insured citizens, which also covers the members of his family.
3. Meets the conditions for integration into Greek society, namely:
4. Proves that he/she has sufficient knowledge of the Greek language and knowledge of elements of Greek history and Greek culture (either with a graduation certificate of at least compulsory education from Greek schools in Greece or with a graduation certificate from high schools abroad that belong to the Greek educational system or with a recognized graduation certificate from Greek language departments of universities abroad or with a certificate of Greek proficiency at least level B1 or with a special certificate of sufficient knowledge of the Greek language and elements of Greek history and culture after a successful examination conducted under the responsibility of the General Secretariat for Vocational Education, Training, Lifelong Learning and Youth or with a certificate of sufficient knowledge for Naturalization (P.E.G.P)) or
5. Is a holder of a permanent residence card as a member of a Greek family or
6. Has resided legally in Greece for twelve (12) years or
7. Holds a Special Identity Card for a Greek National.

It is noted that for the calculation of the five-year period of residence prior to the submission of the application as a condition for the granting of long-term resident status, the periods during which the interested parties enjoy temporary residence status are not taken into account. Specifically, periods of residence for study or vocational training purposes are taken into account only half for the calculation of the same period. For beneficiaries of international protection, in the calculation of the five-year period, half of the period between the date of submission of the application for international protection on the basis of which the international protection status was granted and the date of issuance of the residence permit pursuant to article 23 of Law 4939/2022 is taken into account, or the entire period if it exceeds 18 months. Periods of absence, provided they are less than six (6) consecutive months and do not exceed a total of ten (10) months within the five-year period, are counted in the calculation of the five-year period.

The competent authority for granting the long-term residence permit is the one that granted the last residence permit. For beneficiaries of international protection and expatriates, the competent authority for granting the long-term residence permit is the Secretary of the locally competent Decentralized Administration.

The competent authority, after seeking the opinion of the competent police authority on matters relating to public order and security, examines the fulfilment of the above conditions and then issues a decision. In case of a positive decision, the third-country national is granted a uniform type of residence permit and the title “type of permit” indicates “long-term resident – ​​EU”.

The long-term residence permit (type “M1” residence permit) is valid for five (5) years, which is renewed for five (5) years each time without the need to fulfil the aforementioned conditions. In order to renew the residence permit, the long-term resident is obliged to submit an application before its expiry to the competent service, which is accompanied by the required supporting documents.

The long-term resident status is not maintained and is revoked, among other things, in the event that the person concerned has been absent from the territory of the European Union for a period greater than or equal to twelve (12) consecutive months or in the event that he constitutes a threat to public order, taking into account the seriousness of the offenses he has committed, or in the event that he has acquired the status of long-term resident in another Member State of the European Union or in the event that it is proven in any way that he has been absent from the territory of Greece for a period exceeding six (6) years.

*Our office has extensive experience in all types of foreigners and residence permit law issues (granting and renewal of residence permits, appeals, legalization of illegal aliens, acquisition of Greek citizenship, cancellation of deportations, objections against detention of foreigners, etc.) For further legal advice or to assign your case to our office, please contact us at 2313 079293 or by email at info@siopi-law.gr. Please note that it is prohibited under the Code of Lawyers to provide legal advice without the appropriate fee (article 57 of Law 4194/2013)*

Dafni I. Siopi

Attorney at Law, LLM

Thessaloniki branch:

52 Tsimiski Street – Thessaloniki

+30 2313 0792923, +30 6977 568673

info@siopi-law.gr, dsiopi@siopi-law.gr

Athens branch:

134 Solonos Street – Athens

+30 211 0035843, +30 6977 568673

athens@siopi-law.gr, dsiopi@siopi-law.gr