Residence route
EU Blue Card
For non-EU nationals with a higher qualification and a Greek salary offer above a statutory threshold.
- Permit duration
- Multi-year, renewable
- Headline requirement
- A salary above the statutory threshold, which is a multiple of the minimum salary.
- Where you apply
- Employer-initiated, then a Greek consulate
Last verified 12 September 2026 · 1 day ago · checked by spec-import Every figure on this page was checked against its source on this date.
Governing authority: Ministry of Migration and Asylum
What this route is
The Blue Card is the EU-wide permit for highly qualified employment. In Greece it requires a recognised higher qualification or equivalent professional experience, plus a job offer paying above a statutory threshold. In exchange it offers longer terms, better family reunification and more mobility within the EU than the standard work permit.
It is still employer-driven. Like the standard work permit, you cannot start it without an offer.
The threshold moves, and that catches people
The salary threshold is defined as a multiple of the statutory minimum salary rather than as a fixed number. When the minimum wage rose in April 2026, the Blue Card threshold rose with it. An offer that would have qualified in 2025 may not qualify now.
We have not published the current multiplier, because the sources we can see do not agree on it. Confirm the number with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum before you or your employer rely on a salary figure.
At a glance
In one line: For non-EU nationals with a higher qualification and a Greek salary offer above a statutory threshold. It runs for multi-year, renewable, and work rights are yes.
| Who it is for | Graduates and experienced professionals recruited into higher-paid Greek roles. |
|---|---|
| Financial requirement | A salary above the statutory threshold, which is a multiple of the minimum salary. |
| Initial duration | Multi-year, renewable |
| Renewal | Renewable while the employment and salary conditions hold |
| Can you work? | Yes. Work is permitted in the qualifying role, with more mobility within the EU than a standard work permit. |
| Family included? | Yes. Family reunification is generally more favourable than under the standard work permit. |
| Minimum days in Greece | You are expected to live and work in Greece |
| Route to permanent residence | Blue Card time counts towards long-term residence, with EU-wide aggregation rules |
| Where you apply | Employer-initiated, then a Greek consulate |
What changed recently
Rule changes in the last two years that affect this route. If you read something elsewhere that contradicts these, check its date before you believe it.
Step by step
Times below are realistic rather than optimistic, and they assume your documents are already in order. The slowest part is usually waiting for a consulate appointment.
-
Confirm the current salary threshold
Where Ministry of Migration and Asylum Typically Same day
It is a multiple of the statutory minimum salary and changed with the April 2026 minimum wage rise.
-
Employer submits the Blue Card application
Where Ministry of Migration and Asylum Typically Reported at several months
Includes the contract, the salary evidence and your qualification documents.
-
Collect the entry visa and complete biometrics in Greece
Where Greek consulate, then the Ministry of Migration and Asylum Typically 1–3 months
Biometric registration produces the residence card.
Document checklist
These are the documents the EU Blue Card route asks for. Two columns matter more than people expect: an apostille is a certificate that proves a foreign public document is genuine, and a certified translation must be produced by a translator Greek authorities accept. Both take weeks, and both are the usual reason an application is sent back.
| Document | Apostille | Certified Greek translation |
|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Not required | Not required |
| Recognised higher qualification | Required | Required |
| Employment contract showing the qualifying salary | Not required | Not required |
| Criminal record certificate | Required | Required |
What it costs in total
Government fees are the smallest part of the bill. Translation, apostilles, insurance and legal help usually cost more than the permit itself, and they are the costs people forget to budget for.
We do not yet have published fee figures for this route that we are willing to stand behind. Rather than estimate, we have left this table empty until we can confirm them.
Budget separately for apostilles and certified translations of every document marked in the checklist above, and for private health insurance where the route requires it.
Who this is wrong for
We are not selling this permit, so we can tell you when it is a bad fit. If any of these describes you, this route will not work and you should look elsewhere before you spend money on it.
- Your offered salary is below the current threshold. The threshold moves with the minimum wage, so a 2025 figure may no longer be enough.
- You do not hold a recognised higher qualification or equivalent professional experience.
- You do not have a Greek job offer.
- You hold EU, EEA or Swiss nationality — the Blue Card is not for you.
What this does to your tax
Taxed as employment income. The 50% inbound worker exemption may be available on transferring tax residence.
The trigger that catches people is time, not intention. Spending Days in Greece that trigger tax residency 183 days or more in a calendar year makes you a Greek tax resident regardless of the other tests. Residents are taxed on worldwide income.183 days — source and verification date
Read how Greek tax residency is decided and the 2026 income tax scale.
Questions people actually ask
How is this different from the standard work permit?
Three things: it requires a higher qualification and a higher salary; it gives better family reunification terms; and it gives more mobility to move to another EU country later, with time aggregating across member states towards long-term residence.
What counts as a higher qualification?
A recognised university degree, or in some cases equivalent professional experience in the relevant field. Recognition matters — a degree from outside the EU usually needs formal recognition, which takes time and is worth starting early.
Does my salary have to stay above the threshold?
Yes. The permit is conditional on the employment and the salary conditions continuing to hold. A pay cut below the threshold puts the permit at risk.
Can I bring my family?
Yes, and generally on more favourable terms than the standard work permit offers. The specifics depend on rules we have not verified in detail.
Will I pay Greek tax on this salary?
Yes, under the progressive scale, with EFKA contributions deducted. Transferring your tax residence to Greece may qualify you for the 50% inbound worker exemption for up to seven years, which materially changes the net figure. It is elective and has a filing deadline.
Why is this page marked unverified?
Because the salary threshold — the thing the entire route depends on — is a figure our sources report inconsistently, and because the threshold moved in April 2026. We do not publish pages built on numbers we cannot stand behind.