Profile

EU Blue Card – residence permit for highly qualified employment (type ‘E.1’)

Route status

Active as of 2026-08-04[6][8][10]

Open to new applications under the rules recorded below.

Status details
In force since2024-01-01 as of 2023-04-01[6][8]
Migration Code in force from 1 January 2024 (Art. 179(1)); the current validity period applies from 6 February 2026 (Art. 19 L.5275/2026).

Residency route facts

Identity

Identity
Official name (local)Άδεια διαμονής για απασχόληση υψηλής ειδίκευσης («Μπλε Κάρτα της ΕΕ») – άδεια διαμονής τύπου «Ε.1» as of 2023-04-01[6][8]
Official name (English)EU Blue Card – residence permit for highly qualified employment (type 'E.1') as of 2026-08-04[3][6][8][10]
Legal basisMigration Code (L.5038/2023) Arts. 30-52, transposing Directive (EU) 2021/1883; conditions Art. 31, grant and validity Art. 34 (as amended by Art. 19 L.5275/2026), procedure Arts. 33 and 37, labour-market access Art. 40, family Art. 42, long-term residence Art. 43; fees Art. 171(1)(a) as of 2026-02-06[2][5][6][8]

Who can apply

Who can apply
Nationals not served by this routeEU, EEA as of 2023-04-01[6][8]
Third-country nationals only; persons enjoying EU free-movement rights are outside the chapter (Art. 41(6), Art. 42(8)).
Minimum age18 as of 2026-02-06[2][5]
Art. 26(6) of the Code, added by Art. 17 L.5275/2026: an employer may invite a third-country national aged over 18 for E.1, E.4 and E.5 purposes.
Criminal-record conditionYes as of 2023-04-01[6][8]
Art. 31(1)(f): no risk to public order, public security or public health; Art. 35(1)(c) is the corresponding refusal ground.

Permit terms

Permit terms
Initial duration3 years as of 2026-02-06[2][4][5][11]
Art. 34(2) as replaced by Art. 19 L.5275/2026 (previously two years). Where the employment contract is shorter, validity equals the contract term plus three months, capped at three years.
RenewableYes as of 2026-02-06[2][5]
Renewal duration3 years as of 2026-02-06[2][4][5]
Art. 34(2): renewed for three years at a time.
Work rightsown activity only as of 2023-04-01[6][8]
Art. 40: access to highly qualified employment; employer changes must be notified and, in the first 12 months, are suspended for 30 days pending a check. Art. 40(5) permits ancillary self-employment alongside the highly qualified post. Art. 40(6) excludes activities involving public authority.

Permanent residence and citizenship

Permanent residence and citizenship
Counts toward permanent residenceYes as of 2023-04-01[1][6][8]
Art. 43: Blue Card holders may acquire EU long-term resident status, with residence in different Member States aggregated.

Requirements

Requirements
Job offer requiredYes as of 2023-04-01[6][8]
Art. 31(1)(a): a valid highly qualified employment contract of at least six months in Greece.
Salary threshold
    • Measured against: statistical average
    • Amount: 1.60 × Average gross annual salary in Greece per year as of 2026-08-04[3][6][8]
      Art. 31(1)(a): gross annual salary at least 1.6 times the average gross annual salary in Greece. The EU Immigration Portal states the resulting floor as EUR 31,918.83 for 2024. Art. 176(30) allows the multiplier to be reset between 1 and 1.6 by joint ministerial decision; Art. 176(31)-(32) allow a floor of at least 80% of it for shortage occupations (ISCO classes 1-2) and for graduates within three years of their degree.
Labour-market testNo as of 2026-02-06[2][5][6][8]
No individual vacancy test is prescribed in Arts. 31, 33 or 37. Labour-market need is assessed collectively when the annual admission volumes are set (Art. 26(2)).
Qualification requirementdegree, regulated profession, equivalent experience as of 2023-04-01[6][8]
Art. 31(1)(b)-(c): documents evidencing the relevant high professional qualifications (degree), or, for regulated professions, compliance with p.d. 38/2010 (regulated_profession). High professional skills within the meaning of Art. 4(ng) can substitute for a degree in the occupations listed in Annex I to the Directive (experience_equivalent).
Employer sponsorshipYes as of 2023-04-01[6][8]
Art. 33(1): the employer lodges the entry-visa application; refusal grounds in Art. 35(1)(d)-(g) attach to the employer.
Job-search routeNo as of 2023-04-01[6][8]
The E.1 permit itself requires a contract. A stand-alone job-search instrument exists separately as the Talent Visa (route gr-talent-visa). Art. 36(3)-(4) allow a Blue Card holder who becomes unemployed 3-6 months to look for new highly qualified work.

Process

Process
Where to apply fromeither as of 2026-08-04[6][8][10]
Art. 33: the employer applies for a national entry visa where the applicant is abroad (Art. 33(1)); a third-country national who entered on a uniform visa or visa-free, or who already holds a definitive residence title, may apply in-country (Art. 33(3)-(4), Art. 12(4)).
Statutory processing time90 days as of 2026-08-04[3][6][8]
Art. 37(1): decision issued and notified within 90 days of a complete application; 30 days where the employer is a recognised employer under Art. 38.
Fees
    • Kind: application
    • Amount: EUR 150 as of 2026-08-04[6][8][10]
      Art. 171(1)(a) for permit types E.1-E.4.
    • Charged per: applicant
    • Kind: card
    • Amount: EUR 16 as of 2026-08-04[3][10]
      Electronic printing charge for the permit document, levied in addition to the Art. 171 fee.
    • Charged per: applicant
    • Kind: renewal
    • Amount: EUR 150 as of 2026-08-04[3][6][8]
      Art. 171(1)(a).
    • Charged per: applicant
Quota
  • Quota exists: Yes as of 2026-02-06[2][5][6][8]
    Art. 26 (as amended by Art. 17 L.5275/2026): an annual Council of Ministers Act sets maximum admission numbers by employment sector (ESCO), covering highly qualified employment; a Blue Card post taken up in-country counts against those numbers (Arts. 12(4), 33(3)).
  • Annual cap: Not established from a qualifying source
  • Allocated by: sector
  • Cap exists but is not published as a single figure: Yes

Physical presence

Physical presence
maximum total absence6 months · to keep the permit as of 2023-04-01[6][8]
General rule of Art. 18(6): permit validity is unaffected by temporary absences not exceeding six months per year. No Blue-Card-specific day count is prescribed.

Family inclusion

Family inclusion
Family members may be includedYes as of 2023-04-01[6][8]
Art. 42: family reunification for Blue Card holders, with the Art. 83(1)/84 preconditions on prospect of permanent residence, permit length and minimum residence disapplied.
Eligible relationsspouse, minor child, adult dependent child as of 2026-02-06[2][5][6][8]
Art. 4(le) as amended by Art. 9 L.5275/2026: spouse aged 18 or over, unmarried children under 18 (including lawfully adopted children and children of either spouse in lawful custody), and – new since 6 February 2026 – adult children of the sponsor or spouse who lack legal capacity, live with and are supported by the sponsor.
Family may apply at the same timeYes as of 2023-04-01[6][8]
Art. 42(3): where complete applications are lodged together, the family decisions are issued and notified at the same time as the Blue Card decision; otherwise within 90 days.
Family members' work rightsfull as of 2023-04-01[6][8]
Art. 42(5): family members have access to any employment and to self-employment, with no waiting period.
Additional means per family member
    • Relation: spouse
    • Amount: 2.80 × Statutory minimum monthly wage for employees (a monthly figure), assessed annually as of 2024-09-17[6][7][8][9]
      Art. 84(2)(b): +20% of the annual (14-monthly-payment) minimum wage (0.20 x 14 = multiplier 2.8).
    • Relation: minor child
    • Amount: 2.10 × Statutory minimum monthly wage for employees (a monthly figure), assessed annually as of 2024-09-17[6][7][8][9]
      Art. 84(2)(b): +15% per child of the annual (14-monthly-payment) minimum wage (0.15 x 14 = multiplier 2.1); not required where both spouses reside lawfully in Greece.
    • Relation: adult dependent child
    • Amount: 2.10 × Statutory minimum monthly wage for employees (a monthly figure), assessed annually as of 2024-09-17[6][7][8][9]
      Art. 84(2)(b): same +15% per-child rate applied to adult dependent children among the eligible relations; not required where both spouses reside lawfully in Greece.

Your next step

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Verification

Verification
Sources cited11
of which official (tier 1)8
Oldest as-of date2023-04-01
Newest as-of date2026-08-04
Reviewed on2026-08-11
Schema version1.1

Sources

  1. [1] Council Directive 2003/109/EC concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents
    EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-04
  2. [2] Law 5275/2026 – promotion of legal migration policies and transposition of Directive (EU) 2024/1233 (full text reproduction)
    e-nomothesia.gr · press · Tier 2 · Published 2026-02-06 · Accessed 2026-08-04
  3. [3] EU Blue Card in Greece – EU Immigration Portal
    European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs · official portal · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  4. [4] Law 5275/2026 – promotion of legal migration policies and transposition of Directive (EU) 2024/1233
    EY Greece · law firm · Tier 2 · Published 2026-02-06 · Accessed 2026-08-04
  5. [5] Law 5275/2026 – promotion of legal migration policies, transposition of Directive (EU) 2024/1233 (Government Gazette A' 17/06.02.2026)
    National Printing House (et.gr) · statute · Tier 1 · Published 2026-02-06 · Accessed 2026-08-04
  6. [6] Law 5038/2023 – Migration Code (Government Gazette A' 81/01.04.2023)
    National Printing House (et.gr) · statute · Tier 1 · Published 2023-04-01 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  7. [7] JMD 225679/2024 – sufficient resources amounts under L.5038/2023 (Government Gazette B' 5223/17.09.2024)
    National Printing House (et.gr) · gazette · Tier 1 · Published 2024-09-17 · Accessed 2026-08-04
  8. [8] Migration Code, Law 5038/2023 (Government Gazette A' 81/01.04.2023) – full text hosted by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum
    Hellenic Ministry of Migration and Asylum · official portal · Tier 1 · Published 2023-04-01 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  9. [9] JMD 225679/2024 – determination of the level and means of proof of sufficient resources under L.5038/2023 (Gazette B' 5223/17.09.2024), copy hosted by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum
    Hellenic Ministry of Migration and Asylum · official portal · Tier 1 · Published 2024-09-17 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  10. [10] Residence permit of a highly qualified employee ('E.1') following admission with a uniform visa or visa-free regime – initial granting
    National Registry of Administrative Procedures (Mitos), Hellenic Republic · official portal · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  11. [11] L.5275/2026: what changes for residence permits
    Plati Law Firm · law firm · Tier 2 · Published 2026-02-06 · Accessed 2026-08-04

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