Greece offers employment opportunities for foreign workers in technology, tourism, hospitality, healthcare, engineering, logistics, finance, agriculture, customer service and other sectors. However, your ability to work legally depends heavily on your nationality, residence status, qualifications and the type of employment.
Yes. Foreign nationals can work legally in Greece, but the procedure depends on whether you are an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen or a citizen of a country outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland.
For people from outside the EU, Greece has specific rules governing admission for employment, national employment visas and residence permits. The Greek Ministry of Labour states that the employment of third-country nationals is governed by the current Migration Code and related legislation.
Foreigners can work in Greece, but you generally need the appropriate right to work before starting employment. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens have different mobility rights from non-EU nationals, while third-country nationals may require an employment visa and/or residence permit with access to the Greek labour market.
Citizens of EU countries benefit from European free-movement rules and generally have much easier access to employment in Greece than workers from outside the EU.
EU citizens looking for work in Greece can search for vacancies before moving, contact employers directly and use the European Employment Services network (EURES) for employment information and support.
EURES identifies the Greek Public Employment Service, DYPA, as the main public employment organization and provides EURES advisers who can assist jobseekers.
Non-EU nationals, also called third-country nationals, face additional immigration and employment requirements.
The Greek Ministry of Labour states that the main legal framework is Greece's Migration Code, currently Law 5038/2023 as amended by subsequent legislation. The framework covers salaried employment, seasonal employment and highly skilled employment.
For many employment routes, the Greek employer plays an important role in the admission process. An employer wishing to recruit a third-country national can be required to submit an application through the relevant Greek immigration electronic services.
Do not assume that entering Greece as a tourist gives you the right to start working. A visa or residence status that permits employment is required where applicable. Always check the exact immigration category before accepting a job or starting work.
The employment immigration process depends on the type of job and the worker's nationality.
For certain third-country employment routes, an employer must initiate an employment admission process. The Greek Ministry of Labour describes the employer-invitation process, commonly known as metaklisi, for third-country nationals entering Greece for dependent employment.
Depending on the route, the worker may need a Greek national visa authorizing employment and subsequently a residence permit providing access to the labour market.
For third-country nationals entering Greece specifically for employment, the Ministry of Labour currently lists residence permits granting access to employment, employment-authorizing national visas and certain application certificates among the documents that can authorize employment.
👉 Learn more: Greece Work Visa Guide
For many non-EU workers who do not already have an independent right to work in Greece, the employer is an important part of the immigration process.
Under the current employer-invitation framework, the employer's application specifies information such as the vacancy, worker, nationality, occupation, sector and intended employment period. Approval is subject to the applicable rules and available positions.
The Greek National Registry of Administrative Public Services also describes the E.4 employment/hiring authorization process for employers recruiting third-country nationals and lists the relevant administrative requirements
If you are outside the EU and want to work in Greece, it is usually much more productive to target employers familiar with hiring international workers than to apply randomly to jobs that cannot support your immigration situation.
Greece has a broad service-based economy, with additional employment in manufacturing, construction, agriculture, transportation, technology, healthcare and other sectors.
Enterprise Greece reports that approximately 74.1% of employment is in services, 16.3% in the secondary sector and 8.8% in the primary sector. Its latest employment data also shows significant employment in trade, accommodation and food services, manufacturing, transportation, education, healthcare and information and communication.
Foreign jobseekers may find opportunities in areas such as:
Technology is one of the more internationally oriented parts of the Greek economy. Enterprise Greece describes ICT as one of the country's promising sectors, supported by digitalization, technology infrastructure, research, startups and skilled technical workers.
Technology jobs can be particularly attractive to international candidates because some employers operate in English or work with international customers.
👉 Read the detailed guide: IT Jobs Salary in Greece
Tourism is one of Greece's most important employment sectors and creates a wide range of seasonal and permanent jobs.
Enterprise Greece identifies tourism as a major sector of the Greek economy, including hotels, city-break tourism, nautical tourism, cultural tourism, MICE, sports tourism and other tourism activities.
Foreign workers may find opportunities in:
Tourism jobs are particularly important in island and coastal destinations, although seasonal work can have different immigration and employment rules for non-EU nationals.
Greece has specific legal routes for certain categories of seasonal workers, including agriculture, tourism and fishing.
The Greek Ministry of Labour states that third-country nationals can enter under specific seasonal employment procedures and that seasonal employment can include agriculture, tourism and fishing.
Seasonal jobs can therefore be relevant to foreign workers who do not qualify for permanent professional employment routes.
Seasonal employment does not automatically provide unrestricted permission to work in every sector or remain permanently in Greece. The immigration document and employment category determine the permitted activity and duration.
Healthcare is another significant employment sector in Greece. Enterprise Greece reports more than 300,000 people employed in human health and social work activities in its latest quarterly employment data.
Potential opportunities include:
However, many healthcare professions are regulated. Foreign qualifications may need recognition and professionals may need registration with the appropriate Greek professional authority before practicing.
Construction and engineering can offer opportunities for workers with practical skills and professional qualifications.
Qualification recognition can be important for regulated engineering and professional positions.
Greece's geographical position and shipping and logistics industries create employment opportunities in transportation, warehousing, supply chains and related services.
Manufacturing is an important part of the Greek economy, with employment across industrial products, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, building materials, energy-related industries and other sectors.
Foreign workers with technical qualifications may find opportunities in:
There is no single "foreigner salary" in Greece. Pay depends on the occupation, experience, employer, location, qualifications and employment contract.
The statutory minimum salary for full-time white-collar employees is €920 per month from April 1, 2026. The statutory minimum daily wage for blue-collar workers is €41.09.
Professional jobs can pay considerably more than the statutory minimum, particularly in IT, engineering, finance, management, healthcare and specialized technical occupations.
Technology professionals can earn substantially more than entry-level wages, particularly with experience and specialized skills.
These are market salary ranges rather than guaranteed salaries. Technology salary figures are generally quoted as gross compensation and should be compared carefully because Greek employment commonly uses a 14-payment structure.
👉 See the complete guide: IT Jobs Salary in Greece
Not always. The importance of Greek depends heavily on the occupation and employer.
English can be sufficient for some international technology, tourism, multinational and specialized professional positions. Enterprise Greece reports that 64.5% of adults in Greece speak English, while 69.5% speak at least one foreign language.
However, Greek is an important advantage for jobs involving:
If you do not speak Greek, target companies where English is clearly used as a working language, while learning Greek at the same time. Even basic Greek can make everyday life and long-term integration easier.
Athens is Greece's largest employment center and offers the broadest range of international companies, technology businesses, financial institutions, consulting firms, tourism businesses and professional services.
Foreign professionals may find opportunities in:
Athens is particularly relevant for professionals seeking year-round employment rather than purely seasonal work.
Thessaloniki is Greece's second major urban employment center and an important university, technology, logistics and business hub.
Foreign workers may find opportunities in:
Thessaloniki can be particularly interesting for graduates and younger professionals because of its large student population and technology ecosystem.
The Greek islands create substantial employment in tourism and hospitality, particularly during the summer season.
Popular employment markets include destinations such as:
Jobs can include hotel reception, housekeeping, restaurant work, cooking, guest relations, tourism operations and other seasonal positions.
Because many island positions are seasonal, candidates should check the employment contract carefully, including accommodation, meals, working hours, salary, duration and transport arrangements.
English-speaking jobs exist in Greece, particularly in international companies, technology, tourism, hospitality, customer service and certain professional services.
Search using terms such as:
Foreign-language skills can also be valuable in tourism and customer-facing roles.
Remote work has created another route for foreign professionals living in Greece. Some companies recruit employees who work remotely from Greece, while others use contractor arrangements.
However, working remotely for a company based outside Greece can create tax, social-security and employment-law questions.
Being allowed to stay in Greece does not automatically mean that you have the right to perform every type of employment. Your immigration status, tax residence, employment contract and social-security arrangements should be checked separately.
There are several ways to search for employment in Greece.
EURES is particularly useful for EU jobseekers and provides information about living and working in Greece. The Greek network works with DYPA and provides employment advisers.
The Greek Public Employment Service, DYPA, provides employment services, guidance and employment programs through its network across Greece.
LinkedIn is particularly useful for professional positions in technology, finance, consulting, management, sales and international companies.
If you know which companies you want to work for, applying directly through their official careers pages can be more effective than relying only on general job boards.
Recruitment agencies can be useful for specialized professionals and candidates with international experience.
Networking is particularly valuable in Greece's technology, startup, tourism, finance and international business communities.
The exact documents depend on your nationality and immigration status. Third-country workers may need documentation proving that they have the appropriate right to work.
Depending on the circumstances, this can include:
The Greek Ministry of Labour specifically notes that third-country nationals starting employment need the relevant tax and social-security registrations, including AFM and AMKA, as applicable.
Yes. In many cases, applying for jobs from outside Greece is a good strategy, especially for professional positions.
This can be particularly useful for:
For non-EU nationals, securing an employer willing to follow the applicable immigration procedure can be especially important.
Highly skilled professionals can target international companies and sectors where Greece is developing investment and employment opportunities.
Enterprise Greece identifies sectors including:
ICT in particular is identified by Enterprise Greece as an important growth sector supported by digitalization, infrastructure, research and innovation.
International workers can bring skills, languages, international experience and specialized qualifications that are valuable to Greek employers.
Foreign-language ability can be particularly useful in tourism, customer service, international sales, technology and multinational business operations.
Greece's workforce is also relatively multilingual. Enterprise Greece reports that 69.5% of adults speak at least one foreign language and 64.5% speak English.
A job offer should not be evaluated by salary alone. Housing costs can vary considerably between Athens, Thessaloniki, islands and smaller cities.
For example, central Athens and popular island destinations can be considerably more expensive than some regional Greek markets.
Before accepting an offer, calculate:
👉 Read more: Is Greece Expensive?
👉 Compare locations: Cheapest Areas in Greece
If you move to Greece for employment, housing should be part of your relocation budget.
Athens and Thessaloniki have large rental markets, while island accommodation can become more difficult and expensive during the tourism season.
Before signing a rental contract, consider:
Be cautious if an employer or intermediary asks you to pay large amounts of money in advance in exchange for a guaranteed job, visa or work permit. Verify the employer and use official immigration and employment channels.
Greece can be an attractive option for foreign workers who value the country's lifestyle, climate, EU location and growing international business sectors.
The strongest fit depends on your profession.
Yes. Foreigners can legally work in Greece if they have the appropriate right to work. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens have different mobility rights from non-EU third-country nationals.
Yes. Non-EU citizens can work in Greece through applicable employment and immigration routes. Depending on the category, an employer may need to initiate an employment admission procedure and the worker may need an employment visa and residence permit.
For many employer-sponsored employment routes for third-country nationals, yes. The Greek Ministry of Labour describes an employer-invitation procedure where the employer submits the relevant application for the foreign worker.
You should not assume that a tourist visa or tourist stay gives you the right to work. Employment requires the appropriate authorization under Greek immigration and labour law.
Not always. English can be sufficient for some international companies, technology jobs, tourism positions and multinational workplaces. However, Greek greatly expands the number of jobs available to you.
Technology, engineering, healthcare, tourism, hospitality, logistics, finance, customer service and specialized professional positions can all offer opportunities. The best sector depends on your qualifications and work status.
Yes. English-speaking positions exist particularly in international technology companies, tourism, hospitality, customer service and multinational businesses. Greece also has a relatively high level of English-language knowledge among adults.
The statutory minimum salary for full-time white-collar employees is €920 per month from April 1, 2026. The statutory minimum daily wage for blue-collar workers is €41.09.
Yes. Tourism, hospitality, agriculture and fishing can provide seasonal employment. Specific immigration rules apply to non-EU seasonal workers, so the permitted period and type of work must be checked before traveling.
Athens has Greece's broadest concentration of employers and international businesses, making it one of the strongest locations for professional and year-round employment.
Yes. Thessaloniki has employment opportunities in technology, education, tourism, logistics, business services and other sectors. It is also an important university and technology center.
Remote jobs can be performed from Greece where the employer and worker's legal, tax and immigration arrangements permit it. A foreign remote job does not automatically remove Greek tax, social-security or immigration obligations.
Use EURES, DYPA, LinkedIn, Greek recruitment agencies, company career pages and international job platforms. EURES specifically provides information about living and working in Greece and connects jobseekers with the Greek employment network.
Greece offers employment opportunities for foreign workers across technology, tourism, hospitality, healthcare, engineering, logistics, manufacturing, finance, agriculture and other sectors.
For EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, access to the Greek labour market is generally much simpler than for people from outside the EU. Non-EU nationals need to pay close attention to the immigration category, employment authorization, visa and residence requirements that apply to their particular situation.
The Greek economy has a large service sector, while information and communication, accommodation and food services, trade, transportation, healthcare, manufacturing and other sectors provide substantial employment. Enterprise Greece's latest workforce data shows the broad range of employment across the Greek economy.
For professional foreign workers, technology and other specialized sectors can be particularly interesting. Greece's ICT sector is developing through digitalization, investment, research and international business activity.
The most important rule is simple: find the right job and confirm your right to work before starting employment. If you are a non-EU national, do not assume that a tourist stay or another residence status automatically allows you to work.
With the right qualifications, realistic salary expectations, appropriate work authorization and a targeted job search, Greece can be a viable destination for international workers looking for a career or a new lifestyle in the EU.