How the process works

1. 1

   Joining the FOREIGN WORKERS of Greece candidate list is free

   You will never be asked to pay money to get access to a job opportunity or to be selected by an employer.

   If you meet the eligibility criteria, we will ask for your consent to add your professional profile free of charge to the FOREIGN WORKERS of Greece candidate list.

   Greek employers use this database to find suitable workers from non-EU countries for manual jobs where there are labour shortages in Greece.

2. 2

   Employment in Greece is legal and protected by Greek labour law

   If you are hired through the legal employment process, you will work in Greece legally, with an employment contract and the rights provided by Greek labour law.

   The same statutory employment rules regarding minimum pay, working conditions and employment protection apply to legally employed third-country nationals.

   In Greece, under the current labour law, the minimum net pay for even the simplest and lowest-paid job is approximately 4.5 EUR (Approximately 660 KES) per hour after all legal deductions.

   In many of the manual jobs offered through this recruitment process, employers also provide accommodation free of charge.

3. 3

   There are two main types of work permits

   The type of permit depends mainly on the type and duration of the job offered to you.

   Long-term employment

   If you are hired for regular dependent employment, after completing the required immigration procedure you can obtain a Greek residence permit for employment.

   The initial residence permit is valid for 3 consecutive years from your arrival in Greece. If you continue to meet the legal requirements, it can currently be renewed for another 5 years.

   Seasonal employment

   Seasonal employment normally applies to sectors such as agriculture and tourism.

   A seasonal worker is authorised to live and work in Greece for up to 9 months within each 12-month period. A seasonal residence permit is valid for up to 5 consecutive years.

   During the part of each year when you are not authorised to work in Greece under the seasonal permit, you must leave Greece and comply with the conditions of your permit before returning for the next authorised season.

4. 4

   Greek employers choose the candidates they want to hire

   Being accepted into the FOREIGN WORKERS of Greece candidate list does not guarantee that you will receive a job offer.

   Employers review candidate profiles and decide which candidates best match the needs of their businesses.

   Before making a final decision, an employer may ask to have a video interview directly with you.

   You do not pay anyone to make an employer choose you or to secure a job offer.

5. 5

   If an employer chooses you, the legal process begins

   If a Greek employer decides to hire you, the employer will sign you a job contract, complying with the Greek labour law and describing important conditions such as: your job position, the salary, working hours and contract duration.

   Once the necessary employment documents have been signed, you can begin the official procedure required for your legal employment immigration to Greece.

   This is the point where the legal immigration process starts.

6. 6

   You do not pay for the job, but you will have to pay some needed immigration and relocation related costs

   There is an important difference between paying for a job and paying the legitimate costs of an immigration and relocation process.

   You will never be charged simply to be selected for a job.

   However, after receiving a genuine job offer, the legal immigration and relocation procedure involves significant and inevitable expenses. These include official Greek government application fees, issuance, certification and legalisation of documents, medical and administrative documents required for the procedure, transportation expenses and professional immigration and legal service fees for the Greek lawyers who are working for more than 5 months per each case to ensure that everything will be completed successfully.

   Any applicable service fees, payment stages and third-party expenses would be clearly explained to you before you agree to proceed.

   You will not pay any professional immigration and legal service fee before your work permit and working Visa are issued.

   To obtain the work visa in your passport, you must attend a scheduled appointment in person at the Greek Embassy in Nairobi and submit the required documents.