Greece sees rise in third-country worker applications

Greece has seen a significant rise in applications to bring in workers from third countries, according to data from the Ministry of Migration and Asylum. In September 2026, applications reached 89,940, compared to 61,032 in September 2025.

The increase spans both seasonal agricultural work and dependent labor. Seasonal worker applications rose from 15,185 to 28,425 over the same period, a trend attributed largely to a bilateral agreement with Egypt. Dependent labor applications, which require a three-year contract, nearly doubled from 15,111 to 30,431.

Total approvals for worker recruitment also increased from 50,723 in September 2025 to 73,374 in September 2026. Additionally, the ministry reported that 69.95% of pending residency permits within the relevant framework have been processed.