For work
Working in Greece: how long to residence and citizenship
The thing a visa list won't tell you
Law 5275/2026 transposed the EU single-permit directive, combining the work and residence application into one procedure.
Your ladder
- 7 years
Work permit
✓ counts toward citizenship
Permanent residence at
5 years
Citizenship assessed at
7 years
Still to serve after these rungs
0 years
Sources
- · Work / EU Blue Card residence; Law 5275/2026 transposed the EU single-permit Directive 2024/1233 (published 6 Feb 2026)
- · Long-term residence after 5 years (2026)
- · Naturalisation after 7 years' legal residence (2026)
Keep going
- All study and work routes →
- Studying in Greece instead →
- How to find a regulated immigration lawyer in Greece →
- What buying a home in Greece actually costs →
Not immigration advice. Orientation only. Immigration rules change often and decisions are discretionary — nothing here is a promise of residence or citizenship. Check your case with a licensed immigration adviser. Rules reviewed 2026-07. (2026-07)