Greece Set to Enforce Tougher Immigration Policies
Key Highlights
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Greece is preparing to implement stricter immigration laws.
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Migration Minister Makis Voridis stated that individuals residing illegally in Greece will no longer have any path to legalisation.
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Around 65,000 migrants enter Greece irregularly each year, with approximately half being granted asylum.
Greece Plans Tougher Immigration Measures, Ends 7-Year Residency Rule
The Greek government is set to scrap a legal provision that allowed undocumented migrants to apply for legal residency after residing in the country for seven years.
This change was announced by Greek Migration Minister Makis Voridis, who said the existing rule had been widely misused.
“Anyone in Greece illegally will never be legalised,”
— Makis Voridis, Greek Migration Minister
Voridis explained that the new regulations aim to reinforce Greece’s ability to manage irregular migration and discourage unlawful entry.
“The longer someone remained illegally, the greater their reward became. That ends now. From this point forward, illegal stay in Greece will not lead to legal residency,” he added.
According to Voridis, between 55,000 and 65,000 individuals enter Greece irregularly each year, with around half eventually being granted asylum.
Irregular Migrants Arrested vs. Deported
In 2024, Greek police detained 74,000 irregular migrants, yet only 2,500 were actually expelled from the country.
Minister Voridis explained that many detainees misrepresent their country of origin, creating legal complications that delay the deportation process for months.
“There must be consequences for those who remain in the country illegally despite being denied legal status,”
— Voridis said.
The newly proposed legislation—already approved by the Cabinet—includes a prison sentence of up to five years for illegal entry and unlawful residence. The bill is expected to pass in Parliament next month, supported by the government's majority.
Migration Routes Shifting, Deportation Policy Strengthening
Although Greece has reported a 30% decline in overall migration flows at the beginning of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, new smuggling routes from Libya to Crete and Gavdos are seeing increased activity.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has supported the move toward stricter policies, particularly targeting rejected asylum seekers and expediting their return to countries of origin.
These national measures align with broader efforts from the European Commission, which recently proposed allowing EU countries to deport rejected asylum seekers to safe third countries. This is part of a wider EU strategy to improve the handling of irregular migration.
In December 2024, the Commission confirmed that it would be tightening migration rules in 2025 to increase deportation rates and ensure clearer guidelines regarding migrants’ rights, responsibilities, and repatriation procedures.