How to Hire Farm Workers from Abroad in Greece (2026)

7 min

Agricultural labour shortages in Greece and the cost of waiting

Agricultural operations across Greece face persistent, severe shortages of seasonal and full-time farm workers. The shortfall affects every major agricultural hub, including the strawberry and citrus fields of Peloponnese (Ilia, Argolida, Lakonia), the fruit orchards of Central Macedonia (Imathia, Pella), the greenhouse production zones of Crete (Irakleio, Chania, Lasithi), and the olive groves of Thessaly. Domestic workers and regional non-EU residents already living in Greece no longer meet the labor demand required for labor-intensive harvesting, pruning, and sorting cycles.

Leaving crop harvests to chance has become a critical operational risk. Unpicked fruit degrades quickly, causing immediate direct revenue loss and severe long-term penalties from commercial buyers due to missed supply commitments. Many agricultural businesses in Greece now view structured legal hiring from non-EU countries as an essential strategy rather than a secondary option. While hiring from abroad requires advance planning and administrative work, it provides a dependable workforce secured before critical harvest seasons begin.

The legal hiring route in Greece: The Metaklisi system

The primary legal framework for hiring non-EU agricultural workers in Greece is governed by the Greek Immigration Code (Law 5038/2023). The process is known as Metaklisi (invitation of foreign labor). Under this system, the employer initiates the process in Greece before the worker enters the country. You must confirm current procedures and procedural updates directly with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum (Ypourgeio Metanastefsis kai Asylou) and your local Decentralized Administration (Apokentropoimeni Dioikisi).

Agricultural employers generally utilize one of two legal routes under the Metaklisi framework:

Seasonal Work (Echori Ergasia): Designed for seasonal harvesting and field operations. The worker is granted a entry visa and temporary stay for up to 9 months within a 12-month period. The worker must return to their home country upon completion of the permitted period.
Dependent Wage Labour (Ertithemene Ergasia): Suitable for year-round agricultural roles, such as farm machine operators, livestock managers, or continuous greenhouse staff. This grants an initial residency permit tied to the employer.

Both routes rely on national labor quotas. Every two years, a Joint Ministerial Decision (KYA) sets the maximum number of non-EU worker positions allowed per region and specialization across Greece. The employer applies to the competent Apokentropoimeni Dioikisi in their region to reserve positions from these official regional quotas.

Realistic timelines: From decision to field work

Hiring agricultural workers through the official Metaklisi route is not an immediate solution for unexpected short-term needs. A realistic timeline ranges from 4 to 8 months from the day you submit your application to the day workers arrive on your farm. Planning must align directly with crop cycles.

Step 1: Application to the Decentralized Administration (1 to 2 months): The employer submits an application to the local Apokentropoimeni Dioikisi, specifying the number of workers needed, the exact agricultural tasks, proof of land ownership or active lease agreements, and tax clearings.
Step 2: Approval and transmission to the Embassy (1 to 2 months): Once approved, the Decentralized Administration forwards the approval decision directly to the relevant Greek Embassy or Consulate in the candidate's country of origin.
Step 3: Consular processing and Visa D issuance (1 to 3 months): The worker presents themselves at the Greek Consulate, submits required medical certificates, clear criminal records, and undergoes a visa interview. Upon approval, a national entry visa (Visa D) is granted.
Step 4: Arrival and official registration (2 to 4 weeks): Upon arrival in Greece, the employer registers the worker, completes employment contracts, and arranges national insurance registration.

For peak harvests such as the winter olive and citrus harvest (November to February) or the spring fruit harvest (May to July), applications must be filed at least five to six months in advance.

Employer obligations: Wages, housing, and social security

Greek law imposes specific, mandatory duties on agricultural employers hiring non-EU personnel under the Metaklisi framework. Compliance is actively monitored, and non-compliance leads to revocation of hiring privileges and financial fines.

Statutory Wages: Agricultural workers must be paid at least the national statutory minimum wage or the applicable daily wage (Imeromisthio) established by Greek labor legislation. As of recent updates, the general gross daily wage for unskilled manual workers in Greece sits around 35 EUR to 40 EUR per day, or a monthly base wage of roughly 830 EUR to 900 EUR gross for full-time monthly positions. Employers must verify current rates with their accountant or labor authority.
Social Insurance (Ergoshmo / EFKA): Land-based farm laborers (Ergates Gis) are insured through the Land Worker Voucher system (Ergoshmo) or direct registration with the national social security entity (EFKA). Ergoshmo covers health and pension contributions and must be purchased by the employer upon paying wages.
Mandatory Housing: Under Law 5038/2023, employers bringing in non-EU seasonal agricultural workers must guarantee adequate accommodation. The employer must submit a formal declaration describing the housing facilities. The accommodation must meet national health and safety standards, providing proper sanitation, clean drinking water, electricity, heating, and adequate space per worker. If rent is deducted from wages, it must be reasonable and clearly stipulated in the employment contract.

Employer responsibility and worker protection

Legitimate employers must maintain strict ethical compliance during international recruitment. Under Greek and European labor regulations, a employer or recruitment proxy must never require a worker to pay recruitment fees, processing costs, or security deposits to secure a job offer. All administrative fees, employer taxes, and processing costs must be covered entirely by the employer. Workers who are charged money by middleman recruiters are often victims of financial exploitation. Importing workers who have been charged illegal recruitment fees exposes your business to severe legal liability, administrative fines, and immediate forfeiture of your Metaklisi quota approvals.

Estimated employer costs: What this costs you, roughly

Budgeting accurately for foreign recruitment prevents financial surprises during the hiring cycle. Below is an outline of the primary expense lines per worker required when bringing non-EU farm labor to Greece:

State Application Fee (Paravolo): 100 EUR to 200 EUR per worker, payable to the Greek state upon submitting the Metaklisi application.
Consular and Visa Processing Fees: 150 EUR to 200 EUR per candidate.
Travel and Transport: 300 EUR to 700 EUR per worker, depending on the origin country and flight availability.
Housing Setup and Maintenance: 150 EUR to 350 EUR per worker per month, depending on whether you own farm-site accommodation or lease local residential housing.
Social Security (Ergoshmo/EFKA): Approximately 10% to 25% on top of gross wages depending on the exact classification and insurance scheme used.

How to find farm workers for Greek agriculture

Employers traditionally locate candidates through bilateral agreements, established recruitment contacts in third countries, or specialized international labor registries. Greece has established direct labor mobility agreements with countries like Egypt and Bangladesh to streamline seasonal agricultural recruitment. Working through transparent channels ensures candidates have verified agricultural experience, possess clear legal status, and are ready to undergo consular checks without delay.

Searching the Workuro registry for farm workers

Workuro operates an international online registry where agricultural workers from non-EU countries create profiles to state their availability and desire to work in Europe, including Greece. Workuro is not a recruitment agency, does not charge per-hire commission fees, and does not act as an intermediary in employment contracts. Farm owners and site managers in Greece can search candidate profiles directly and establish direct contact with workers.

Workers never pay to join or maintain a profile on Workuro. The registry for Greece is young and actively growing. While candidate volume continues to build, searching the platform provides direct access to workers who are interested in relocating for agricultural seasons. Once you select a candidate, you manage the Metaklisi application directly with your local Decentralized Administration and legal advisors.