How to Hire Non-EU Truck Drivers in Greece (2026 Guide)

6 min

The Truck Driver Shortage in Greece: Reality and Feasibility

Transport and logistics companies across Greece face a severe shortage of qualified heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers. The shortage is particularly acute in major freight hubs such as Thriassio Pedio in Attica, the Sindos Industrial Zone in Thessaloniki, and near major port corridors in Piraeus and Patras. National distribution networks along the PATHE and Egnatia Odos highway axes frequently operate below capacity because vehicles sit idle without drivers. Despite high demand, hiring truck drivers from outside the European Union into Greece is legally complex and administratively slow.

Before initiating international recruitment, Greek hauliers must understand the technical barriers. The primary hurdle is not just obtaining a work visa, but the recognition of non-EU commercial driving licences and the mandatory European Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC), known locally as Code 95 (ΠΕΙ - Πιστοποιητικό Επαγγελματικής Ικανότητας). Greece does not automatically exchange professional C or CE licences from most non-EU nations, except where specific bilateral agreements exist (such as with Albania, Serbia, Switzerland, or the UK). Drivers holding licences from other third countries must undergo additional testing or retraining in Greece before operating a heavy vehicle legally.

Because of this barrier, many Greek transport operators prefer to recruit non-EU drivers who already hold a valid EU driving licence and Code 95 issued by another EU member state, or they recruit from countries with bilateral licence recognition agreements. If you intend to hire directly from a non-EU country without a licence agreement, you must factor in the time and expense required for the driver to pass Greek driving examinations upon arrival.

Legal Process and Application Flow: Metaklisi and Permits

The standard immigration path for bringing a non-EU worker to Greece is the metaklisi (μετάκληση) procedure, regulated under the Greek Code of Immigration (Law 5038/2023). This process requires the employer in Greece to initiate the application before the worker enters the country.

The authority responsible for receiving and processing the initial employer application is the Decentralized Administration (Αποκεντρωμένη Διοίκηση) corresponding to your company headquarters or operational base. The overall process follows these defined steps:

Labour Market Test: You must post the vacant position with the Public Employment Service (DYPA - ΔΥΠΑ) to prove that no qualified Greek or EU citizen registered in the local unemployment registry is available to fill the role.
Employer Application: If DYPA does not supply a candidate within the required timeframe, you submit a formal metaklisi application to the Decentralized Administration. You must provide proof of active business operations, tax compliance, and a draft employment contract promising at least the statutory minimum pay or applicable collective agreement rate.
Approval Document: Once the Decentralized Administration approves the application, the act is forwarded directly to the competent Greek Embassy or Consulate in the candidate's home country.
Consular Interview and Visa: The candidate presents their original documents, police clearance, and medical certificate at the Greek Consulate to receive an entry visa for employment (Type D visa).
Arrival and Residence Permit: Upon entering Greece, the candidate must be registered with the tax authority (AADE) for an AFM, assigned a social security number (AMKA), registered with the national insurance scheme (EFKA), and enrolled in the online portal for their final biometric Residence Permit (Άδεια Διαμονής).

Always verify current procedural requirements directly with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum (Υπουργείο Μετανάστευσης και Ασύλου) or your local Decentralized Administration, as administrative practices and document checklists change periodically.

Timeline: From Decision to the Driver Behind the Wheel

Bringing a third-country driver to Greece through the formal metaklisi route is not a quick fix. You should budget for a realistic timeline of 7 to 12 months between signing a conditional job offer and having the driver operate independently on public roads.

Months 1-2 (Local Clearance): Posting the vacancy with DYPA, waiting for local recruitment clearances, preparing tax and corporate clearance documentation, and submitting the metaklisi file to the Decentralized Administration.
Months 3-6 (Government Processing): Processing of the application by the Regional Decentralized Administration. Decision times vary considerably between regions, with Attica and Central Macedonia often experiencing backlogs.
Months 7-9 (Consular Visa Issuance): The worker books an appointment at the Greek Embassy, attends an interview, submits background checks, and receives the National Type D Visa.
Months 10-12 (Licencing and Local Onboarding): The driver arrives in Greece, completes EFKA registration, and, if necessary, completes the training or examinations required by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (Υπουργείο Υποδομών και Μεταφορών) to secure their Code 95 CPC driver card.

Driving Qualifications, Code 95, Pay, and Obligations

The regulation of commercial driving qualifications falls under the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. Operating a commercial vehicle without proper recognition carries severe penalties for both the company and the driver.

Licence Recognition and Code 95: Drivers must possess a Category C or CE licence. Under EU Directive rules enforced in Greece, any driver operating a heavy goods vehicle must hold a Code 95 endorsement. If the driver holds a non-EU licence from a country without a reciprocal recognition treaty, they must pass practical and theoretical driving tests administered by certified Greek examiners to receive a local licence and CPC card.
Pay Structures: Salary levels must meet or exceed the national statutory minimum wage floor. However, realistic market compensation for HGV drivers in Greece is higher due to competition. Basic monthly net salaries generally range from €1,100 to €1,400 for local or national distribution, while long-haul international transport drivers typically earn between €1,800 and €2,500 net per month, incorporating fixed daily allowances (εκτός έδρας) for meals and overnight travel.
Driving Hours and Rest Facilities: You must strictly enforce Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 regarding maximum driving times, compulsory breaks, and daily or weekly rest periods. Vehicles must be equipped with functioning digital tachographs. Employers are required to cover regular weekly rest accommodation expenses if the driver is away from their home base, as spending regular weekly rest inside the cab is illegal under EU rules.

What This Costs You, Roughly

Hiring a non-EU driver involves direct administrative and setup costs. These figures reflect typical baseline expenses per driver in Greece:

State Administrative Fees (Paravolo): €150 to €300 for initial metaklisi filing and residence permit issuance fees.
Legal and Administrative Assistance: €800 to €1,800 for legal representation or specialized immigration consultants to manage filings with the Decentralized Administration and DYPA.
Document Translations and Apostilles: €200 to €400 for official Greek translations of background checks, driving histories, and personal documents.
Licence Conversion and Code 95 Exams: €500 to €1,500 if the driver must attend a Greek driving school (Scholi Odigon) to complete exam modules and practical tests.
Travel and Initial Logistics: €300 to €800 for international transport to Greece and temporary initial lodging upon arrival.

Ethical Recruitment and Employer Liability

Under Greek law and international labor standards, a legitimate employer never charges a prospective worker recruitment fees, processing fees, or placement charges. All expenses associated with the legal filing, visa clearances, mandatory safety equipment, and job-related compliance belong strictly to the employer. Candidates who report being asked for money or kickbacks by intermediaries are often victims of recruitment scams. Employers who work with unethical third-party brokers face direct legal liability, financial penalties, and criminal investigation under Greek anti-trafficking statutes. Securing your workforce ethically is essential for protecting your operational licence and legal standing.

Find Truck Drivers Directly on Workuro

If you decide to recruit international truck drivers yourself, you can use the Workuro registry to find candidates directly. Workuro is not a recruitment agency, takes no success fees or per-hire commissions, and does not act as a labour broker. We provide a platform where workers from abroad publish detailed profiles showing their commercial driving experience, held licences, and willingness to relocate to Greece.

You can search the registry, evaluate candidate profiles, check their current licence classes, and contact them directly to conduct interviews and negotiate employment terms yourself. Our candidate database for Greece is young and actively growing. While you will not find thousands of profiles overnight, you will find motivated, real applicants who have explicitly stated their desire to live and work in Greece. You retain full control of the hiring process from start to finish without paying agency fees.