Working in Greece from Bangladesh: Visa, Permit, Costs (2026)

Is Greece the Right Target for Bangladeshi Workers?

Greece can be a great place to work, but you need to know the reality before you spend your time and money. Greece hires foreign workers through a strict legal framework controlled by government quotas. Every two years, the Greek government publishes a official list of available jobs for non-EU citizens. This process is called Metaklisi.

Because the quota for foreign workers in Greece is limited and the approval process can take anywhere from 3 to 8 months, it is not the easiest European country to enter from Bangladesh. If you want a faster route with larger hiring quotas for manual and skilled trades, countries like Romania or Croatia currently offer much higher quota numbers and quicker processing for Bangladeshi applicants. However, if a Greek employer selects you and secures an official quota allocation for your job, you can move to Greece on a fully legal national work visa.

The Legal Route: How the Greek Work Permit Works

You cannot simply apply for a Greek work visa on your own. The legal process always starts in Greece, not in Bangladesh. Your employer must take the first step, and you must never travel to Greece on a tourist or Schengen visit visa expecting to convert it into a work permit later. That is illegal and will lead to deportation.

• Employer application in Greece: Your employer submits an application to the Decentralized Administration (Apokentropomeni Dioikisi) in the Greek region where the job is located. They must prove that the job position fits within the approved government quota.
• Official approval decision: If the regional authority approves the request, they send an official approval document directly to the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the relevant embassy.
• National Work Visa (Type D): Once the approval arrives, you can submit your application for a National Long-Stay Work Visa (Type D) from Bangladesh.
• Residence permit in Greece: After arriving in Greece with your Type D visa, you must apply for your final residence permit for employment (such as the Code E.1 permit for wage employment) before your entry visa expires.

Where and How to Apply from Bangladesh

Once your employer in Greece receives official approval for your hiring, you must submit your Type D visa application. You cannot just walk into an office; you must book an appointment in advance.

Bangladeshi applicants usually submit their paperwork and biometric data (fingerprints and photos) through the official VFS Global visa application centre serving Greece in Dhaka, or directly through the Embassy of Greece serving Bangladesh (which operates from New Delhi for specific diplomatic and visa procedures). Always verify with your employer and the official VFS Global portal in Dhaka to confirm whether your specific work visa category requires document submission in Dhaka or an appointment with the Embassy.

Required Documents and Attestation in Dhaka

Preparing your paperwork correctly in Bangladesh is essential. A single missing stamp or translation error can delay your application by months. All official Bangladeshi documents must be translated into Greek or English by an authorized translator.

• Valid Passport: Your original Bangladeshi passport must have at least two blank pages and remain valid for at least 3 to 6 months beyond the expiration date of the requested visa.
• Signed Employment Contract: An original, signed work contract from your Greek employer stating your job title, working hours, and agreed wage. The contract must match the Metaklisi approval.
• Police Clearance Certificate: An official police clearance issued by the Bangladesh Police showing you have no criminal record. This document must be legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Dhaka. Because Bangladesh is not part of the Apostille Convention for Greece, consular attestation is required.
• Medical Fitness Certificate: A comprehensive medical report from a recognised clinic in Bangladesh confirming you do not carry any contagious diseases that threaten public health.
• Health Insurance: Travel medical insurance covering your journey and initial stay in Greece until your employer registers you with the Greek national health system (EFKA).
• Biometrics: Your fingerprints and facial photo taken at the visa application centre during your appointment.

Real Costs and Official Fees

You should understand exactly what you are paying for so you can protect yourself from fraud. Official government fees are set by Greece, while local costs depend on Bangladeshi service providers.

• Official Greek National Visa Fee: Set by the Greek government at approximately 150 EUR (around 19,000 BDT). This is paid during your visa submission.
• Greek Residence Permit Fee: Paid after you arrive in Greece, approximately 100 EUR to 150 EUR (around 12,500 BDT to 19,000 BDT).
• Police Clearance Certificate: Approximately 500 BDT to 1,500 BDT for processing in Bangladesh.
• Medical Checkup: Approximately 5,000 BDT to 10,000 BDT (€40 to €80) at certified medical centers in Bangladesh.
• Document Legalisation and Translation: MOFA attestation and official Greek translations cost approximately 3,000 BDT to 8,000 BDT (€25 to €65) depending on the number of pages.
• Flight Ticket: A one-way flight from Dhaka to Athens costs approximately 60,000 BDT to 110,000 BDT (€480 to €880) depending on the season.

Under European and Greek labor standards, an employer or recruitment agency is legally forbidden from charging a worker money for giving them a job. The employer must pay for the recruitment costs and regional filing fees in Greece. Be extremely careful if an agency in Bangladesh demands thousands of euros as a guaranteed work permit fee or processing charge.

Trades Hiring Foreign Workers in Greece

Greece actively recruits foreign workers for specific trade sectors where local labor shortages exist.

• Agricultural and Farm Workers: Greece relies heavily on seasonal and regular foreign workers for fruit picking, crop harvesting, and greenhouse management across agricultural regions.
• Construction Workers: Welders, masons, carpenters, and general site laborers are needed for ongoing infrastructure projects and building renovations.
• Hospitality and Tourism Staff: Kitchen helpers, cleaners, and maintenance workers are recruited during peak seasons to support hotels and resorts on the Greek islands and mainland.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: You can buy a Greek work permit from an agent in Dhaka without a real job offer.
  Fact: Work visas are strictly tied to a registered employer in Greece who has obtained official approval through the regional government Metaklisi quota system. Fake permits are caught immediately at the visa centre.
• Myth: You can travel to Greece on a visit visa and convert it to a work permit later.
  Fact: Greek law forbids converting a tourist visa or short-term Schengen visa into a local work residence permit inside the country. You must apply for a Type D visa from outside Greece.
• Myth: Paying high agency fees guarantees you a job and a approved visa.
  Fact: No agency can buy or guarantee a visa outcome. Only the Greek Embassy and immigration authorities have the power to issue visas, and paying middlemen for fake job offers is the most common scam targeting Bangladeshi workers.
• Myth: You can work for any employer once you arrive in Greece.
  Fact: Your initial residence permit is linked directly to the specific employer who sponsored your Metaklisi application. Changing employers requires formal permission and updated paperwork.

Before you sign

• Verify the employer approval: Ask for a copy of the official Metaklisi approval document issued by the Greek Decentralized Administration before sending any original documents.
• Check your job contract terms: Ensure your contract clearly lists your duties, working hours, accommodation arrangements, and exact salary in euros.
• Legalise all Bangladeshi documents: Make sure your police certificate and medical records are properly attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka.
• Refuse illegal cash demands: Never pay an agency or individual for the job contract itself; legitimate employers carry their own hiring expenses under EU rules.
• Keep duplicate copies: Always make high-quality photocopies and digital scans of your signed contract, visa submission receipts, and attested certificates.

Show Your Specifics on Workuro

If you want European employers to find you legally, keep your details updated on Workuro. Add your exact trade experience, such as agricultural machinery operating, structural welding, or hotel maintenance. Upload your language skills, mention if your police clearance and passport are ready, and list your trade qualifications clearly so registered employers searching for Bangladeshi workers can contact you directly.

Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.