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

Is Greece the Right Choice for Brazilian Workers?

Moving from Brazil to Greece for manual or trade work is legally possible, but it requires patience and a clear understanding of Greek labor laws. Greece uses a strict government quota system called metaklisi to approve foreign workers. Under this process, a Greek employer must prove to local authorities that no suitable candidate from Greece or the European Union could be found to fill the position before hiring a candidate from outside the EU.

Because of this quota process and the language barrier, Greece is a more complex target for Brazilian trade workers than countries like Portugal, where shared language and simpler visa routes exist, or Croatia, where seasonal worker quotas are larger and faster to navigate. However, if you secure a job offer from an established Greek employer, the legal pathway is clear. You cannot simply arrive as a tourist and start working. Every step must be completed before you board your flight in Brazil.

The Official Permit Route and Application Process

The primary route for non-EU workers going to Greece for employment is the National Long-Stay Visa for Employment (Type D), specifically under category D.1.1 for Dependent Work or category D.1.4 for Seasonal Work.

• Step 1: Employer Approval (Metaklisi) - The process begins entirely in Greece. Your prospective employer files an application with the Decentralized Administration (Apokentromeni Dioikisi) in the region where the work will take place. The employer submits your details along with a bank guarantee and a proposed work contract.
• Step 2: Regional Authorization - If approved, the regional authority issues an act of approval and sends an official notification directly to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the relevant Greek diplomatic mission in Brazil.
• Step 3: Consular Visa Application - Once the approval notification reaches Brazil, you must apply in person for your Type D visa.
• Step 4: Residence Permit in Greece - After arriving in Greece on your Type D visa, you must apply for your official Residence Permit for Work (Adeia Diamonis) through the Greek online immigration portal before your visa expires.

In Brazil, you will submit your visa application directly to the nearest Greek diplomatic mission. Applications are processed through the Embassy of Greece in Brasília or the Consulate General of Greece in São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro, depending on your state of residence.

Required Documents, Apostilles, and Real Costs

To submit your visa application in Brazil, you must gather official documents that satisfy both Brazilian consular rules and Greek immigration authorities. Most public documents issued in Brazil must carry the Hague Apostille (Apostila de Haia) and be officially translated into Greek.

• Valid Brazilian Passport - Must be valid for at least three months past your intended departure date from Greece, though having at least 12 to 18 months remaining is strongly recommended.
• Approved Employment Contract - A signed contract stamped by the Greek Decentralized Administration detailing salary, job description, and working hours.
• Police Clearance Certificate - An official Atestado de Antecedentes Criminais issued by the Brazilian Federal Police (Polícia Federal). This document must receive a Hague Apostille at a notary office (cartório) and a certified translation into Greek.
• Official Medical Certificate - A health certificate issued by a recognized medical institution stating that you do not suffer from any public health conditions listed by the World Health Organization. This must also be apostilled and translated.
• Proof of Skills or Experience - Your Brazilian work card (Carteira de Trabalho), vocational certificates, or reference letters showing your qualification for the trade.
• Travel Medical Insurance - Private health insurance covering medical emergencies and repatriation for the initial months of your stay in Greece.

Official fees and out-of-pocket costs must be factored into your planning. The official Greek Type D visa fee is set directly by the Greek government and is approximately 90 EUR to 180 EUR, payable at the consular section in local currency at the official exchange rate.

Costs incurred on the Brazilian side include several necessary preparations:

• Hague Apostille (Apostila de Haia) - Issued by Brazilian cartórios, costing approximately 120 BRL to 250 BRL (20 EUR to 40 EUR) per document.
• Sworn Translation (Tradução Juramentada) - Official translation into Greek costs approximately 150 BRL to 350 BRL (25 EUR to 60 EUR) per page.
• Medical Examination - Private medical checkups cost approximately 200 BRL to 500 BRL (30 EUR to 80 EUR).
• Airfare - A one-way flight from Brazil (São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro) to Athens usually costs approximately 3,500 BRL to 7,000 BRL (550 EUR to 1,100 EUR) depending on the season.

Under European and Greek labor regulations, no employer or private recruitment agency may legally charge a worker a fee in exchange for a job placement or employment contract. The Greek employer carries all internal recruitment administrative costs. Be extremely careful with online agents asking for upfront money transfers in BRL or EUR for guaranteed visa approvals or job letters, as these are common scams targeting international job seekers.

Trades Currently Hiring Foreign Workers in Greece

While Greece has a modest foreign worker intake compared to larger industrial nations, specific sectors rely heavily on international trade workers:

• Hospitality and Tourism - Seasonal resorts, hotels, and restaurants on islands like Crete, Rhodes, and Mykonos hire kitchen staff, maintenance workers, and service personnel for the peak summer season.
• Agriculture and Farming - Fruit orchards, olive farms, and commercial greenhouses across mainland Greece require seasonal laborers for harvesting and crop management.
• Construction and Maintenance - Urban renovation projects and infrastructure builds across major metropolitan areas seek certified welders, heavy equipment operators, and general masonry workers.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: You can travel to Greece on a 90-day tourist visa and simply convert it into a work permit after finding a job.
  Fact: Greece does not permit tourist visa conversions for work. You must return to Brazil and apply for a Type D national visa through a Greek consulate after your employer completes the metaklisi process in Greece.
• Myth: Speaking fluent Portuguese or basic English is sufficient for long-term skilled trade work in Greece.
  Fact: While basic English works well in island hospitality positions, technical trades and construction roles require basic functional Greek for daily job site safety and contract comprehension.
• Myth: You can pay an intermediary agency in Brazil to secure a Greek work visa on your behalf.
  Fact: Only a registered Greek employer can initiate the official legal authorization through Greek government authorities; buying visa invitations from unauthorized agencies is illegal.
• Myth: A Greek work visa gives you the legal right to take up employment anywhere in the European Union.
  Fact: A national work visa issued by Greece authorizes legal employment only within Greece for the employer specified in your approval documents.

Before you sign

• Confirm metaklisi approval - Ask your prospective employer for proof that the Greek Decentralized Administration has approved their application to hire a foreign worker.
• Review the written employment contract - Ensure the contract explicitly details your gross monthly salary, weekly working hours, overtime terms, and whether lodging is provided.
• Apostille all Brazilian public documents - Ensure your police record from Polícia Federal and your medical checkup carry the official Hague Apostille from a certified cartório.
• Use certified translators - Verify that your document translations into Greek are executed by sworn translators recognized by Greek consular authorities.
• Never transfer money for a job offer - Reject any request for upfront payments for job guarantees, interview scheduling, or work contract issuance.

Build Your Profile on Workuro

If you are a Brazilian welder, driver, caregiver, construction specialist, or hospitality worker preparing for legal work in Europe, make sure your information is accurate and easy for employers to find. When you create your Workuro profile, select your specific trade, list your actual language abilities, and note whether your passport and police clearance documents are ready for the Hague Apostille process.

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