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

Moving from Cameroon to Greece for work is a practical path for skilled tradespeople, farm hands, drivers, and hospitality staff. However, navigating the legal process requires knowing the specific rules that apply to Cameroonian citizens. Greece does not allow foreign workers to simply show up and look for a job. Every legal route starts with an official approval in Greece before you ever step onto a plane.

You should also know that Greece operates on a strict national quota system known as Metaklisi. Compared to some other European destinations like Croatia, Romania, or Malta, Greece processes fewer work approvals for non-EU workers from West Africa, and approval times can be longer. If you have a solid offer from a Greek employer who is willing to complete the paperwork, the route is open to you. If you are looking for the fastest possible entry into the European job market, keeping your options open to other European countries alongside Greece is a smart strategy.

The legal route: How a Cameroonian gets a Greece work visa

To work legally in Greece in manual or skilled trades, you must obtain a National Long-Stay Visa, also known as a Type D Visa for Dependent Employment (Exartimeni Ergasia), or a Seasonal Work Visa (Epochiki Ergasia). The process is strictly employer-led. You cannot apply for this visa on your own without an employer taking the first official step in Greece.

• Step 1: Employer application in Greece - Your prospective employer in Greece must file an application with the regional Decentralized Administration (Apokentromeni Dioikisi) in Greece. They must prove that they could not fill the position with a Greek or EU citizen and that they have approval under the national labor quota.
• Step 2: Act of Approval - Once the Greek regional authority approves the request, they issue an official approval document (Praxi Egkrisis). This document is sent directly to the competent Greek embassy or consulate responsible for Cameroon.
• Step 3: Worker visa application in Cameroon - Only after the embassy receives this official approval can you submit your Type D work visa application in Cameroon.

Where to apply and required documents

Cameroonian applicants must submit their visa applications through the official Greek embassy accredited to Cameroon or the designated visa application centre serving Cameroon (such as VFS Global centers operating in Yaoundé or Douala, depending on diplomatic arrangements). Never hand your original passport to unverified agents on the street or in unofficial offices.

Gathering your documents in Cameroon takes planning. Greek consular officers expect clean, fully authenticated files. You will need to prepare the following items:

• Official Metaklisi approval: The approval document issued by the Greek Decentralized Administration to your employer.
• Binding employment contract: A signed contract detailing your position, monthly salary in Euros, working hours, and accommodation arrangements.
• Valid passport: Issued in Cameroon, valid for at least three months after your intended stay, with at least two blank pages.
• Cameroon police clearance: A clean criminal record certificate (extrait de casier judiciaire) issued by the Ministry of Justice in Cameroon.
• Medical certificate: A signed health report from a recognized medical center in Cameroon proving you do not carry any contagious diseases listed under international health regulations.
• Proof of qualifications: Diplomas, trade certificates, or employment letters showing you have experience in your trade (for example, welding, heavy driving, or construction).
• Document legalization and translation: Your Cameroon public documents (police clearance and medical reports) must be authenticated by the Ministry of External Relations (MINREX) in Yaoundé. Afterward, they must be officially translated into the Greek language by an authorized translator recognized by Greek authorities.

Visa fees and true costs in Cameroon

Official visa fees are set directly by the Greek government. The fee for a National Type D Work Visa is approximately €150. Processing times for the visa itself after submitting your complete file in Cameroon range from approximately 4 to 8 weeks, though getting the initial Metaklisi approval in Greece can take anywhere from 2 to 6 months depending on the regional office.

In addition to official visa fees, you must budget for personal preparation costs on the Cameroon side. These costs are your responsibility and vary based on location and service speeds:

• Cameroon police clearance: Approximately 10,000 to 25,000 XAF (around €15 to €40).
• MINREX document legalization: Approximately 10,000 to 20,000 XAF (around €15 to €30) per document.
• Medical examinations and lab tests: Approximately 25,000 to 50,000 XAF (around €40 to €80).
• Official Greek translation fees: Approximately 30,000 to 60,000 XAF (around €45 to €90) depending on document length.
• Flight ticket from Douala or Yaoundé to Athens: Approximately 400,000 to 750,000 XAF (around €600 to €1,150) depending on the airline and season.

Demand trades and avoiding scam fees

Greece actively recruits international labor for specific sectors where local workforce shortages exist. Three key trades currently hire foreign workers:

• Agricultural and farm labor: Fruit harvesting, crop maintenance, and farm equipment operation in agricultural regions like Peloponnese and Macedonia.
• Construction and specialized building trades: Masonry, concrete work, welding, and structural repairs for infrastructure and private developments.
• Hospitality and tourism support: Kitchen utility staff, resort maintenance technicians, and heavy laundry operations during the high Mediterranean tourist season.

Under European and Greek labor regulations, no recruitment agency or employer is legally allowed to charge a worker money in exchange for a job or work permit. Your employer in Greece is required to cover administrative filing fees on the Greek side. Be extremely cautious of fake agents in Cameroon who demand millions of XAF for a guaranteed European visa. Paying for a job offer is illegal and almost always indicates a fraudulent scam.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: You can travel to Greece on a visitor visa and start working legally right away.
  Fact: You cannot convert a tourist or short-stay visa into a work permit inside Greece. You must receive your Type D work visa in Cameroon before travelling.
• Myth: A recruitment agency in Cameroon can print a Greek work permit for you.
  Fact: Only the Greek regional government authority (Apokentromeni Dioikisi) can grant work permit approvals, which are sent directly to official embassy channels.
• Myth: You do not need to speak Greek or English to work legally in Greece.
  Fact: While basic trade work does not require fluent Greek, you must have functional English or basic Greek to understand workplace safety instructions and sign your employment contract.
• Myth: You can buy a fake work contract online to clear embassy checks.
  Fact: Greek embassies verify every approval code directly with the labor registry in Greece. Fake documents result in immediate visa refusal and a multi-year ban from entering the Schengen zone.

Before you sign

• Verify the Metaklisi approval: Ask your employer or recruiter for the official Greek government approval reference number before paying for translations or medical tests.
• Check your wage details: Confirm that your contract states a net salary that matches Greek legal minimum wage standards and clearly outlines your weekly working hours.
• Clarify accommodation arrangements: Ensure your contract specifies who provides housing and whether rent will be deducted directly from your pay.
• Legalize all Cameroon paperwork: Ensure your police clearance and medical certificates have official stamps from MINREX in Yaoundé before sending them for Greek translation.
• Keep original records: Keep clear digital and paper copies of every document you submit to the embassy and every message exchanged with your employer.

Build your profile on Workuro

If you are a Cameroonian trade worker, driver, caregiver, or farm worker ready to find work in Europe, make sure your Workuro profile is accurate and complete. Highlight your practical trade skills, your certified experience, your language abilities, and state clearly that your Cameroon background documents are ready for authentication. Having a clean, honest profile helps genuine European employers locate you directly without middleman fees.

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