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

Moving from Uzbekistan to Greece for work: The realistic picture

If you are a skilled or manual trade worker in Uzbekistan, such as a welder, driver, caregiver, construction worker, hotel housekeeper, or agricultural worker, looking for work in Europe is a major life step. Greece hires international workers every year, but you must understand how the system works before spending your hard-earned money.

Greece operates a specific employment quota system called Metaklisi. Under this system, regional Greek authorities set official job quotas based on local labor shortages. Because this process involves multiple government approvals in Greece, obtaining a work permit from Uzbekistan can be slow and highly bureaucratic. If you need to start working abroad quickly, Greece may be a difficult target compared to other European nations like Poland, Lithuania, or Croatia, which have higher quota volumes and faster processing times for Uzbek citizens. However, if a Greek employer officially sponsors you, working legally in Greece is entirely possible. This guide explains the exact legal steps, fees, document requirements, and common pitfalls to avoid.

The Greek work permit process for Uzbek nationals

To work legally in Greece as an Uzbek national, you cannot simply apply for a visa on your own. The process is employer-driven, meaning your future boss in Greece must initiate the legal process long before you leave home.

Here is the official legal route for non-EU workers:

• Metaklisi authorization: The employer in Greece submits an official request to the Decentralized Administration (Apokentromeni Dioikisi) in their Greek region. They must prove that the position could not be filled by a Greek or EU citizen and pay a state deposit.
• Approval certificate: Once the regional administration approves the request, they send an official approval document to the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the relevant embassy.
• National Work Visa (Type D): After the employer receives the approval, you apply for a Greek National Work Visa (Type D.1.1 for dependent employment) in Uzbekistan.
• Seasonal work alternative: For temporary seasonal roles in agriculture or summer tourism, Greece uses a Seasonal Work Visa (Type D or Type C seasonal). This permits work for up to nine months within a 12-month period, but it does not lead to long-term residency.
• Residence permit upon arrival: Within 30 days of arriving in Greece, you must apply for your physical residence permit (Adea Diamonis) at the local immigration authority in Greece and register your fingerprints.

Where to apply and essential documents

Once your employer in Greece completes their side of the application and secures approval, you must submit your national visa application in Uzbekistan. You will apply at the authorized VFS Global visa application centre serving Uzbekistan in Tashkent or the accredited Greek diplomatic mission handling applications for Uzbek citizens.

You must gather a clean set of official documents. Greek authorities carefully examine every page. Missing or incorrect documents will cause immediate visa rejection.

Your document checklist includes:

• Valid passport: Your Uzbekistan passport must be valid for at least three months past your intended visa expiration date, issued within the last 10 years, and contain at least two blank pages.
• Official Metaklisi approval: A copy of the official authorization document issued by the Greek regional administration to your employer.
• Signed employment contract: A binding employment contract signed by both you and the employer, detailing your position, workplace, working hours, and salary.
• Police clearance certificate: An official record of no criminal history (Sudlanmaganlik haqida ma'lumotnoma) issued by the Public Service Agency or My.Gov.uz in Uzbekistan.
• Medical certificate: A certificate from an accredited medical clinic in Uzbekistan stating that you do not suffer from any contagious diseases specified by international health regulations.
• Qualification and experience proof: Diplomas, trade certificates, or official labor book records proving you are qualified for the job.
• Travel medical insurance: Insurance covering emergency medical treatment and hospitalization in Greece for the initial entry period, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 EUR.
• Biometrics: Fingerprint scan and passport-style digital photographs taken during your visa appointment.

Apostille and legalization requirements: Because both Uzbekistan and Greece are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, your official Uzbek documents (police clearance, medical certificate, and trade qualifications) must receive an official Apostille stamp from the competent authorities in Uzbekistan (such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Justice). After receiving the Apostille, documents must be translated into Greek or English by an official certified translator.

Official fees and real costs in Uzbekistan

Understanding the costs involved helps you budget wisely and avoid getting scammed. Costs are split into official government fees and personal preparation expenses in Uzbekistan.

Official government and processing fees:

• Greek National Visa (Type D) fee: Approximately 75 EUR to 150 EUR, set officially by Greece and paid in cash or card at the visa submission center.
• Visa application center fee: Approximately 20 EUR to 40 EUR for service handling.
• Processing time: Approximately 1 to 3 months after the initial employer authorization (Metaklisi) is granted in Greece. Official fees are set by Greece; always check official diplomatic channels for current rates.

Rough out-of-pocket costs on the Uzbekistan side:

• Police clearance certificate: Approximately 30,000 UZS to 100,000 UZS (about 2 EUR to 8 EUR).
• Medical examination report: Approximately 300,000 UZS to 800,000 UZS (about 20 EUR to 60 EUR).
• Document translation fees: Approximately 200,000 UZS to 600,000 UZS (about 15 EUR to 45 EUR) per document.
• Apostille stamps in Uzbekistan: Approximately 70,000 UZS to 200,000 UZS (about 5 EUR to 15 EUR) per stamp.
• Initial travel insurance: Approximately 400,000 UZS to 1,000,000 UZS (about 30 EUR to 75 EUR).
• One-way flight to Greece: Approximately 3,500,000 UZS to 7,500,000 UZS (about 250 EUR to 550 EUR), depending on the season and baggage allowance.

Placement fees and scam warning: Under European Union standards and Greek labor regulations, no recruitment agency or employer is legally allowed to charge a worker a fee for providing a job. The employer must carry recruitment costs. Be extremely cautious of fake agencies in Tashkent, Samarkand, or Telegram channels demanding thousands of dollars for a guaranteed work visa to Greece. These processing fee scams often provide fake offer letters or invalid approvals, leaving workers with zero money and no visa.

Trades in Greece that hire foreign workers

While Greece does not recruit for every profession, foreign workers are actively hired in specific sectors where local labor shortages exist:

• Agriculture and farm labor: Fruit orchards, greenhouse complexes, and vegetable farms frequently hire international workers for planting, seasonal picking, and sorting.
• Hospitality and tourism: Hotels, seaside resorts, and restaurants recruit kitchen helpers, housekeepers, and facilities maintenance staff for the busy summer season.
• Construction and skilled trades: Construction companies across major cities and infrastructure projects actively hire certified welders, concrete formwork workers, and general construction laborers.

Myths vs facts

When searching for work abroad, false information spreads quickly on social media. Here are the true facts regarding work in Greece for Uzbek citizens.

• Myth: You can enter Greece on a tourist visa or Schengen visa and switch to a work permit legally.
• Fact: You cannot convert a tourist visa into a work permit inside Greece; you must receive employer authorization first and apply for a Type D work visa from Uzbekistan.
• Myth: An agency in Tashkent can guarantee you a Greek work visa if you pay them $3,000.
• Fact: No agency can guarantee a visa, and charging workers for job placement is illegal under European standards.
• Myth: You can work for any company in Greece once you receive your visa.
• Fact: Your work visa is tied directly to the specific employer who submitted your Metaklisi authorization; changing employers requires a new legal approval.
• Myth: Uzbek documents do not need an Apostille if they are translated into English.
• Fact: Greek authorities require official Uzbek state documents to carry an official Apostille stamp from Uzbekistan before translation.

Before you sign

Protect yourself and your family before signing any contract or handing over your documents. Use this checklist:

• Verify the employer approval: Confirm that your contract includes the official Metaklisi approval reference number issued by the Greek regional administration.
• Check salary and terms: Ensure the contract clearly states your net monthly wage, weekly working hours, overtime pay, and exact job duties in writing.
• Clarify accommodation arrangements: Check whether the employer provides housing, whether rent is deducted from your wage, and where you will live.
• Never pay for the employment contract: Refuse to pay any middleman, agency, or manager for the job offer itself.
• Keep original documents in your hands: Never give your original passport or identity documents to an agency or employer to hold hostage.
• Make digital backups: Keep scanned copies of your passport, signed contract, visa application, and apostilled documents on your phone and cloud storage.

How to showcase your skills on Workuro

If you want European employers to discover your profile legally, build a complete profile on Workuro. List your exact manual or technical trade skills, your years of experience, and any equipment or machinery you can operate. Specify your language levels clearly, including Uzbek, Russian, basic English, or Greek. Indicate if your Uzbek passport, police clearance, and trade diplomas are ready for the Apostille process. Having your documents in order makes you far more attractive to legitimate employers searching for reliable workers. Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.