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

The permit route for Tunisians

Work in Greece for a Tunisian national runs through the same quota system every year: a Joint Ministerial Decision (Koini Ypourgiki Apofasi) sets how many non-EU workers can be hired, sector by sector and region by region, mostly for agriculture, tourism and construction. The employer has to secure a position inside that quota first, through the regional Decentralised Administration, before you apply for the National Visa (D) for employment at the Greek mission covering Tunisia. A strong CV does not help if the quota for your sector is already closed for the year - the timing of your application matters as much as your skills.

Tunisia also sits close enough to Italy that Italy's own annual Decreto Flussi intake is worth comparing if the Greek quota for your trade looks tight.

A seasonal work permit in Greece is normally tied to one contract and one season rather than a year-round stay, and it must be renewed through a fresh quota application the following year even if the same employer wants you back. The EU Blue Card route exists for highly skilled, well-paid roles with a university degree, but it almost never applies to driving, welding, construction or hospitality work, so do not plan around it.

Since the employer's own quota application has to clear first, the real driver of your timeline is how early in the year they applied, not how fast you gather your own paperwork - ask them directly for a status update before you commit to anything.

Greece commonly keeps a resident embassy in Tunis given the two countries' long-standing ties - confirm the current arrangement and whether applications go through the embassy directly or a visa application centre. If Tunisian applications are not handled locally for some reason, use the nearest Greek embassy or visa centre serving Tunisia. The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs website carries the current list of missions and visa application centres, and it is worth checking directly rather than relying on a forum post from a previous applicant, since offices and procedures do change.

Documents, and the apostille route

• Contract: a signed contract or firm written offer from the Greek employer.
• Passport: valid for your stay.
• Police clearance: a recent Tunisian police clearance certificate.
• Qualification proof: evidence of trade qualification or experience.
• Health insurance: valid in Greece.
• Biometrics: taken at your visa appointment.

Tunisia is part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so your police certificate and civil documents can generally be apostilled by the competent Tunisian authority rather than fully legalised - a simpler and usually faster step than the legalisation route some other countries face, though still allow a few weeks plus certified translation into Greek, done by a translator Greek authorities actually recognise, since a translation from outside that circle can be rejected.

What this costs

Fees are set by Greece and can change, so confirm with the embassy or the Ministry of Migration and Asylum directly - roughly, the national visa fee runs approximately 75 to 90 euros, and the process, tied to the seasonal quota decision, often takes a few months.

On the Tunisian side, expect roughly 20 to 60 TND for the police certificate, a similar amount for a medical check, 100 to 300 TND for apostille and certified translation together, and a flight to Greece that commonly costs 150 to 350 euros given the short distance. Book that flight only once the visa is actually issued, not on the strength of a promised approval - a non-refundable ticket bought too early has cost other workers real money when a decision was delayed.

The Greek employer carries the cost of recruiting you - no one may legally charge you for the job itself. Verify this with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum before paying anyone. Watch for agents in Tunis offering a guaranteed Greek seasonal job for an upfront fee - this pattern has targeted Tunisian workers before, and a genuine employer never needs your money to hire you.

Where Greece actually needs workers

Agriculture is the main legal entry point, with seasonal harvest work in fruit and vegetables taking on the largest number of foreign workers under the quota. Tourism and hospitality hire heavily for the summer along the coast and islands. Construction also takes on foreign tradespeople, though in smaller numbers. Shipping and port-adjacent work around Piraeus occasionally needs manual labour too, though this market is smaller and far less predictable than agricultural hiring.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: Being close to Greece geographically makes the process faster. Fact: distance does not affect the quota or visa timeline - the Joint Ministerial Decision does.
• Myth: French is useful for working in Greece. Fact: Greek job sites run on Greek or English, not French.
• Myth: Qualification alone guarantees a permit. Fact: without an open quota slot in your sector and region, qualification is not enough.
• Myth: An apostille is the same as full legalisation. Fact: it is a simpler, single-step certification - do not pay extra for a legalisation chain Tunisia does not require, since that step simply is not part of what Greek authorities ask of Tunisian applicants.
• Myth: A seasonal permit automatically renews every year with the same employer. Fact: each season needs a fresh quota application and a fresh visa, regardless of how well the last season went.

Before you sign

• Confirmed quota slot: make sure the employer's position is actually inside an approved quota, not just promised.
• Written contract: get pay, hours and season dates in writing.
• Right office: check which Greek office handles Tunisian applications, confirming directly with the embassy rather than relying on older advice, since this detail is easy to get wrong secondhand.
• Apostille early: start the apostille and translation process early, even though it is the simpler path.
• Who pays: put the recruitment-cost arrangement in writing before anyone starts the paperwork on either side.
• No upfront fees: refuse any request for a quota guarantee fee.
• Season end: ask what the plan is for your permit and travel once the season finishes.

Put it on your Workuro profile

List your target route on your profile - National Visa for seasonal or trade work in Greece, the sector and season you are aiming for, and how ready your apostilled documents are. Employers looking for Tunisian agricultural or hospitality workers want to see you already understand the quota system. Mention any Greek or English you speak, and note any previous seasonal work in Europe, since that experience carries real weight with employers filling a short window. Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.