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

The permit route for Algerians

Greece ties almost all non-EU work permits to an annual quota decision (a Koini Ypourgiki Apofasi, or Joint Ministerial Decision) that sets, region by region and sector by sector, how many foreign workers can be hired that year - mostly in agriculture, tourism and construction. Your employer in Greece has to apply for a position inside that quota first, through the regional Decentralised Administration, before you can apply for the National Visa (D) for employment at the Greek mission that covers Algeria. If the quota for your sector and region is already full for the year, no amount of paperwork on your side changes that - timing matters as much as qualification here.

If the quota looks tight or closed for your trade this year, Italy's Decreto Flussi runs a larger annual intake for similar seasonal and construction work and is worth checking as an alternative.

A seasonal work permit in Greece is normally tied to one specific contract and one season, not to a year-round stay, and it has to be renewed through a fresh application the following year even if the same employer wants you back. The EU Blue Card exists for highly skilled roles with a university degree and a well-paid contract, but it rarely applies to driving, welding, construction or hospitality work, so do not expect it to be the route here.

Because the employer's quota application has to clear before your own visa file can even be opened, the real driver of your timeline is how early in the year your employer applied, not how quickly you personally assemble documents. Ask them directly when they filed and what the current status is.

Greece maintains diplomatic relations with Algeria and commonly has a resident embassy in Algiers - confirm current details and whether visa applications are processed directly there or through a visa application centre, since this can change. If no office handles Algerian applications directly, use the nearest Greek embassy or visa centre serving Algeria rather than guessing.

Documents, and legalisation

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

Algeria is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so your police certificate and civil documents need full consular legalisation - stamps through the Algerian foreign ministry and then the Greek mission - rather than a simple apostille. Start this early, since it is one of the slower parts of the whole process, and make sure the Greek translation of each document comes from a translator Greek authorities actually recognise - a translation from outside that circle can be rejected and has to be redone.

What this costs

Greece sets its own fees and these can change, so check the current amount with the embassy or the Ministry of Migration and Asylum - roughly, the national visa fee runs approximately 75 to 90 euros, and the overall process, including the quota decision, commonly takes a few months and is tied to the agricultural or tourist season you are applying for.

On your side, budget roughly 1,000 to 3,000 DZD for the police certificate, a similar range for a medical check, 15,000 to 40,000 DZD for legalisation and certified translation together, and a flight to Greece that typically costs 300 to 600 euros.

In Greece, as in most EU countries, the employer carries the cost of recruiting you - no one may legally charge you for the job itself. Confirm the exact rule with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum before paying anyone. Be especially careful of agents in Algeria offering a guaranteed seasonal contract for an upfront fee tied to the quota system - this scam shape has specifically targeted Algerian workers hoping for Greek harvest work, and a real employer never asks for your money to hire you.

Where Greece is actually hiring

Agriculture is the biggest legal channel for non-EU workers in Greece - fruit and vegetable harvesting takes on seasonal foreign labour every year under the quota. Tourism and hospitality on the islands and coast hire heavily for the summer season. Construction also draws foreign tradespeople, though in smaller numbers than agriculture. Shipping and port-related work around Piraeus occasionally needs foreign manual labour too, though this is a smaller and more irregular market than farm work.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: Any EU country's visa lets you work seasonally in Greece. Fact: you need Greece's own National Visa for employment, tied to its specific quota decision.
• Myth: If you are qualified, you will get a permit regardless of timing. Fact: once a region or sector's annual quota is full, qualified applicants are turned away until the next round.
• Myth: Arabic or French will carry you through a Greek job. Fact: basic Greek or English is what actually gets used on Greek farms and in hotels.
• Myth: A recruiter can skip the employer's quota application. Fact: the employer's position inside the quota has to exist before your visa application can even start.
• Myth: Once you have a seasonal permit, it rolls over automatically next year. Fact: each season needs its own quota application and its own visa, even with the same employer.

Before you sign

• Confirmed quota slot: make sure the employer actually has an approved position inside this year's quota, not just a verbal offer.
• Written contract: get pay, hours and season dates in writing.
• Right office: check which Greek embassy or visa centre handles Algerian applications.
• Legalisation early: start legalising your documents immediately, given how slow that step is.
• Who pays: ask who pays recruitment costs, and get it in writing.
• No upfront fees: refuse any upfront quota fee or processing fee request.
• Season end: ask what happens to your permit and your return trip once the season or contract finishes.

Put it on your Workuro profile

Once you understand the route, state it plainly on your profile - National Visa for seasonal or trade work in Greece, which season or sector you are targeting, and how far along your legalisation process is. Employers searching for Algerian agricultural or hospitality workers want to see you already understand the quota system. Mention any Greek, English or French you speak, and note whether you have done seasonal work in Europe before, since that experience matters to employers filling a tight window. A profile that shows you understand the seasonal nature of this work builds real trust. Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.