Greece Moves to End Pathway to Legalisation for Irregular Migrants After Seven Years

Greek authorities have announced plans to abolish a provision that allowed irregular migrants to apply for legal residency after remaining in the country for seven years, signaling a tougher stance on migration policy. The move was confirmed by Greece’s Minister of Migration, Makis Voridis, who explained that the measure had been exploited and would no longer be tolerated.

Voridis expressed a clear shift in policy, stating, “Whoever is in Greece illegally will never be legalized, will never get a residence permit.” He underscored that the previous approach effectively rewarded individuals for remaining in the country unlawfully. “The longer you were (in the country) illegally, the bigger your prize. From now on, whoever is in Greece illegally will never be legalized,” he stated.

According to the minister, the change aims to improve control over migration flows and to prevent abuse of the legal system. Voridis reported that between 55,000 and 65,000 people enter Greece irregularly each year, with around half of them being granted asylum.

Despite these figures, the rate of deportation remains extremely low. In 2024, police arrested approximately 74,000 irregular migrants, yet only 2,500 were actually expelled from the country. Voridis noted that many detainees attempt to evade deportation by providing false information about their country of origin, causing long delays in the repatriation process. “There must be (sanctions) for those who persist in staying in Greece even though they are not legally here,” he said.

To address the issue, a new draft law has been approved by the cabinet, introducing prison sentences of up to five years for those entering or remaining in Greece without legal status. The legislation is expected to pass through parliament next month, with the government holding a parliamentary majority.

This legislative overhaul comes despite a reported 30 per cent decrease in overall migration flows to Greece in early 2025 compared to the previous year. However, new smuggling routes—especially from Libya to Crete and the island of Gavdos—have seen increased activity.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has also weighed in, stating that the tighter regulations on rejected asylum seekers and the emphasis on accelerating their return are part of Greece’s broader strategy to tackle irregular migration more effectively.

The draft legislation also aligns with recent proposals from the European Commission, which seeks to give EU countries greater authority to return rejected asylum seekers to designated safe third countries. In December 2024, the Commission announced its intention to introduce stricter migration controls in 2025 to boost the number of deportations and define more clearly the legal rights and obligations of migrants who have exhausted their legal options to remain in the EU.

By fLEXI tEAM