Eligibility Quiz
Are you currently outside your country of origin or habitual residence?
Application Process
The application for international protection in Greece is managed by the Greek Asylum Service (GAS), which is part of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum. You must apply as soon as possible after entering the country.
Step 1: Registration and Pre-registration
You must first express your intent to seek asylum. If you are not currently in a detention center or a Reception and Identification Center (RIC), you must book an appointment through the Ministry of Migration and Asylum online appointment portal. You can also join the Ministry’s Viber community for real-time updates and appointment notifications.
Step 2: Lodging the Application
On your appointment date, you will visit a regional asylum office to formally "lodge" your application. During this visit:
- Authorities will take your fingerprints and biometric data.
- You will submit any identification documents you have, such as a passport, ID card, or birth certificate.
- You will be issued an Asylum Seeker’s Card, which allows you to stay in Greece legally until a decision is made.
Step 3: The Personal Interview
You will be scheduled for an in-depth interview with a case worker. This is the most important part of your application. You will be asked to explain why you cannot return to your home country.
- Refugee Status: You must demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a specific social group.
- Subsidiary Protection: If you don't qualify as a refugee, you may receive this status if you face a real risk of serious harm (such as the death penalty, torture, or indiscriminate violence due to armed conflict).
- Interpretation: The government will provide an interpreter for this interview.
Step 4: The Decision
After the interview, the Asylum Service will issue a decision:
- Positive: You will be granted either Refugee Status (valid for 3 years) or Subsidiary Protection (valid for 1 year). You will then apply for an ADET (Residence Permit).
- Negative: If your application is rejected, you have 14 days to file an appeal or leave the country. Because this window is so short, you should contact a legal aid NGO immediately.
Subsequent Applications
If you have been rejected before and wish to apply again, you may only do so if you have new elements or findings to present. These are subject to a strict preliminary review before they are accepted.
Fees
The initial application for asylum and the subsequent interview process are free of charge.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Initial Asylum Application | €0 |
| Interpretation (during interview) | €0 |
| First-instance Decision | €0 |
| Residence Permit (ADET) | €0 |
Total Estimate: €0
Note: This total does not include costs for certified translations of supporting documents, private legal fees for the first-instance interview, or passport-sized photos for your ID cards.
Processing Time
The timeline for asylum applications in Greece can vary significantly based on the complexity of your case and the current backlog of the Asylum Service.
| Stage | Estimated Duration |
|---|---|
| First-instance Decision | 6 to 18 months |
| Appeals Process (if rejected) | 6 to 12 months |
| Residence Permit (ADET) Issuance | 2 to 6 months after positive decision |
| Refugee Status Validity | 3 years (renewable) |
| Subsidiary Protection Validity | 1 year (renewable for 2-year increments) |
Important Deadlines:
- Family Reunification: If you are granted Refugee Status, you must apply for family reunification within 3 months to benefit from simpler requirements.
- Address Changes: You must notify the Asylum Service of an address change immediately. Failure to do so can result in your application being "interrupted" and treated as withdrawn.
- Appeal Window: You generally have only 14 days to appeal a negative decision under the latest 2025 regulations.