Refugee and Subsidiary Protection

To qualify for protection in Greece, you must demonstrate that you cannot return to your country of origin because your life or freedom is at risk. The Greek Asylum Service (GAS) will evaluate your claim to determine which of the two statuses you qualify for:

1. Refugee Status

You qualify for Refugee Status if you have a well-founded fear of being persecuted in your home country due to:

• Race, religion, or nationality.
• Political opinion.
• Membership in a particular social group (this can include gender, sexual orientation, or specific social classes).

2. Subsidiary Protection

If you do not meet the strict definition of a "refugee" but still face a real risk of "serious harm" if returned home, you may be granted Subsidiary Protection. Serious harm is defined as:

• The death penalty or execution.
• Torture or inhuman and degrading treatment.
• A serious threat to your life due to indiscriminate violence in a situation of international or internal armed conflict (war).

Key Disqualifiers and Limitations

• Safe Third Country: Your application may be rejected without a full review of your story if you arrived in Greece via a country that Greece considers "safe" for you (such as Turkey for certain nationalities).
• Serious Crimes: You will be excluded from protection if there are serious reasons to believe you have committed war crimes, crimes against humanity, or serious non-political crimes.
• Subsequent Applications: If you have been rejected before, you can only apply again if you can provide new and substantial evidence that was not available during your first application.
• Temporary Suspensions: Be aware that the Greek government occasionally implements emergency measures. For example, in July 2025, a 90-day suspension was placed on applications for individuals arriving via specific maritime routes.