Greece Work Permit for Indians: Employer Steps and Timeline

In practice, a Greek work permit for an Indian worker is a two-part process: your employer's approval in Greece, then your national visa application in India. This guide sets out who does what, in what order, what it costs and how long the official sources say each stage takes, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For short-stay visas, see our Greece visa guide for Indians.

What must the employer in Greece do before you apply?

The process starts in Greece, not in India. GVCW's employment-visa checklist (seasonal and dependent employment) requires two documents that only your employer can produce:

• The Prefecture's approval for dependent employment with a specific employer in Greece.
• A certified employment contract, or the employer's attested declaration, showing the type and period of work and pay at least equal to the monthly salary of unskilled workers.

The contract and the approval are sent directly to the Consular Office of the Embassy of Greece in New Delhi. The Consular Office then calls the applicant to sign and apply. Until those papers are with the Embassy, your own application cannot succeed.

What changed for Greek employment visas on 30 September 2025?

GVCW published new instructions for employment national D visa applications. Since 30 September 2025:

• You can lodge an employment D visa application at GVCW without prior approval from the Embassy of Greece in New Delhi.
• However, the Embassy must already have received your employment papers. If it has not, the application is rejected.
• Applying under the wrong category can lead to refusal.

So the change removed one formal step but not the underlying rule: your employer's papers come first. Confirm with your employer, in writing, that the Prefecture's approval and the contract have been sent to the Consular Office before you book.

What do you submit at the GVCW New Delhi centre?

Employment D visa applications from India are accepted only at the GVCW New Delhi centre, at Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Connaught Place. Bring:

• The national visa application form, signed, and one recent colour photo with a white background (ICAO).
• Your passport. The employment checklist asks for validity of 3 months beyond the visa's end, two blank pages and issue within 10 years; GVCW's India-specific rules for national D visas ask for at least 1 year and 6 months of validity from the date of submission. Meet the longer requirement.
• A Police Clearance Certificate with an MEA (New Delhi) apostille, not older than three months.
• Travel medical insurance for the visa's validity from an approved insurer, starting two months after submission and covering 365, 270 or 180 days for a one-year, nine-month or six-month visa.
• English translations of any document not in Greek or English, and a copy of every original.

At a national visa application you appear in person, are interviewed by the Consul or a designated official (possibly by video link at the provider's office) and give biometrics: a photo and 10 fingerprints. A medical fitness certificate from Dente, 14 Nizamuddin East, New Delhi, the centre used for Greek national visa medicals since 1 July 2023, is required when the Embassy requests it.

How long does a Greek work visa take from India?

Greece publishes a fixed decision time only for some categories. Here is what the official sources say for each stage:

One sequencing detail differs between GVCW documents: the employment checklist says the medical certificate is requested after the interview, while GVCW's processing note describes the medical report reaching the Embassy before the interview is scheduled. Follow whatever instruction the Embassy gives you for your file.

How much does a Greek work visa cost?

GVCW lists type A and type B without defining which jobs fall under each, so confirm your type with GVCW or the Embassy before paying. Visa fees are non-refundable. GVCW does not publish the cost of the Dente medical examination.

Mistakes that stall a Greek work visa

• Booking at GVCW before the Embassy has your employer's papers, which leads to rejection.
• Choosing the wrong visa category, which can lead to refusal.
• Submitting at a regional GVCW centre; employment D visas are accepted only in New Delhi.
• Using a police certificate older than three months or without the MEA apostille.
• Buying insurance that starts on the submission date instead of two months after it.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram does not arrange jobs or work permits. For the travel side of your file, we prepare flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters, from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us via our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Does VFS Global accept Greek work visa applications in India?

No. VFS Global no longer handles Greek visas in India. The Embassy of Greece uses Global Visa Center World (GVCW), and employment D visas are accepted only at its New Delhi centre.

Can my family come with me on a Greek work visa?

Family members of a third-country national living legally in Greece use the separate family reunification route, which starts with a relationship verification stage at the Embassy. That stage costs INR 35,500 per family application (INR 25,500 for Punjab and Chandigarh).

Where do I send questions about a Greek work visa?

Visa queries go to the Embassy of Greece at grcon.del@mfa.gr. GVCW's call centre is +91 22 6786 6011, Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 17:00.

Is a Greek digital nomad visa an alternative to a work permit?

Only if you work remotely for an employer or clients outside Greece. It requires at least EUR 3,500 net per month and does not allow work for Greek employers; decisions come within 10 days of submission.