New law reduces the residence time required for sans-papiers migrants to apply for residence permit

Policy Response DateAugust 23, 2011 Country: Greece General Type: Equality/Integration Racism and discrimination phenomena: Anti-migrant/xenophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Migrants, Refugees Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Employment - labour market, Daily life

A new law (No.4018) was voted on August 23d 2011, which reduces from 12 to 10 years the time required to obtain a temporary residence permit when there are humanitarian reasons and when invoking special ties with the country. This reduction was agreed after the 300 immigrants’ hunger strike in March 2011. The initial government’s promise though was to decrease the years from 12 to 8 years. 

“The 10-year stipulation will not lead to the mass legalisation of immigrants,” interior minister Haris Kastanidis said. The minister justified the government’s decision to reduce the minimum duration of residence. He said immigration legislation has changed drastically since 2001 and the current 12-year stipulation meant that migrants with a “genuine connection to Greece, who deserve the right to live and work legally in the country, were being denied residency”.

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