All individuals not holding citizenship from one of the 28 EU member states listed below is a non-EU citizen.
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia as of July 1, 2013
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom
Exceptions
Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein are non-EU countries.
However, citizens of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein have the right of free movement within the EU because their countries signed the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement; and Swiss nationals enjoy certain rights and privileges through a bilateral agreement with the EU.
Being a non-EU citizen in Greece
Many authorities and ordinary people believe that Americans, Australians and Canadians are not non-EU citizens on par with Russian, Albanian, Pakistani and Moroccan citizens, when in fact they are. Greece classifies all non-EU citizens the same, regardless of nationality.
Therefore, all must abide by the same laws and regulations and navigate the same bureaucratic channels.
In theory, Greek and non-Greek EU citizens are the same, though in the majority of cases even native Greeks have the advantage over Greeks from abroad.
Non-EU citizens — no matter how educated, skilled or fluent in several languages — are lowest in the hierarchy of competitiveness on the (legal) job market purely because of laws governing residence/work permits. This is understandable since Greece and the entire EU must look after its citizens first.
Preferential treatment?
The only indication of preferential treatment I’ve witnessed on a consistent basis is when passport control allows Americans, Canadians and Australians to pass with barely a glance if plagued by long lines at the airport.
At the municipality and other public sector offices, I’m treated the same despite having friendly long-term relationships with officials who know my name, history and friends. Bureaucracy is bureaucracy, and I’d expect nothing less.
Related posts
“Non-EU travelers need 50 euros a day in Greece”
“I’m a non-EU citizen in Greece, am I allowed to travel whenever I want?”
“Thanks for Greece, I’ve been reunified with myself”