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Non-EU citizens in Greece with an expired residence permit sticker/card and valid βεβαίωση/bebaiosi/veveosi (blue paper certificate with photo) or first-time Greek permit applicants with only a bebaiosi are permitted to travel to their homeland(s) through December 31, 2015.
In a press release published December 5 in Greek, the Ministry of Public Order and Citizen Protection announced an open travel period that allows foreigners legally living in Greece to visit their home countries and return to Greece more than once without penalty, as long as they have a valid bebaiosi (Βεβαίωση κατάθεσης αίτησης για έκδοση άδειας διαμονής).
Without a residence permit sticker/card OR a valid bebaiosi (blue paper with photo), a non-EU citizen cannot leave and re-enter Greece. If your current residence/work permit sticker/card or previous year’s bebaiosi will expire while traveling, it is expected you renew and get a new bebaiosi before departing. By law, foreigners must begin renewing a Greek residence permit/bebaiosi 60 days before expiration.
Under normal circumstances, only those with an official permit sticker in their passport or residence card can travel outside Greece without restriction, as explained in “I’m a non-EU citizen in Greece, can I travel whenever I wish?” However, the former Ministry of Citizen Protection under ex-PM Papandreou began granting rights on par with neighboring EU countries from October 2009, and this policy continues under the coalition government that took power June 2012.
Be aware that this privilege grants passage to one’s home country/countries and back to Greece with a bebaiosi. It does NOT give non-EU citizens the right to visit or stay in other non-EU, EU or Schengen countries. Only those with unexpired Greek permit stickers/cards can travel freely.
As a precaution, non-EU citizens may want to print and carry a copy of the official press release for the corresponding period:
- From January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014: “Press Release in Greek.”
- From January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015: “Press Release in Greek.”
Why? Because Greek border police are sometimes misinformed of the law, or know it and refuse passage until a lawyer or journalist intervenes. It is also recommended you make a photocopy of each bebaiosi and keep it in a safe place, in case the original is misplaced, stolen, confiscated or lost. These recommendations are for your safety and security.
The Ministry of Public Order and Citizen Protection no longer provides the Press Release in English, though the bebaiosi/veveosi is (finally) in English.
- Travel is restricted between Greece and the country in which you have citizenship and a passport because the document and the laws that govern it are only recognized in Greece.
- Check if you need a visa: Border authorities of other countries can rightfully deny you entry or exit, and you may need to apply for a visa that would entitle you to travel, transfer/transit through and/or temporarily stay in countries included in your itinerary and then return to Greece. Contact the embassy/consulate serving the relevant country or countries BEFORE you book travel and leave Greece.
*Article last updated December 7, 2014. However, please note that ‘Comments’ reflect the specific cases of commentators (aka, may not apply to you) and laws in force at the time.
How authorities know where you’ve been
Greek border, immigration and policing authorities know where you have traveled by scanning your passport and/or looking through its pages for a stamp.
Each time you leave or enter a country, an electronic record of your crossing is recorded in a computer. If for some reason there is no electronic record, they will look for a stamp. If for some reason there is no stamp, authorities are within their legal right to ask you for proof in the way of air tickets, train receipts or anything else that establishes your record of travel and physical presence in your home country.
If you refuse or cannot prove you have been to your home country, you have broken the law and Greek authorities can lawfully refuse to grant you re-entry to Greece.
What you need
To be granted re-entry to Greece, non-EU citizens residing legally in Greece without an official permit sticker or residence card must have the following documents in accordance with the law, plus a visa or visas to the non-home country/countries visited (if applicable). Select the category applicable to your status.
A. Foreigners with an expired residence permit
1. Valid passport or other travel document recognized by Greece
2. An expired residence/work permit sticker or residence/work card
3. Type ‘A’ Bebaiosi (blue certificate with photo), which denotes that the applicant has already applied and deposited their documents for the renewal of residence permit before its expiry (i.e., Seasonal worker, salaried employee, independent services or consultant, financial independence, family reunification, business owner, spouses of Greek or EU citizens, studies, etc.)
B. First-time applicants of a Greek residence/work permit with only a bebaiosi
In accordance with section 4 of Article 18 of Law 3536/2007 or No. 11702/2006 Joint Ministerial Decision:
1. Valid passport or other travel document recognized by Greece
2. Type ‘A’ Bebaiosi (blue certificate with photo), which denotes that the applicant has applied and deposited their documents for their first residence/work permit or card
C. Aliens issued a temporary order of suspension or suspension issued by the Administrative Court
1. Valid passport or other travel document recognized by Greece
2. Special legal residence certificate issued under the provisions of the No 21535/7.11.2006 KY Apofasis (1677 F.EK. B).
* Please note that the ability to exit and re-enter is not available to holders of special legal residence certificate allocated in accordance with paragraph 6 of No. 21535/7.11.2006 JMD, namely those with restrictive conditions, including a ban on leaving the country.
D. Foreigners in renewal with only a bebaiosi* and no residence permit (sticker or card)
1. Valid passport or other travel document recognized by Greece
2. Type ‘A’ Bebaiosi (blue certificate with photo), which denotes that the applicant has applied and deposited their documents for the residence/work permit.
* Many times, applicants apply for renewal of permits without ever being issued the previous year’s sticker or card, resulting in renewal with last year’s bebaiosi and being given another bebaiosi for the next year. Carry both with you.
About the βεβαίωση/bebaiosi
The βεβαίωση/bebaiosi (blue paper with photo/certificate of receipt) is simply a receipt that denotes papers have been submitted, accepted and are under review for possible issuance of a Greek residence permit. It has a validity of one (1) year from the date of issuance. It is not an official or temporary residence permit or residence certificate.
Forums and other websites call the βεβαίωση/bebaiosi a Greek residence blue card, which is incorrect for two reasons. First, it is not a card. Second, the EU Blue Card is a coveted EU-wide permit/card for highly skilled immigrants under a program that is not being implemented in Greece. Therefore, blue residence cards for Greece do not exist at this time.
The only way you can come to work in Greece is to get a permit by one of the methods explained in, “How non-EU citizens can get a permit to live and work in Greece; or have dual citizenship with an EU country via an ancestor. See “Acquiring EU citizenship via ancestry, marriage or naturalization.”
Note from Author
There are no stated limitations on how long you can remain outside Greece. However, most countries consider that someone is resident if they spend at least six (6) months or 185 days of the year within borders. Also take into account that applying for Greek citizenship as a foreigner requires that you spend no more than 10 continuous months outside Greece in the five (5) years before an application is submitted.
For more information:
Ministry of Public Order and Citizen Protection
Tel: (210) 6977000
Fax: (210) 6929764
Email: pressoffice@yptp.gr
Sources
“Ελεύθερα τα ταξίδια των νομίμων μεταναστών από και προς τη χώρα τους” – Eleftherotypia
“5 November 2009: Δελτίο Τύπου για την έξοδο και επανείσοδο αλλοδαπών στη Χώρα” — Ministry of Citizen Protection
“16-11-2010: Press Release of the Hellenic Police Headquarters about the exit and the reentering of foreigners in Greece” — Ministry of Citizen Protection
“07-11-2011: Δελτίο Τύπου για την έξοδο και την επανείσοδο αλλοδαπών στη χώρα κατά το διάστημα από 3-11-2011 μέχρι 31-12-2012” — Ministry of Citizen Protection
“Press Release in Greek.” for November 2012-December 2013
“Έξοδος και επανείσοδος στη χώρα των νόμιμων μεταναστών από 1ης Ιανουαρίου” — Naftemporiki
Related posts
“I’m a non-EU citizen in Greece, can I travel whenever I want?“
“FAQ: Greek residence and work permits”
“How non-EU citizens can get a permit to move, live and work in Greece”
http://bit.ly/GRtravel2010
Kat Reply:
November 21st, 2009 at 19:26
I wish this had been done years ago, so my friends weren’t left heartbroken and without closure in missing their mother’s and grandparents’ funerals. They just wanted to say their last goodbye.
Do you mean visa or permit…or both? I’d like to see permits issued more quickly, not waiting six months to a year or more.