E.3-R — Minister of a recognised religion

GreeceCulture, faith and volunteering

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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What exact activity, role or purpose qualifies?

Ministers of the prevailing religion or of a known religion in Greece who perform exclusively priestly duties.

See recorded sources

Limits of the record

Cited Migration Code text is the original Law 5038/2023 (FEK A 81/01.04.2023); Law 5275/2026 was checked for amendments to this provision, but other intermediate amendments were not excluded.
The subtype label is WTE's classification, not a term of the law.

https://migration.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/%CE%9A%CF%8E%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%82-%CE%9C%CE%B5%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AC%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%83%CE%B7%CF%82.pdf
η. λειτουργοί της επικρατούσας θρησκείας ή γνωστής θρησκείας στη χώρα που ασκούν αποκλειστικά ιερατικά καθήκοντα,

What organisation, institution, religious body, charity, teacher or host must support the activity?

For a known religion, its representative in Greece must first make a written declaration to the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs that the ministers will perform exclusively priestly duties.

See recorded sources

https://migration.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/%CE%9A%CF%8E%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%82-%CE%9C%CE%B5%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AC%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%83%CE%B7%CF%82.pdf
κατόπιν προηγούμενης έγγραφης δήλωσης του οικείου εκπροσώπου της γνωστής θρησκείας στη χώρα ενώπιον του Υπουργείου Παιδείας και Θρησκευμάτων ότι οι ανωτέρω λειτουργοί θα ασκήσουν αποκλειστικά ιερατικά καθήκοντα

What proves the placement, role, affiliation, experience or cultural/religious/voluntary activity?

A certificate submitted to the competent Greek consular authority: from the local metropolitan bishop for ministers of the prevailing religion, or from the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs for ministers of a known religion.

See recorded sources

https://migration.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/%CE%9A%CF%8E%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%82-%CE%9C%CE%B5%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AC%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%83%CE%B7%CF%82.pdf
εφόσον προσκομισθεί στην αρμόδια ελληνική προξενική αρχή βεβαίωση του οικείου μητροπολίτη, προκειμένου για λειτουργούς της επικρατούσας θρησκείας ή βεβαίωση του Υπουργείου Παιδείας και Θρησκευμάτων, προκειμένου για λειτουργούς γνωστής θρησκείας

Can the person receive salary, pocket money, accommodation, meals or reimbursement? Can they undertake other work?

For ministers of a known religion, the declaration must state that their living and medical-care costs are covered by the religion in Greece. The official source does not state salary or whether other work is allowed.

See recorded sources

Limits of the record

Cited Migration Code text is the original Law 5038/2023 (FEK A 81/01.04.2023); Law 5275/2026 was checked for amendments to this provision, but other intermediate amendments were not excluded.
No rule on salary or other work for ministers of religion was found; the "exclusively priestly duties" condition suggests other work is not the basis of the permit, but this is an inference.

https://migration.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/%CE%9A%CF%8E%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%82-%CE%9C%CE%B5%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AC%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%83%CE%B7%CF%82.pdf
ότι τα έξοδα διαβίωσης και ιατροφαρμακευτικής περίθαλψής τους καλύπτονται από τη γνωστή θρησκεία

How long can they stay, can they change host/activity, can family accompany, and can the status be extended?

The permit is granted by the Secretary of the Decentralised Administration of the place of residence, is valid for three years and is renewable every three years while the person continues to provide their services. Family members may accompany them with a family-reunification permit expiring at the same time. The official source does not state whether the holder may change religious body.

See recorded sources

Limits of the record

Cited Migration Code text is the original Law 5038/2023 (FEK A 81/01.04.2023); Law 5275/2026 was checked for amendments to this provision, but other intermediate amendments were not excluded.
No rule on change of religious body was found.

https://migration.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/%CE%A6%CE%95%CE%9A%CE%9117_6.2.2025.pdf
«2. Η ισχύς της άδειας διαμονής είναι τριετής, η οποία ανανεώνεται ανά τριετία, εφόσον οι ενδιαφερόμενοι εξακολουθούν να παρέχουν τις υπηρεσίες τους. Οι ανωτέρω πολίτες τρίτων χωρών μπορούν, κατά παρέκκλιση των παρ. 1 και 2 του άρθρου 84, να συνοδεύονται από τα μέλη της οικογένειάς τους, στα οποία χορηγείται άδεια διαμονής για οικογενειακή επανένωση που λήγει ταυτόχρονα με την άδεια διαμονής των συντηρούντων.»
https://migration.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/%CE%9A%CF%8E%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%82-%CE%9C%CE%B5%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AC%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%83%CE%B7%CF%82.pdf
β. στους πολίτες τρίτων χωρών των περ. στ’, ζ’, η’ και θ’ του άρθρου 59 χορηγείται με απόφαση του Γραμματέα της αποκεντρωμένης διοίκησης του τόπου διαμονής τους.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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E.3-R — Minister of a recognised religion

What exact activity, role or purpose qualifies?

What organisation, institution, religious body, charity, teacher or host must support the activity?

What proves the placement, role, affiliation, experience or cultural/religious/voluntary activity?

Can the person receive salary, pocket money, accommodation, meals or reimbursement? Can they undertake other work?

How long can they stay, can they change host/activity, can family accompany, and can the status be extended?

Your story.Your next step.

Your story.
Your next step.