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O.1-S — Family reunification — spouse or registered partner

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

Official link

Which family relationships qualify?

The sponsor's spouse, provided the spouse has reached 18. For third-country nationals who marry or conclude a cohabitation agreement in Greece while both hold residence permits, a family reunification permit may be granted to one of the spouses/partners.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The definition of family member for reunification from abroad names spouses only; a registered partner joining from abroad is not expressly listed.

Who may sponsor or bring the family member, and what immigration/citizenship status must that person hold?

The sponsor is a third-country national who has resided lawfully in Greece for 2 years and holds a Greek residence permit valid for at least 2 years that can lead to permanent residence. These rules do not apply to family members of EU citizens, nor when the sponsor is an applicant for international protection whose application is still pending.

See recorded sources

What is important for proving marriage, partnership, parentage, custody, dependency or another qualifying relationship?

The sponsor must prove the family relationship; the authority may interview the sponsor and carry out any other necessary investigation, and the consulate interviews family members (failure to appear makes the request inadmissible). In polygamy, reunification with another spouse is not allowed if the sponsor already has a spouse living with him in Greece. The permit is refused or revoked if the marriage was concluded to circumvent the law or if the couple no longer lives an actual married life.

See recorded sources

What important financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities apply?

The sponsor must have accommodation adequate for himself and the family members; stable and regular personal income, not from social assistance, of at least the annual net minimum-wage income increased by 20% for the spouse and 15% per child (the 15% is not required if both spouses reside lawfully in Greece); and full health insurance that also covers the family members.

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
    α. διαθέτει κατάλυμα ικανό να καλύψει τις ανάγκες του ιδίου και των μελών της οικογένειάς του για τα οποία ζητεί την επανένωση, β. διαθέτει προσωπικό εισόδημα, σταθερό και τακτικό, επαρκές για τις ανάγκες του ιδίου και της οικογένειάς του, το οποίο δεν προέρχεται από προσφυγή στο σύστημα κοινωνικής αρωγής της χώρας. Το εισόδημα δεν μπορεί να είναι κατώτερο από το ετήσιο καθαρό εισόδημα του αμειβόμενου με τον κατώτατο μισθό, σύμφωνα με την εθνική νομοθεσία, προσαυξημένο κατά είκοσι τοις εκατό (20%) για τον ή τη σύζυγο και κατά δεκαπέντε τοις εκατό (15%) για κάθε τέκνο. Η ανωτέρω προσαύξηση του δεκαπέντε τοις εκατό (15%) για κάθε τέκνο δεν απαιτείται αν και οι δύο (2) σύζυγοι διαμένουν νομίμως στην Ελλάδα, γ. διαθέτει πλήρη ασφάλιση ασθενείας ως προς το σύνολο των κινδύνων που καλύπτονται για τις αντίστοιχες κατηγορίες εργαζομένων ημεδαπών, η οποία να μπορεί να καλύψει και τα μέλη της οικογένειάς του.

How does the application work at a high level, what rights does the family member receive, how long does the status last, and how can it become independent or longer-term where officially stated?

The sponsor files the family reunification application online with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum. The procedure must be completed within 9 months of the application (extendable by up to 3 months). The family member's permit expires with the sponsor's permit and follows it on renewal. Family members have, equally with the sponsor, access to education, dependent employment and vocational training. After at most 5 years of residence, the spouse/partner and a child who has reached adulthood may obtain an autonomous residence permit.

See recorded sources

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

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