Residence Permit for Family Members of a Greek Citizen – Type O.3

The O.3 type residence permit concerns third-country citizens who are members of a Greek family and wish to reside permanently in Greece. It is a five-year (5) year permit, which is granted under the condition of stable and legal residence in the country of the interested parties.

Who are considered family members of a Greek citizen?

Greek family members include:

1. Spouse.
2. The cohabiting partner, if the civil union has been concluded in Greece or before a Greek consular authority abroad.
3. The children of spouses or civil union partners – regardless of nationality – who are:
   • Under 21 years of age, or
   • Maintained, regardless of age. This category also includes adopted children.
4. Parents (ascendants) of spouses or civil union partners, if they are financially dependent.
5. The parents of minor Greek citizens, regardless of how they acquired Greek citizenship.
6. The minor siblings of the above nationals.

Duration and renewal of the leave for children or siblings:

For the children or siblings of a Greek citizen under the age of 21, a five-year residence permit is provided. The application can be submitted at the same time as that of the dependent member or later. After its expiry, and if the relevant conditions are met, it is possible to switch to a ten-year residence permit.

It is worth noting that:

• The leave remains valid even if the child reaches the age of majority during it.
• If the leave expires before the age of majority and a five-year stay has not been completed, an additional renewal for five years is possible.

Individuality of the permit and public order issues:

The residence permit is personal and is examined separately for each member of the family. It requires a check of possible reasons of public policy or security. An application can only be rejected if it is proven that the applicant's personal behaviour constitutes a real, immediate and serious threat to public security.

The decision must:

• Be based solely on personalised data;
• To respect the principle of proportionality,
• It should not be based simply on old criminal convictions.

Transition to a ten-year residence permit:

As long as the stay in Greece is uninterrupted during the five-year leave, the residence card can be converted into a ten-year permit.

The continuity of the stay is not affected by:

• Temporary absences of up to six (6) months per year,
• Long-term absences for military service,
• An absence of up to twelve (12) consecutive months for serious reasons, such as:
  • Pregnancy or maternity,
  • Serious illness,
  • Studies or vocational training,
  • Professional placement abroad (within or outside the EU).

Possibility of issuing an independent residence permit:

Family members of a Greek citizen who are citizens of third countries can apply for an "Independent Residence Permit", in the following cases:

• Death of the Greek maintainer, provided that the members had resided legally in the country for at least one year before the event.
• Divorce, annulment of marriage or dissolution of a civil union, provided that the marriage or the union lasted at least two years, of which one year in Greece.
• Particularly difficult personal or family circumstances, such as cases of domestic violence.

Rights granted by the residence permit:

The holder of the residence permit enjoys:

• Right of access to employment;
• Ability to provide services or projects,
• Exercise any professional activity in Greece.

In addition, equal treatment with citizens of the European Union is ensured in terms of employment, education and social security.

When the permit may not be granted or revoked:

The competent authority may refuse to authorise or revoke the residence permit in the following cases:

• If false or misleading information, false documents or illegal means (e.g. a sham marriage) have been submitted.
• If it is found that there is no meaningful family or marital life.
• If it turns out that the main purpose of the family relationship was to obtain a residence permit.

If you are thinking of applying for a residence permit as a family member of a Greek citizen, we can help you every step of the way. We undertake the collection and control of the supporting documents, the submission of the application and the monitoring of the process, so that you do not have to worry about delays or errors. We are here to guide you in a simple and clear way. Do not hesitate to contact us for personal information and legal guidance tailored to your needs.