On this year’s World Migrants Day, Greece finds hundreds of thousands of migrants living, working, raising families, and actively contributing to the country’s social and economic life. Yet full integration remains elusive, with residence permits, asylum applications, and basic rights often stuck in years-long delays, according to the Greek Forum of Migrants.
Recent data from the Ministry of Migration and Asylum shows that approximately 518,194 third-country nationals currently hold residence permits in Greece, while 290,097 are awaiting renewal or first-time issuance. Waiting times can exceed four years, leaving many in prolonged uncertainty.
Behind these numbers are people who work, pay taxes, and support entire sectors of the economy — from agriculture and construction to tourism, hospitality, and care services. Delays in residence permits disrupt their lives, affecting employment, social insurance, healthcare access, banking, and freedom of movement.
Migrant communities, civil society organizations, and volunteers have become the main support for integration, often filling gaps left by the state. Elderly migrants and those with disabilities face particular challenges in securing citizenship, benefits, and pensions.
The Greek Forum of Migrants emphasizes that integration should not rely solely on the resilience of migrants. It requires political responsibility, stable processes, and respect for the daily lives of thousands of families. Migrants are a fundamental part of society, sustaining critical sectors and contributing to public revenue and social security systems.
The key demands highlighted for this year’s World Migrants Day include:
- Accelerated issuance and renewal of residence permits,
- A transparent, fair, and stable legalization system,
- Full access to work, healthcare, and social insurance,
- Real integration and inclusion beyond rhetoric,
- Safe migration channels and an end to the criminalization of migration.
Without a functional residence permit system, timely asylum processing, equal rights, and institutional support for migrant organizations, integration remains a word rather than a lived reality.
