*The following process also applies to Ukrainian nationals that have been rejected and haven’t obtained the Temporary Protection status.

 

You can use this article to learn more about the process of renewing your Residence Permit in Greece, including:

• How and when to apply for renewal of your Residence Permit
• What to do if your Residence Permit is about to expire
• What can you do if the renewal of your Residence Permit is delayed

The Greek Asylum Service has confirmed to Refugee.Info that renewing Residence Permits may take longer than expected — sometimes more than six months. This means that some of you may be left with expired Residence Permits, which you can’t use to verify your ID or to access public services like unemployment offices and Citizen Service Centers (KEPs). For this reason, a certification will be issued to you with a six-month validity period, which, together with your expired ID, can ensure access to services temporarily.

 

How to renew your Residence Permit

Find below briefly the stages and the steps for the renewal of residence permits of recognized refugees or persons granted subsidiary protection:

1. Stage 1st: According to the law, no later than 30 days after the residence permit expiration, the holder of the residence permit must fill in the application form for the renewal online and send it along with one digital passport photo by email to gas.residencepermits@migration.gov.gr. However, it is advised to apply earlier, 2-3 months before the expiry date of the residence permit, due to the significant delays occurring in the renewal process. In case of delay in applying for renewal without due reasons, a fine of 100 euros might be imposed on you. Please note that you must send a separate email with a separate application and photo for each family member. When sending the email, you must type in the subject area of the email the word «Renewals» and the number of your current residence permit (e.g., “Renewals_P123456789”). After lodging your application, you can request a certification that your application is pending issued by the Asylum Service. Depending on the workload of the Regional Asylum Office, you might receive the certificate immediately or be asked to go back in some days. You can still use your expired ID with this certification until the issuance of your new ID. The certificate given has a duration of a maximum of 6 months, so if your ID is not ready, always request a new certificate before the expiry of the previous one. We have been informed that during the last months, an automatic reply is no longer sent for the receipt of emails. If you have not received an email informing you that your message couldn’t be delivered, you can assume that your request has been received, and you will be notified by email if there is any pending issue regarding your application.
2. Stage 2nd: When the decision for the residence permit renewal is ready, the person will receive an email from the Asylum Service with instructions and the documents they need to bring to the police appointment.
3. Stage 3rd: The person must book an appointment with the competent police department, Passport Office of the Greek police, or the Alien Office according to their address.
4. Stage 4th: On the appointment day, the person should present themselves to the Police station with the required documents. Then, they have to wait for the residence permit to be issued. Once you submit your application, the Passport Office will provide you with a receipt. You should keep it because you will need it to pick up your residence permit once it is ready. 
5. Stage 5th: When the residence permit is ready, you must book an appointment with the competent asylum office to collect it. When the residence permit is ready, you must book an appointment with the competent asylum office to collect it.  You should check the lists the Ministry announced to learn when your residence permit is ready and when and where you can collect it. Search for your renewed residence permit with the number of your initial one. You must pick up your residence permit in person at the specific date and time mentioned in the announcement. You must present yourself to receive it, and no one can pick it up on your behalf. You should bring with you a) your current residence permit or, in case you lost it, the declaration that you made to the police and b) the receipt that you have received from the Passport Office.

The required documents are the following:

• a printout of the email you received,
• your current residence permit or, in case you lost it, the declaration you made to the police,
• Two recent photos for passports

Find all the information and forms on the Ministry’s site here.

You should regularly check the email address you declared in your application, as you will receive an email when the decision to renew the residence permit is ready. Check also the SPAM folder in your Gmail account. Make sure to promptly inform the Asylum Service if your contact information changes. You can do so by applying online here.

When and why do delays happen?

In many cases, there are severe delays in the renewal process that might exceed a year. According to the  Greek Asylum Service, the delays are due to heavy administrative workloads, deficiencies in the completeness and errors in the applications and the supporting documents, the re-examination of the whole file of the applicant, the checks needed to verify whether there is any impediment to the renewal of the residence permit (e.g. reasons of public order and national security, pending criminal proceedings etc.) For that purpose and for each Residence Permit renewal application, staff members must consult several other authorities, including the Police and the Ministry of Administrative Reconciliation.

As mentioned above, if the new document is delayed in being issued, you can submit an application for a document stating that your registration request is in the process.

 

What if the interim certificate also expires?

If more than two months have passed and you still haven’t received your new Residence Permit, you must return to the Regional Asylum Service and ask what caused the delay. If the expiry date of the interim certificate approaches and your residence permit is not ready yet, you should apply for a new certificate stating that your Residence Permit renewal is pending. This certificate is typically valid for 6 months.

Are public authorities accepting the interim certificate and an expired Residence Permit?

Although they should, there is still a lot of confusion about this in Greek public services. In practice, the interim does not guarantee the beneficiaries' access to their rights. There might be no access to the labour market, social welfare or public healthcare except for emergencies).
The Asylum Service said that it is working on finding a solution to that serious issue, but there have been no developments on the matter so far.