According to the press release published by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum proposed bill tightens Greece's migration and return policies, aiming to better control irregular immigration, reduce exploitation of asylum procedures, and ensure public order and national security. Key reforms include among others, faster and monitored voluntary departures, tougher entry bans and penalties, expanded detention, and new legal barriers for long-term undocumented migrants.
With aim to modernize the return procedure for third-country nationals and align national law with EU legislative framework the new bill suggest the following amendments: Extended definition of Return Country including: Country of habitual residence. Safe third country (per Law 4939/2022), where asylum claim was rejected as inadmissible.
First country of asylum, leading to rejection of international protection application.
Stricter definitions of flight risk: No fixed or known residence. Change or abandonment of residence without notifying authorities. Refusal to undergo biometric or other identification.
Reduced timeframe for voluntary departure: from 25 to 14 days. Extension for exceptional cases can be reduced from 120 to 60 days. Electronic monitoring may be imposed during the voluntary departure period.
Entry ban to Greece: Mandatory entry bans if an individual poses a threat to public order, national security, or public health. Increased entry ban duration from 5 to 10 years, with possible extension up to another 5 years.
Criminalisation of Illegal stay after the administrative procedure and introduction of penalties such as: minimum 3 years imprisonment. fine of 10,000. no possibility for sentence suspension or conversion. sentence execution may be suspended if the individual voluntarily departs from Greece.
Two options for persons remaining illegally: Prison or return.
Detention Additional grounds to detention, specifically for security reasons. Detention cannot be suspended even if objections are raised. Maximum detention period extended from 18 to 24 months. Detention conditions will be reviewed every 6 months. Increased penalties for irregular entry and re-entry Fines for repeat irregular entry increased from 3,000-10,000 into 10,000-30,000. Minimum prison sentence is also increased: From 3 months into 2 years for standard irregular entry. From 6 months into 3 years for aggravated cases.
Increase in fines: From 1,500 to 5,000 (standard cases). From 3,000 to 10,000 (cases related to serious violations). Restrictions on the option to apply for international protection and residence permits: Restrictions on the option to file new application for international protection Abolition of 7-year rule for granting residence permits to long-term undocumented migrants.