Greece one of the European countries many travelers visit because of its history, culture, and tourism. Many overseas Filipino workers also look at Greece as a country to work in. There are many jobs in Greece for Filipinos that are looking for the best places to live and work in Europe. Greece is a great choice because of its pleasant weather, culture, and friendly people.
The Filipino labor market in Greece is one of the largest in Europe and one of the most popular labor destinations for Filipinos in Europe. This guide helps Filipinos who are looking to work and live in Greece.
Table of Contents
Requirements
To know the basic documentary requirements in applying for work in Greece, please click this link to continue a Requirements.
Qualifications
An applicant is expected to be at least 23 years old, a high school graduate, and knows basic English. He/she must be also physically and mentally fit to work.
Important Steps
Here is a comprehensive guide in applying and searching for jobs in Greece for Filipinos.
I. Job Search
There are many job search platforms on the internet nowadays, but most of them are limited to certain countries or regions. If you live in the Philippines and you want to search for jobs in Greece, it can be quite a hassle if you’re using a site from your homeland. That’s why many Filipinos choose to use worldwide sites that cater to every nation.
Here are three websites to help you in your job search.
Skywalker
Skywalker.gr is the first site that was active in the job search in Greece, since 1999. Today, it remains the only Greek website in the area and the first choice in the job search.
It provides access to job advertisements, announcements, job announcements, and career management tools, as well as the possibility for the candidate to add his CV to a pan-Hellenic database, from where companies everywhere in Greece can retrieve it.
In addition, with actions such as the organization of seminars with free admission for the public, it offers information on the labor market and entrepreneurship issues adapted to the needs of the Greek reality.
To start with, you may follow the steps below.
1. Click the link to access the website. The website looks like this. Click “Translate” to translate the website from Greek to English.
2. In the search bar, enter the job that you are looking for. I entered “Carpenter” in this example. And click the search icon(the one in the green circle) to continue.
3. In the search bar, enter the job that you are looking for. I entered “Carpenter” in this example. And click the search icon(the one in the green circle) to continue.
Careerjet
Careerjet’s network of job search engines spans over 90 countries, with different management interfaces translated into 28 languages. Using a quick and simple management interface, users can “search” this database without having to visit each website separately. The job postings themselves are not hosted by Careerjet and users are always redirected to the original site.
To use this website for searching for jobs, you may read the steps below.
1. Click the link above. The website interface looks like this.
2. In the search bar, enter the job you have been looking for and press ‘search’. I used ‘barber’ as an example.
3. You will be shown results based on your search. You may click the job posts to know more.
DMW Website
https://www.dmw.gov.ph/approved-job-orders
The Department of Migrant Workers’ website is a trusted website by Filipinos which is Philippine-based. This website can be accessed by Filipinos around the world. This provides the latest job postings and is updated frequently.
To start searching for jobs using the DMW website, you may follow the steps below.
1. Click the link above.
2. Scroll down until you see a search bar. On the search bar, enter the country you wish to apply for.
3. Results will be shown based on our search.
Note: You must create an account first on these websites to fully access and contact the agency that posted the job offers. Make sure you prepared the documents asked by the agency. Search and search, apply and apply, until you secure a job offer. After you secure a job offer, then, it is time for you to obtain a work visa.
Before moving in to get a work permit, please check this out IMPORTANT STEPS to know the steps every OFW needs to undergo to be one.
II. Getting a Work Permit
You’ll need a D or long-stay visa to get into Greece and apply for a residence permit. This type of work visa is only good for a year at most. Anyone who comes to the country with a D visa must apply for a residence permit as soon as they arrive.
Most people get this visa for the following reasons:
- Education
- Employment
- Training
Requirements for Getting a Work Visa
To get a work visa in Greece, you will need to fill out an application and gather all the necessary documents. These things are:
- Form D visa application filled out in English or Greek
- A passport that will be valid for at least three months after the D visa ends
- A copy of the applicant’s criminal record
- Copies of the information page and the resident card
- A recent color passport photo that is no more than six months old
- Travel health insurance that is good for the length of the D visa
- A medical fitness certificate
If you want to legally work for a company in Greece, you must get a work permit after getting a working visa. Your employer must be licensed and incorporated in your area. Then, your employer will be able to get a work permit for you (employee). Work permits now include residence permits. This means that employees only need a work permit and a long-stay visa to live and work legally in the country. Most work permits are only good for a year and are usually tied to a certain employer, job, and location.
Application Procedure
You must go to the local municipal office or police station and ask for a work permit in person within 30 days of getting to Greece. The type of job you have can affect what kind of work permit you need and how long the permit is good for. The basic steps for applying are:
- Getting a tax number from the local tax office and a social security number from the Social Security Institute
- Filling out a residence permit form in Greek and submitting it in person or through a certified lawyer with power of attorney
- showing a copy of a visa, passport, passport photos, a certificate of medical insurance, and a health certificate from a state hospital
- Having a local address, being able to take care of oneself, and paying the required fee are all important.
After you do these things, you’ll get a blue form that acts as a receipt and shows that your application is being processed. As soon as you get this form, you can get to work.
III. Preparation for Going to Greece
Greece has its own set of rules and etiquette that need to be followed for you to fit in fine and dandy. Clothing, food, beverages, and transportation are some of the do’s and don’ts that you need to consider when moving to Greece.
Greece is a welcoming place for expats, but you need to be decent. In the country, you need to know what to do and what not to do. These basically show what kind of behavior is okay and what kind of behavior is not okay with the locals. So, you should know about these things before you go. First, the “dos.”
Do’s
- Do dress so that your shoulders and legs are covered.
- Greece’s main religion and church, the Greek Orthodox, has a lot to do with its wealth. It’s not unusual to walk by a church and see some of its lovely members. Because of this, Greece is a conservative country, and both tourists and locals should wear clothes that don’t show too much skin. If you like going to monasteries and churches, then you should pay extra attention to these. To show respect for this rule, you should wear clothes that cover your shoulders and legs well. If you don’t normally wear jeans, you can also just bring a shawl or scarf to cover them.
- Try the local food to get a real taste of Greece.
- Greece and its people love it when tourists and locals alike show even a little bit of respect and good manners. This is also true for how you should eat and drink. One important thing to know about Greek food and drinks is that they love coffee. Greece has a lot of coffee for people who like it, and people will sit around and drink cups of it for hours at a time. But one thing you should know is that you shouldn’t hurry. You should take as long as you want to enjoy your drink.
- Do try to keep your voice down because some people are going home after a long day of work. Do learn to get in line and follow the rules of each Metro.
- Do kiss someone twice on the cheek to say hello.
- Do say yes if someone invites you to their house for lunch or dinner.
- This is one-way Greeks show their guests a warm welcome. So, try not to turn down their offers of help as much as you can.
Don’ts
After these “dos,” you should also remember the “don’ts.” These are things you should stay away from.
- Don’t wear clothes that show too much.
- Not everyone will agree with this don’t, but if you go to a country, you must respect its culture and way of life. This is true not only for women but also for men. Greece and its people love to show off their good manners, and that starts with how you dress, whether you’re a tourist or a local.
- Don’t eat and drink too much. Locals will think it’s rude to drink your drink all at once because it’s an important part of how they eat. When you are out and about to get lunch, avoid having to rush and take as much time as you need to appreciate its taste. Last but not least, the worst thing for Greeks is when people start getting drunk before 11 p.m. Greeks usually go out to party around 11, so if you’re a tourist who doesn’t want to follow their rules, you’ll look bad, especially if you get drunk and start stumbling around their streets and puking. So, my advice is that you should take your time doing everything in Greece.
- Don’t litter. They are trying hard to keep it clean and nice, so don’t make it harder for them.
- Don’t talk loudly, especially in the metro.
- Don’t feel weird if you see someone smoking inside. This is normal in Greece because a large number of people there smoke.
Many foreigners live in Greece. One thing that can be helpful is to learn about the country. You can use this information to get ready for your new life as an ex-pat.
IV. Arrival in Greece
No matter where the flight came from, all passengers leave the Main Terminal Building from the Arrivals Level.
After getting off the plane
When you get to the terminal, follow the signs for “Arrivals,” go through Passport Control (if you’re coming from outside the Schengen area), get your bags, and then leave the Arrivals/All Users Area once you’ve cleared customs.
Check your baggage claim tags to make sure you’ve picked up the right bags. Once you leave the Baggage Reclaim Area, you can’t go back in.
Video: OFW | 6 na bagay na dapat mong malaman bago mag trabaho sa Greece | Rafaello – Life in Greece
In this video, the YouTuber talks about six things you should know before working in Greece. Also, other videos on his channel give more information about being an OFW in Greece. So, I suggest you search for his channel, “Rafaello-Life in Greece.” You may also click this link, “Rafaello- Life in Greece” to be redirected to his YouTube channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the commonly asked questions about applying in Greece to help you out.
1. Do a lot of people speak English in Greece?
A lot of people in Greece speak English, especially in the touristy parts of the city. Most Greeks who work in hotels, restaurants, or stores won’t have any trouble speaking English with English speakers.
3. Is Greece a good country to live and work?
The wages in Greece are enough for a good standard of living.
3. What is the Greek work culture like?
Personal relationships are a big part of the way Greeks do business. Greeks like to work with people they know and trust, so introductions from third parties are helpful. Face-to-face contact is best when it’s possible because it helps partners get to know each other better.
4. What is the safest city in Greece?
The safest city in Greece is Thessaloniki. You may consider working in this city if you have the chance.
5. How many Filipinos are in Greece?
POLO estimates 40,000. Filipino crewmembers almost matched Greek seafarers on Greek-owned ships flying foreign flags and outnumbered them on tankers and passenger ships.
6. Is a Greece visa hard to get?
With 91.6% of applications being granted, Greece is still a reasonably simple country for obtaining a Schengen visa.
Summary
Hoping this provides some helpful insight into how to search, apply and process your residence in Greece. This article covered the basics of each process, but it cannot hurt to do further research. Best of luck in your job search. It is not as difficult as it would seem at first glance—the most challenging part is often just finding the information in the first place. So have some fun with this and use our guide as a starting point to find out more.