Greece Moves to Tighten Migration Rules: «No Legalisation for the Undocumented», Says Minister

Athens, June 2025 — The Greek government is set to impose a new wave of tougher immigration policies aimed at reducing irregular migration and accelerating deportations. The country’s Migration Minister Makis Voridis unveiled a bill that would abolish the seven-year rule allowing undocumented migrants to apply for legal status — a provision he says has been widely abused.

“From now on, whoever is illegally in Greece will never be legalized,” Voridis declared, marking a hardline shift in the Hellenic Republic’s approach to migration.

No Legalisation for the Undocumented

The newly proposed measures — approved by the Cabinet and expected to pass through Parliament in July — remove the clause allowing residency permits after seven years of continuous stay in the country.

Minister Voridis emphasized that the current rule incentivized illegal stay, with thousands of people “waiting it out” until they could regularize their status.

“The longer you were illegally in Greece, the bigger your prize,” Voridis said. “That ends now.”

Migration Down 30%, But Deportations Lag

Despite a 30% drop in overall arrivals in early 2025, Greece continues to face pressure from new smuggling routes from Libya to Crete and Gavdos. These new corridors are bringing in fresh flows of migrants amid stagnating expulsion mechanisms.

In 2024, Greek police arrested over 74,000 irregular migrants, but only 2,500 were expelled — less than 4%. According to Voridis, many detainees stall deportation by falsely claiming different countries of origin.

New Penalties: Up to 5 Years in Prison

The new draft law also introduces criminal penalties for illegal stay and entry, with prison sentences up to five years. The government argues that stronger legal consequences are needed to deter abuse of the asylum system.

EU Context: Brussels Pushes for Faster Returns

The Greek move comes amid broader efforts by the European Commission to streamline deportations and enhance control over rejected asylum seekers.

In late 2024, Brussels unveiled a plan to allow EU member states to return rejected applicants to “safe third countries”. Greece’s alignment with this direction signals a continental trend toward enforcement-first migration strategies.

“We are not turning our back on humanity,” said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, “but we must be fair to legal residents and protect our institutions.”