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Legal Support

Accessibility (per status):
  • Asylum Seekers: Have access to free legal aid provided mainly by NGOs and international organisations. If an asylum application is rejected at the first stage and the applicant appeals, the applicant has the right to free state-funded legal aid (Ministry of Migration and Asylum).
  • Refugees: Have access to free legal aid provided by NGOs for administrative and immigration issues. For civil, criminal, and commercial cases, free legal aid is available to low-income individuals (with proof of financial situation and residence), under the same conditions as Greek nationals.
  • Migrants: Have access to legal support from private lawyers, usually at their own expense, for administrative and immigration issues. For civil, criminal, and commercial cases, free legal aid is available to low-income individuals (with proof of financial situation and residence), under the same conditions as Greek nationals.
Accessibility (per status):
  • Asylum Seekers: Have the right to access public healthcare, including free basic medical care, hospitalization and medication. This is ensured through the possession of a valid asylum seeker card, which provides the Temporary Social Security Number (PAAYPA).
  • Refugees: Documented refugees have the legal right to free access to the public health system for primary, secondary, and tertiary care, similar to Greek citizens. This includes access to hospitals and medical units, often requiring an Active Social Security Number (AMKA) or a special temporary number (PAAYPA) for services.
  • Migrants: Documented migrants have the legal right to free access to the public health system (primary, secondary, and tertiary care), by having an Active Social Security Number (AMKA).
Accessibility (per status):
  • Asylum Seekers: Have the right to access public healthcare, including free basic medical care, hospitalization and medication. This is ensured through the possession of a valid asylum seeker card, which provides the Temporary Social Security Number (PAAYPA).
  • Refugees: Documented refugees have the legal right to free access to the public health system for primary, secondary, and tertiary care, similar to Greek citizens. This includes access to hospitals and medical units, often requiring an Active Social Security Number (AMKA) or a special temporary number (PAAYPA) for services.
  • Migrants: Documented migrants have the legal right to free access to the public health system (primary, secondary, and tertiary care), by having an Active Social Security Number (AMKA).
Accessibility (per status):
  • Asylum Seekers: Have the legal right to receive cash assistance to cover basic needs (currently suspended). Support for LGBTQI+ individuals, is mainly provided by NGOs. Subject to eligibility criteria they may be eligible for disability allowance.
  • Refugees: Have the right by law to receive the necessary social assistance under the same conditions as Greek nationals. Some benefits require proof of five (5) years of legal residence. Key benefits:
    • The guaranteed minimum income: For individuals that have no income or a very low income, and have submitted an income tax declaration for the previous year. The single-parent allowance falls under this provision and requires proof of family situation (e.g., divorce, birth certificate).
    • Housing allowance: For individuals living in rented dwellings who meet legal requirements and can provide proof of legal residence in Greece.
    • Child allowance: For families meeting legal requirements and can demonstrate the length of legal residence in Greece.
    • Disability allowance: Granted following an assessment by the Disability Accreditation Centre (KE.P.A.) to verify a disability above 67% (or 50 % for patients with HIV) making them eligible for the disability allowance.
    • Unemployment allowance: Subject to a number of criteria, including a minimum period of formal employment within the previous year (e-services of DYPA or in one of the DYPA Offices).
  • Migrants: Have the right by law to receive social benefits depending on legal status and proof of long-term permanent residence (usually 12 years). Key benefits:
    • The guaranteed minimum income: For individuals that have no income or a very low income, and have submitted an income tax declaration for the previous year. The single-parent allowance falls under this provision and requires proof of family situation (e.g., divorce, birth certificate).
    • Housing allowance: For individuals living in rented dwellings who meet legal requirements and can provide proof of legal residence in Greece.
    • Child allowance: For families meeting legal requirements and can demonstrate the length of legal residence in Greece.
    • Disability allowance: Granted following an assessment by the Disability Accreditation Centre (KE.P.A.) to verify a disability above 67% (or 50 % for patients with HIV) making them eligible for the disability allowance.
    • Unemployment allowance: Subject to a number of criteria, including a minimum period of formal employment within the previous year (e-services of DYPA or in one of the DYPA Offices).
Accessibility (per status):
  • Asylum Seekers: Ηave the right to access closed controlled camp-based accommodation managed by the Reception and Identification Service (RIS) of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, including those classified as vulnerable. LGBTQI+ asylum seekers are mainly accommodated with non-LGBTQI+ people (‘mixed housing’). Unaccompanied minors may have access to accommodation centers and supported independent living apartments, subject to eligibility criteria.
  • Refugees: Have the right to access, subject to eligibility criteria, to the HELIOS+ programme (International Organization for Migration (IOM) with the support of the Government). The programme includes housing and independent living support. Homeless vulnerable populations may have access to the Integrated Homeless Centre of Athens, subject to eligibility criteria.
  • Migrants: Have access to housing only through their own financial means, as no state-funded accommodation scheme is provided. Homeless vulnerable migrants may have access to the Integrated Homeless Centre of Athens, subject to eligibility criteria.
Accessibility (per status):
  • Asylum Seekers: All children have access to the National Education System as nationals. Only a few schools close to the Refugee Camps (Closed Controlled Access Centres (CCACs) and Controlled Temporary Reception Centres (CTRCs) on the mainland) began some Integration – Reception Structures for the Education of Refugee Children (DYEP). Adults may have access to education courses – programs through international organizations or NGOs with running related programs.
  • Refugees: All children have access to the National Education System as nationals. Only a few schools close to the Refugee Camps have Integration – Reception Structures for the Education of Refugee Children (DYEP). Adults may access education courses or programs through NGOs or communities with running related programs.
  • Migrants: All children have access to the National Education System as nationals, but without any State’s integration program / support. Migrant adults have limited access to language and education programs due to no refugee status.
Accessibility (per status):
  • Asylum Seekers: May access formal employment sixty (60) days after submitting their asylum application, provided they meet legal requirements. They can also access support services (e.g employment counseling, skills development) provided by NGOs, as well as other state funded services such as the Job center of Athens, subject to eligibility criteria.
  • Refugees: May access formal employment and exercise an independent economic activity (self-employment or starting their own business). They can also access support services (e.g employment counseling) provided by NGOs, as well as other state funded services such as the Job center of Athens, the Migrant Integration Centers, subject to eligibility criteria. They may also benefit from the Helios+ programme, subject to the relevant eligibility requirements.
  • Migrants: Have the right to access formal employment and may engage in independent economic activity, depending on the type of residence permit they hold. They have access to vocational training and skill development programmes, subject to the applicable terms and conditions.
Accessibility (per status):
  • Asylum Seekers: Population inside the camps are isolated, and cannot reach communities outside the camps easily (long distance travel, high expenses, no information etc).
  • Refugees: Recognised refugees can more easily mobilise in cities and communities, but the barrier of language and no information available is often discouraging.
  • Migrants: Migrants have more access to their country of origin communities. The majority has self-integrated through the years in the local communities.
Accessibility (per status):
  • Asylum Seekers: All asylum seekers have an ability to engage with community groups and networkings.
  • Refugees: All refugees have an ability to engage with community groups and networkings.
  • Migrants: All migrants have an ability to engage with community groups and networkings. 
Accessibility (per status):
  • Asylum Seekers: Have access to national emergency services (Police – 100, Ambulance – 166, Fire Brigade – 199, European Emergency Number – 112). May also contact specialised hotlines and crisis support services. May further access specialised NGO support services (e.g. psychological or psychiatric care, gender-based violence response, empowerment services), subject to eligibility criteria.
  • Refugees: Have access to national emergency services (Police – 100, Ambulance – 166, Fire Brigade – 199, European Emergency Number – 112). They have also access to specialised hotlines and crisis support services and to specialised NGO support services subject to eligibility criteria.
  • Migrants: Have access to national emergency services (Police – 100, Ambulance – 166, Fire Brigade – 199, European Emergency Number – 112) and can contact specialised hotlines and crisis support services.
Accessibility (per status):
  • Asylum Seekers: May report incidents of racist violence through NGOs or directly to the Racist Violence Recording Network (RVRN) (anonymously and confidentially). They may also report incidents to the Hellenic Police Service against racist violence. For discrimination in the public or private sector, complaints can be submitted to the Greek Ombudsman. Workplace discrimination can be reported to the Labour Inspectorate, and NGOs may provide free guidance on labor rights and access to the labor market.
  • Refugees: May report incidents of racist violence to the Racist Violence Recording Network (RVRN) (anonymously and confidentially) and to Hellenic Police Service against racist violence. Complaints about discrimination can be submitted to the Greek Ombudsman, and labour discrimmination issues to the Labour Inspectorate. NGOs may provide free guidance on labor rights and access to the labor market.
  • Migrants: Have access to the Racist Violence Recording Network (RVRN) (anonymously and confidentially) and to Hellenic Police Service against racist violence. Discrimination complaints may be submitted to the Greek Ombudsman, and employment-related violations to the Labour Inspectorate.