The EU acceptation agreements for the admission of two new countries - Bulgaria and Romania, will be enforced from January 1 2007. In Greece, the citizens of those two countries are believed to be communal citizens in all regions, except for the labor market, for which the country has kept the transitional measures for two years. As citizens of a European country, Bulgarians have the right for a free three month stay in Greece, during which period they are not allowed to work. All Bulgarian citizens, who have come to Greece after January 1 2007 and who want to stay in the country for over 90 days, is obliged to go to the police and apply for a special document (residence permit), without the right to work. This permit is issued to Bulgarians, who want to live in Greece without working and to Bulgarian pensioners. For the issuance of this permit you need the following documents and you do not need to pay a tax:

-       A filled out application form (you can do it at the police station)

-       Valid passport or ID

-       Three photos

-       Affidavit or other document, which proves that the person has enough means to support himself and he will not be a burden to the social insurance system in Greece.

-       Affidavit that the person has health insurance and this insurance covers all risk factors in Greece, or a photo copy of the health book.

-       A certificate, which shows the address of the person and an affidavit from the owner of the house, which proves that that the owner has invited the person to live in his house (this declaration needs to ne notarized in the police).

All documents need to be in two copies. The police authorities have the right to ask for proof for the financial situation and the insurance of the person.

The only Bulgarians, who have the right to work in Greece, are the ones who had worked legally in the country at least 12 months before January 1 2007. They need to apply for a European work and residence permit (the so-called adia paramonis). The permit had a five year validity from the moment of the filing of the application. The issuance is done for one day and no fees are paid (paravolo). Bulgarians, who want to apply for a European permit need to present the following documents:

-       Application form (fill out there)

-       Valid ID or passport

-       Three photos

-       Two copies of the health insurance book (vivliario igias) from IKA or OGA, which covers all risk factors in Greece

-       Two copies of the rent contract or an affidavit from the owner of the house, where the applicant will live

-       Five copies of a notarized certificate in "Epiteorisi ergasias" from the employer

In the cases where a Bulgarian citizen has filed for a work permit before January 1 2007, the procedure obliges him to firstly receive the old work permit (which in this case counts for a European work and residence permit) and to file for a European permit two months before it expires.

Those who want to apply for a European work and residence permit, can do it from Monday to Friday, from 08:00AM until 11:00AM on the following addresses:

-       21-23 "Marmara," Egaleo (for those who live in Western Attica)

-       23 "Karaiskaki," tel.: 210 9690292-3, Glyfada (for those who live in Southeast Attica)

-       5 "Danoukara" (for those who live in Lavrio)

-       37 "Iroon Politehniou" (for those who live in Pieria)

-       24 "Petrou Rali," tel.: 210 3405969, Athens (for those who live in Athens municipality)

-       15 "Agiou Orous," tel.: 210 6875150-2, Marousi (for those who live in Northeastern Attica)