Every foreign or stateless person has the right to apply for international protection before the competent authorities. Upon the lodging of the application, the applicant receives the international protection applicant card. Beneficiaries of International Protection whose residence permit is pending might also hold a stamped card which indicates that the residence permit issuance is pending. The asylum seeker’s card is the official document, valid for three (3) to six (6) months, includes a unique number and can be used for identification, bureaucracy issues and to enter the labour market (six months after their application). Every asylum seeker is responsible to renew the card before the expiration. While the renewal is a responsibility of each asylum seeker/beneficiary of international protection, during the 2020 year many asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection hold cards whose written expiration date had passed, although there were extended via a Ministerial Decision by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum. More precisely, in the light of restriction measures against the spread of COVID-19, the Greek Government, taking into consideration the need to prevent the overcrowding in the asylum service offices and the need to protect the public health, decided to extend the validity period of the international protection applicant’s cards as per case number ending. During the extensions period, the beneficiaries have all the rights allowed as a holder of a valid asylum seeker’s cards, included access to labour market. Related announces and decisions might occur in the forthcoming period too. Recent updates on the renewal of the asylum seeker’s card can be retrieved by the official webpage of the respective Ministry.

In some cases, the employers hesitate to hire beneficiaries due to the lack of knowledge about the corresponding social insurance. It should be clarified that the asylum seekers and the beneficiaries of international protection have the right to be insured and benefited from the social security provisions under the same condition as Greek citizens, following the same procedures as Greek citizens. Even in sectors that different type of insurance is required (e.g., agriculture sector), the beneficiaries have the right to use the same pathway of insurance (e.g., insurance coupon-ergosimo), as Greek citizens.

The experience indicates that depending the bank and the person who requests the services, the opening of a bank account varies. In general terms, the asylum seekers and the beneficiaries of international protection can be benefited from their status and be able to open an account without a certificate confirming the job offer. While if the employer requires a specific payroll bank account, then a job offer might be requested by the respective bank.

The experience indicates that depending the bank and the person who requests the services, the opening of a bank account varies. In general terms, the asylum seekers and the beneficiaries of international protection can be benefited from their status and be able to open an account without a certificate confirming the job offer. While if the employer requires a specific payroll bank account, then a job offer might be requested by the respective bank.

The experience indicates that depending the bank and the person who requests the services, the opening of a bank account varies. In general terms, the asylum seekers and the beneficiaries of international protection can be benefited from their status and be able to open an account without a certificate confirming the job offer. While if the employer requires a specific payroll bank account, then a job offer might be requested by the respective bank.