The Legalization of Aliens in Greece.

This article provides information on the legalization of aliens in Greece. To qualify for a limited duration residence permit, referred to in the second decree as a green card, an alien had to have successfully met the requirements of the first decree and worked in registered employment from January 1, 1998 until the date of application for the green card. The major reason why many illegally resident aliens did not apply for legalization was fear of expulsion. Many aliens found it difficult to find jobs covered by social security administration and thereby pay payroll taxes. Employers became less interested in employing aliens if they had to meet social security and other legal obligations. The legalization policy was accompanied by an intensification of deportations. While the 1998 registration period supposedly coincided with a halt in deportations and those who registered were subsequently protected from deportation, in reality only those in possession of white or green cards were protected. As elsewhere, the legalization policy of Greece seems to have had twin goals, which are to enable part of the illegally resident alien population to accede to legal residency and to clear the country of the rest.