NextFin news, On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, Greece’s Parliament approved a comprehensive new migration and asylum law in Athens, introducing tougher penalties for rejected asylum seekers who remain in the country illegally. The legislation criminalizes unauthorized stays, imposing prison sentences of two to five years and fines starting at €5,000 (approximately $5,500).
The law, titled “Reform of the Framework and Procedures for the Return of Third-Country Nationals and Other Provisions of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum,” also accelerates deportation processes by reducing the voluntary departure period from 25 to 14 days and shortening maximum detention from 120 to 60 days. It expands the definition of “country of return” to include safe third countries or first countries of asylum for deportation purposes.
Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris, who presented the bill, stated in Parliament that the government is enacting the offense of illegal stay to protect national security and credibility. He emphasized that rejected asylum seekers who remain unlawfully will face administrative detention, electronic monitoring, and criminal sanctions.
Key provisions include the criminalization of irregular stay, with repeat offenders facing harsher penalties of at least three years imprisonment and fines of €10,000 or more. The law removes the previous possibility for migrants to apply for residency after seven years of undocumented presence, aiming to deter irregular migration.
The legislation also introduces electronic monitoring as an intermediate measure between freedom and detention, extends administrative detention from 18 to 24 months with mandatory six-month reviews, and restricts repeat asylum applications to prevent abuse of the system.
The government argues these measures will reduce irregular stays, relieve pressure on asylum services and courts, and improve migration management. However, opposition lawmakers and human rights groups have criticized the law for potentially criminalizing vulnerable individuals and violating European human rights standards.
The new law was passed amid tense parliamentary debate and strong opposition but reflects Greece’s efforts to align migration policy with security priorities and address challenges posed by irregular migration flows.
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