Press Release
Deon's Talent Visa Recommendations Implemented
Contact:Theodora Kachrimanidi
Email: info@deonpolicy.org
Deon Policy Institute is proud to announce the successful implementation of the Talent Visa project. Deon’s Talent Visa has now become part of Greece’s Migration Code (as updated with Law #5275, Article 25).
Deon Policy Institute, jointly with Endeavor Greece, recommended the introduction of a Talent Visa as a flexible pathway for highly skilled graduates from leading global universities to enter Greece without a prior job offer, allowing them to explore employment opportunities and integrate into the domestic workforce. Following its implementation, Greece will be one of three countries in the world—and the only country in Europe—with such a visa, as it currently exists only in the UK and Japan.
“We are deeply honored and grateful that the proposal of Deon Policy Institute in collaboration with Endeavor Greece to establish a Greek Talent Visa has been voted into law (article 25, law 5275). We firmly believe that Greece can act as a magnet of highly qualified and promising talent from non-EU countries who are hungry to build companies (entrepreneurship), create research breakthroughs (academia), or even work for Greece-based companies with global revenue generation (industry). Drawing on the paradigm of the UK HPI Visa and the US O-1 Visa, the Greek Talent Visa will serve as the avenue to attract extraordinary individuals after they have graduated from prestigious universities and seek to be productive while also enjoying the lifestyle benefits Greece has to offer vs. other countries competing for the same talent. With so much fluidity in the global geopolitical and immigration scene coupled with anti-immigrant nationalist policies and closed borders, this is the time for Greece to emerge as the new business center in EMEA.”
— Petros Perselis, Treasurer and Co-Founder, Deon Policy Institute, Co-author of the Greek Talent Visa proposal
This visa was first proposed by Deon in 2024, with the aim of addressing persistent shortages in high-skilled labor across sectors such as technology, healthcare, and renewable energy. Greece continues to face structural talent gaps, and the Talent Visa provides a targeted mechanism to strengthen the country’s human capital base and support growth in its most productive sectors.
In addition, international evidence suggests that highly skilled immigration can accelerate innovation, increase productivity, and contribute to the creation of new, high-value jobs. By lowering barriers to entry for top global talent, the Talent Visa can act as a catalyst for the continued development of Greece’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and its transition toward a more knowledge-intensive economy.
“Greece is one of the most attractive destinations in the world, and this does not concern tourism alone. This uniquely valuable advantage, combined with a national economy and an entrepreneurial ecosystem that in recent years have impressed internationally with their growth, has now created the opportunity for us to become, from a supplier of talent to the world, an international pole of attraction for it. With frameworks such as these two new visas, the way is opening for highly skilled human capital to enter and work in our country and to contribute to its even more dynamic growth.”
— Panagiotis Karampinis, Managing Director at Endeavor Greece
As outlined in Deon’s Talent Visa report , legislating the visa is a necessary first step. Its success, however, will depend on effective execution across four specific dimensions:
Simple, eligibility-driven application design: A rules-based system anchored on objective criteria (e.g., graduation from a defined list of top global universities), minimizing discretion and eliminating unnecessary documentation requirements.
Fast, predictable processing timelines: A commitment to short, clearly defined processing windows, recognizing that highly skilled candidates compare jurisdictions and prioritize speed and certainty.
Built-in fiscal neutrality: A model designed to impose no burden on public finances, with limited administrative overhead and strong expected positive net contribution through employment, taxation, and economic activity.
Proactive, targeted international outreach: Structured promotion through partnerships with top universities, diaspora networks, and global talent hubs to ensure the visa reaches high-potential candidates rather than relying on passive demand.
The adoption of the Talent Visa places Greece among a select group of countries competing in the global “war for talent,” while offering a distinct advantage within Europe through a uniquely flexible model.
“The introduction of the Talent Visa marks a decisive step in shifting Greece from a country that loses talent to one that actively attracts it. It signals Greece’s intention to compete globally for top talent, and demonstrates that targeted, evidence-based policies can translate into tangible reforms with real economic impact. This is a critical step toward building a more competitive, innovative, and resilient economy.”
— Georgios Laskaris, President of Deon Policy Institute, Nuclear Physicist
About Deon Policy Institute
Founded by a group of Greek academics, entrepreneurs, and professionals, the Deon Policy Institute is a non-partisan think tank that aims to organize and transform the Hellenic Diaspora into a catalyst for the progress of Greece.