A Bridge Removed
A quiet clause in Greece's new immigration bill has stripped a vital legal protection from young people who grew up here. Here's what that means.
A New Shipwreck
While another deadly shipwreck in a collision with the Greek coastguard highlights the importance of safe and legal paths for asylum, a new immigration bill entitled Promoting Legal Migration Policies is being voted on. This bill was put up for public consultation on December 30, 2025 (during the Christmas holidays), submitted to parliament for voting on January 24, 2026, and passed on February 6, 2026. It is important to note that the bill contains some positive provisions on administration procedures, reducing the workload of already overburdened services, and ensuring the regularisation of individuals with long-term legal residence in Greece. But how does this bill really promote legal migration policies? This post addresses a highly problematic aspect of the bill: the abolition of Article 161 of Immigration Code 5038/2023, a 10-year residence permit for former unaccompanied minors who completed their studies before the age of 23.
A Strategy for Children
So let's rewind to 2023. The current government incorporated Article 161 into immigration code 5038/2023 in order to support the ‘integration’ of former unaccompanied minors who have reached adulthood. In the National Strategy for the Protection of Unaccompanied Children (2021-2025) the urgency and the importance of protecting and integrating unaccompanied children who have reached adulthood is emphasised. The provision for this residency permit was based on the social bonds that this vulnerable social group has built with Greek society and their investment in education. This provision served as a bridge to social and professional integration, providing stability and future prospects. It acknowledges that the ‘integration’ of young people, and in particular their successful completion of compulsory education, would benefit not only themselves but also Greek society. The logic behind this provision was to create conditions of security for unaccompanied children who have demonstrated, by learning the language and attending Greek school, that they want to stay and become citizens of this country. The 10-year residence permit was not a "privilege." It was an investment. These young people have already attended Greek schools, learned the language, built social relationships, have often found work, or wish to continue their studies.
A New Bill
With the new bill, this possibility is abolished, silently and suddenly, without any substantial justification. Article 38 of the bill replaces Article 161 of the Immigration Code and removes the possibility of regularising young people who have completed compulsory education up to the age of 23. Civil society organizations, the greek ombudsman, the UNCHR and even members of the New Democracy party, such as former deputy minister of immigration Sofia Voultepsi, have expressed concerns and opposition to this provision. As she pointed out "Organized crime targets children who are alone and neglected and therefore more vulnerable, and recruits them. It is important that these children do not wander the streets aimlessly, which makes them easy prey. Children and young people must be protected. It is the state's duty to cut off ties with those who seek to recruit them." Minister of Migration, Thanos Plevris seems to have ignored the criticism and recommendations of institutions and citizens in the public consultation. He offers no substantial justification for the abolition of the permit, stating only that the regulation has failed on account of "abusive exploitation by a large number of 17-year-olds who do not have a refugee profile." It is clear that under Plevris's ministry, immigration has only a negative connotation, even when it concerns minors. With his narrative, Plevris is appealing to far-right voters to prove that he is tough enough to protect the Greek nation.
A New Approach
The abolition of the 10-year residence permit granted to former unaccompanied minors who completed their studies before the age of 23 is a serious step backwards in child protection. Unaccompanied minors are children who find themselves alone in a foreign country, without family or a support network, often after experiencing violence, war, and extreme poverty. The protection of unaccompanied minors is enshrined in international commitments, such as the UN convention on the rights of the child. Their transition to adulthood shouldn’t be threatened. Former unaccompanied minors remain vulnerable after the age of 18. They do not suddenly acquire a family network or financial security. The removal of a stable legal status increases the risk of homelessness, labor exploitation, and social exclusion. Precariousness of legal status does not reinforce order and legality; on the contrary, it creates grey areas and precarious conditions, exacerbating marginalisation.
At Mazi Housing, our priority is the meaningful social inclusion of young people who seek refuge, many of whom are unaccompanied minors who have now reached adulthood. Every day, we stand by young people who, despite hardships, are investing in their education and work towards independence. Our experience shows that stability in legal status is fundamental for a successful transition to adulthood. Without legal certainty, there can be no meaningful social inclusion. Without prospects, there can be no life planning. For us, inclusion is not a theoretical concept. It is a daily practice that requires consistency in policy, care and stability.
Written by Orsalia Papadimitriou
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