Greece has approved a new law that brings tougher penalties for asylum seekers whose applications are denied, in what the government says is a strong move to discourage undocumented migration. The measures come after a sharp rise in migrant arrivals this year, with the centre-right administration stressing that the country cannot continue to accept those whose claims are not approved.
The legislation requires rejected asylum seekers to leave Greece within 14 days. Those who fail to comply face prison terms of two to five years. Penalties for illegal entry into the country have also been raised, with fines reaching €10,000. In addition, detention periods for undocumented migrants have been extended to 24 months, up from the previous 18 months.
The law also affects migrants who have lived in Greece for long periods without formal documents. Those who have stayed in the country for seven years without legal status may now lose the chance to regularize their residency. According to Migration Minister Thanos Plevris, asylum will still be granted to people who meet international protection standards, but he underlined that Greece must enforce strict rules on rejected claims.
Earlier this year, Greece suspended asylum applications on several islands for 90 days, following a surge in sea crossings. The new measures are seen as an extension of the government’s policy to tighten migration control while responding to rising public pressure.
However, the law has quickly drawn criticism. Judges, human rights groups, and former migration officials have expressed concern about its fairness and potential impact. They argue that punishing rejected asylum seekers with prison terms could undermine Greece’s commitment to international human rights standards.
Dimitris Kairidis, a politician known for legalizing the status of 30,000 migrant workers in the past, warned that Greece must find a balance between deterrence and supporting legal migration. He stressed that the country faces labour shortages that migrants could help fill, suggesting that harsh penalties may not address deeper economic and social challenges.
Lefteris Papagiannakis of the Greek Council for Refugees echoed these concerns, pointing to demographic challenges such as an ageing population and workforce gaps. He argued that migrants could help strengthen Greece’s economy and society, warning that the new law risks alienating moderate voices that support a balanced migration policy.
While the government insists the measures are essential to control undocumented migration, the debate shows the difficulty of managing migration pressures in a country at the heart of Europe’s migration routes. The long-term impact of these new penalties will depend on whether they succeed in deterring illegal entry or create further strain on Greece’s legal and social systems.