Greece Enacts Tougher Penalties for Rejected Asylum Seekers in Effort to Deter Undocumented Migration

Greece Enacts Tougher Penalties for Rejected Asylum Seekers in Effort to Deter Undocumented Migration
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Greece has passed legislation imposing stringent penalties on rejected asylum seekers, including potential prison terms, fines, and ankle monitors, as reported by The Guardian. With a sharp increase in arrivals this year, the centre-right government has framed the measures as a necessary deterrent to undocumented migration.

Under the new law, those whose asylum applications are denied must leave the country within 14 days or face two to five years in prison. Penalties for illegal entry have also increased, with fines set at €10,000 and detention periods extended to 24 months—up from 18.

Additionally, migrants who have resided in Greece for seven years without formal status may lose the right to regularize their residency. Migration Minister Thanos Plevris emphasized that asylum will continue to be granted to applicants meeting international protection criteria but stressed that Greece cannot accept those whose claims are rejected.

The law follows a recent 90-day suspension of asylum applications on certain Greek islands, introduced amid rising crossing numbers. The legislation has sparked swift backlash, including criticism from judges and former migration officials.

Politician Dimitris Kairidis—who previously legalized the status of 30,000 migrant workers—called for balancing deterrence with legal migration, especially given the country’s labour shortages. Lefteris Papagiannakis of the Greek Council for Refugees highlighted demographic challenges and argued that migrants can address workforce needs, cautioning that the law may alienate moderate support bases.