New Bill on Illegal Immigrants: Stricter Measures and No Residence Permits

The responsible Minister presented the new bill on illegal immigrants at the Cabinet meeting. Among other changes, the voluntary departure period is reduced from 26 to 14 days with a short grace period until they leave the country. The new framework for illegal immigrants, presented by Makis Voridis at the Cabinet meeting, includes: – A minimum imprisonment term of three years, with the possibility of converting or suspending the sentence only if the individual voluntarily decides to leave the country. – A fine of 10,000 euros. – Revocation of the issuance of residence permits for those who have illegally resided in the country for seven years. – Entry ban into the country for 10 years plus an additional 5 years, in cases where someone has been arrested and deported. – Increased fines for those re-entering the country illegally from 3,000 to 10,000 euros to 10,000 to 30,000 euros. – Reduction of the voluntary departure period from 26 to 14 days with a short grace period until departure. ‘The illegal immigrant will face a much stricter legal environment,’ Makis Voridis had announced in recent statements about tightening the framework.