Pursuant to article 40 of Law 5075/2026, paragraph 9 was added to article 163 of the Migration Code, introducing for the first time the “second chance” residence permit. This permit concerns third-country nationals who held a residence permit for at least five (5) years, the validity of which has expired or whose issuance and delivery took place after its expiration, during the last year prior to the entry into force of the law, and which was not renewed, was revoked, or whose renewal application was rejected.

The second-generation residence permit was established pursuant to Article 108 of Law 4251/2014 and granted the right of lawful residence for a period of five (5) years to third-country nationals who were either born in Greece or had successfully completed six (6) grades of a greek school in Greece, before reaching the age of twenty-three (23).