Under the new provisions of Law 5275/2026, which incorporate the provisions of Directive (EU) 2024/1233, greater flexibility is introduced regarding the possibility for an invited employee to change employer.

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place after its expiration, during the last year prior to the entry into force of the law, and which was not renewed, was revoked, or whose renewal application was rejected.