Athens planning to strengthen migration regulations
In a bid to address the issue of irregular migration, the Greek government has announced a new law that will criminalise the continued stay of migrants in the country after their asylum applications have been rejected.
The new law, which is expected to be presented to the Greek Parliament soon, establishes a five-year imprisonment sentence for migrants who refuse to leave voluntarily after their asylum applications have been denied. This sentence is without the option of bail or payment for release, and the only way to avoid imprisonment under this law is to actively cooperate with authorities in their deportation process.
The law is part of a broader legislative package aimed at tightening immigration controls and deterring irregular entry and residence in Greece. It also includes a three-month suspension of asylum registration for migrants arriving from Libya and other North African countries, effectively stopping new asylum claims from these groups during that period.
The Ministry of Migration has stated that this new law is a significant step towards restoring the balance between protecting human rights, upholding the rule of law, maintaining social cohesion, and ensuring national security. The bill passed in Parliament on July 11, 2025, with a majority of 177 in favour, 74 against, and 42 abstentions, illustrating significant but not total parliamentary support.
The legislation does not have retroactive effect, applying only to migrants arriving after its enactment. Migrants without residence permits in Greece who were previously sent to a camp for later deportation may now face a minimum sentence of five years in prison if they refuse to leave voluntarily.
The new law has met with criticism from the UN and human rights groups, who argue that it undermines the right to asylum and increases the criminalization of vulnerable migrant populations. However, the Greek government maintains that it is a necessary measure to address the issue of irregular migration in Greece, which has seen a significant increase in recent years.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has emphasised the importance of increasing returns and deportations as a national and European priority, with the aim of closing the passage to Greece for irregular migrants. The new law is part of this wider strategy.
[1] Amnesty International. (2025). Greece: New legislation criminalising asylum seekers and migrants. Retrieved from [4] UNHCR. (2025). Greece: UNHCR concerned about new legislation criminalising asylum seekers and migrants. Retrieved from
- Amidst increasing criticism from human rights organizations such as Amnesty International, the Greek government's new law aims to address irregular migration, including criminalizing the continued stay of migrants after asylum rejection, and tightening immigration controls, as part of a broader legislative package.
- The UN and human rights groups are expressing concerns over the new Greek law, arguing that it undermines the right to asylum and increases the criminalization of vulnerable migrant populations, while the Greek government maintains this law is a necessary measure to manage irregular migration and ensure national security.
