The Greek government passed a reform of the migration bill on February 5, 2026. 

The government states the goal is “to create a more ordered, controlled and economically productive migration system, while strictly combating illegal entry and stay.” (source: migration.gov.gr) 

We have outlined the most important changes and what this means for our work and our employees and volunteers.

Controls on irregular migration

• The law reinforces tough penalties and stronger discouragement against entering or staying without a legal status. 
• Additional detention facilities are foreseen as well as provisions for detaining people whose asylum claims are rejected. 
• Cooperation with third countries (Egypt, Pakistan and Bangladesh) are prioritised in order to facilitate returns. 

Legal migration pathways

• The reform includes a new framework for legal migration focussed on employment and economic opportunities such as fast track procedures for workers in large public projects and the introduction of talent and tech visas. 

Temporary structures

• A legislated, faster route for creating new temporary accommodation (camps) and detention facilities has been included. This is particularly relevant in areas where arrivals are high, such as Crete.

Tougher framework around smuggling, targeting NGOs

• Certain support activities to people without a legal status are potential criminal offences and framed as ‘facilitating illegal entry or stay’.
• The bill sets high penalties including fines and  imprisonment  for the above. 
• Being a member of an NGO is an aggravated circumstance and members can face up to 10 years in prison and fines up to 50,000 euros.
• The Ministry holds the right to remove a NGO from the register (forcing it to stop all activities) once a member faces criminal prosecution (pre-trail, no acquittal needed).

This law builds on a series of migration reforms introduced in Greece over the past year, focusing on the detention of people without legal status, the acceleration of return procedures, and the tightening of penalties. It has been highly controversial, with opposition parties and human rights organisations warning that certain provisions may violate international legal standards.

Beyond existing concerns regarding the safeguarding of the right to asylum and due process, particularly in the context of fast-track procedures and the expanded use of detention, the reform raises immediate concerns about the shrinking space for civil society. The further formalisation of measures that risk criminalising humanitarian work undermines the role of NGOs, both in filling critical service gaps and in providing independent monitoring and oversight. Disproportionate penalties and the risk of deregistration may have a chilling effect on legitimate humanitarian and protection activities.

You can read the joint statement raising these concerns, co-signed by 70+ Greek organisations including BRF, here: Joint Civil Society Statement on the Migration Ministry bill 

BRF is registered with the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum as a healthcare provider, operating within the Mavrovouni refugee camp in Lesvos. We are authorised to operate in the camp and our activities take place within an official structure. 

The people who access our services have entered the camp through official procedures and are seeking asylum. Individuals who receive a rejection decision are permitted to remain in the camp and access its services for an additional 30 days. Newly arrived people first go through a process by the authorities and are issued temporary documentation pending full registration. Therefore, our service users, and anyone residing in the camp, do not fall into the category of “undocumented” persons or “people without legal status.”

At the same time, the law does not clearly define which actions may be considered as “facilitating illegal entry or stay” when assisting undocumented migrants. Greek authorities have, in the past, publicly linked the work of legitimate NGOs to smuggling and “illegal migration,” despite a lack of evidence. Notably, 24 humanitarian workers on Lesvos were recently acquitted after a seven-year legal process.

The potential risks of criminal charges for BRF team members, including volunteers, as well as the possibility of deregistration of the organisation and the suspension of activities, means that we currently strictly limit our work to the camp setting. We do not respond to other emergencies outside the camp, such as providing first aid along the Lesvos shoreline.

Volunteers at BRF are asked to only perform tasks that fall within our registered mandate. This means, for example, that staff and volunteers cannot engage in other aid activities, either privately or under BRF’s name, provide transportation or accommodation to people on the move, or operate in border areas, ports, beaches, forests, or other sensitive locations. 

While the legal framework in which we operate continues to become stricter, BRF will closely monitor developments and assess potential risks and mitigation measures. Legislative changes and their implementation can be frequent, unpredictable, and at times vaguely formulated, which makes risk assessment complex. We will share updates if and when changes occur or risk indicators shift. 

Government announcement
Full articles of the reform
NGO statement

Media coverage:

• The bill on legal immigration, entitled “Promotion of Legal Immigration Policies”
• Greece to establish new migrant facilities in Crete, Minister says | Millet News
• Griekenland komt met nieuwe strenge regels tegen hulpverleners en asielzoekers
• Council of Europe slams Greece over contentious migration bill
• Greece: New immigration bill under consultation, including prison sentence
• Greece Welcomes EU Parliament’s Approval of Stricter Asylum Rules
• Greek Immigration Bill Demonizes Civil Society | Human Rights Watch
• Griekse staat opent nieuwe routes om migratie te criminaliseren | VersPers