environment that promotes, rather than hinders, access to legally enshrined rights in a non-discriminatory manner. It is indicative that refugees with a social security number (AMKA), a tax ID number (AFM) and those who have been able to open a bank account are more likely to want to stay in Greece compared to those who do not have access to these services, as found in a 2023 UNHCR-commissioned study.1465 E. Employment and education 1. Access to the labour market Article 26 Asylum Code provides for full and automatic access to the labour market for recognised refugees and subsidiary protection beneficiaries under the same conditions as nationals, without any obligation to obtain a work permit. However, as mentioned in Reception Conditions: Access to the Labour Market, high unemployment rates and further obstacles relating to language or competition with Greek-speaking employees, prevent the integration of beneficiaries into the labour market. According to the Public Employment Service (Δημόσια Υπηρεσία Απασχολήσης), the total number of registered unemployed third country nationals stood at 122,809 in 2025, with 70% being registered for less than 12 months and the rest for more, albeit no breakdown per legal status is provided.1466 According to an ongoing survey conducted by UNHCR, 1467 from 1 January 2025 to 20 November 2025, out of a total of 99 beneficiaries surveyed, 77% reported employment as their top priority need, with 81% expressing their intention to stay in Greece. Of those surveyed, during the same period, 24% were working, with the rest reporting lack of knowledge of the language, documentation and lack of knowledge on how to search for work as the main barriers for finding work in Greece. As explained above, pending the issuance of a new residence permit, beneficiaries of international protection are granted an attestation of application status (βεβαίωση κατάστασης αιτήματος) which is valid for three or six months depending on the issuing RAO or AAU. In practice, this certificate does not allow beneficiaries to access the labour market and many of them are losing their jobs as soon as their residence permit expires. Furthermore, in GCR’s experience, recently recognised beneficiaries of international protection are considered by the electronic system ERGANI (ΕΡΓΑΝΗ) as asylum applicants pending the issuance of their first residence permit, since they still hold their asylum applicants’ card. This malpractice has prevented beneficiaries of international protection from fully accessing labour market until they are served their residence permit. This is contrary to Article 26 Asylum Code, which stipulates that beneficiaries should be able to access the labour market freely, from the first day of their status recognition. 2. Access to education Children beneficiaries of international protection have an obligation to study at primary and secondary education institutions of the public education system, under the same conditions as Greek nationals.1468 Similar to Reception Conditions: Access to Education, the new Asylum Code refers not to a right to education but to a duty for beneficiaries of international protection. In case of violation of this duty, the penalties provided for Greek citizens in similar situations are imposed on the adult members of the minor's family.1469 1465 1466 1467 1468 1469 ETH Zürich, ipl - immigration policy lab, UCL et al. (Author), published by ReliefWeb: Home for Good? Obstacles and Opportunities for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Greece, December 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3UCwSl7, p.20. Public Employment Service (Δ.Υ.Π.Α.), Data on unemployed and subsidised persons: Summary Report Devember 2025, available in Greek at: https://www.dypa.gov.gr/en/statistika-stoikhia, p.19. UNHCR, Greece Inter-Agency Protection Monitoring of refugees in Greece, Key Findings, 01 February 2022 – 20 November 2025, available at: https://tinyurl.com/k9vtxdwy. Article 27(1) Asylum Code. Article 27(1) Asylum Code. 285