application for renewal of an international protection residence permit will not lead to the imposition of the fine, which is provided for in par. 1 of Article 23 of Law 4939/22. 1312 The guidelines resolved the issue that had arisen with regard to the travel documents of beneficiaries of international protection granted long-term resident status and which had also been raised in previous AIDA reports.1313 In particular, it is clarified that given that there is no prohibitive provision in the Asylum Code or in JMD 10302/20, a beneficiary of international protection who holds a long-term residence permit is entitled to hold a travel document issued by the Asylum Service, as well as to apply for its renewal, provided that the legal conditions are met.1314 The control of the international protection status (Articles 13 and 18 L. 4939/22) should be carried out by the Asylum Service during the examination of the application for renewal of the travel document. Otherwise, the control as to the maintenance of the international protection status must be carried out every three (3) years, from the date of the cancellation of the international protection residence permit. 1315 It is stressed that at a meeting of the Council’s permanent representatives committee, EU member states agreed their negotiating mandate for updating the EU long-term residents Directive. This Directive sets out the conditions under which third-country nationals can acquire EU long-term resident status. In accordance with the Council position, third-country nationals can cumulate residence periods of up to two years in other member states in order to meet the requirements of the five-year residence period. However, in the event of an applicant having resided in another member state, the Council has decided to accept only certain types of legal residence permits, such as the EU Blue Cards or residence permits issued for the purpose of highly qualified employment. 1316 Pursuant to Article 36 of Law 5275/2026, which entered into force in February 2026 amending Article 148 of the Migration Code, long-term residence status is revoked or lost where: a) It is proven that the status holder has fraudulently obtained the status; b) A return decision has been issued against him or her, in accordance with Article 150; c) The status holder has been absent from the territory of the European Union for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months or longer; d) The status holder poses a threat to public order, taking into account the seriousness of the offenses committed, even if such a threat does not constitute grounds for return within the meaning of Article 150; e) The status holder has acquired long-term resident status in another Member State of the European Union, in the context of exercising the right of residence in other Member States pursuant to Directive 2003/109/EC; f) It is proven, by any means, that they have been absent from the territory of Greece for a period exceeding six (6) years; g) the international protection status has been revoked or not renewed, in accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 13 and paragraph 3 of Article 18 of Law 4939/2022 (A’ 111). The Asylum Service shall notify the Secretary of the competent Decentralized Administration in the event of revocation or non-renewal of the international protection status of a holder of a long-term residence permit. 4. Naturalisation Indicators: Naturalisation 1. What is the minimum residence period for obtaining citizenship? 1312 1313 1314 1315 1316 Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Directorate of Legal Support, Asylum and Reception, Guidelines on the application of the legislative framework in the case of acquisition of long-term resident status by a beneficiary of international protection status, prot. no. 301174, 16.12.2024, p. 4, available in Greek here. See here. Ibid. Ibid. European Council, Council of European Union, Third-country nationals: EU updates rules for long-term resident status, Press release, 23 November 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3UfJzRo. 261