Greece’s Minister of Migration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, has signed a directive officially replacing the term “irregular migration” with “illegal migration” in all state documents.
The circular enforces Article 27 of Law 5226/25, which introduces tougher penalties for migrants who remain in the country without authorization. Under the law, staying illegally carries a minimum prison sentence of two years.
According to the ministry, the linguistic change was deemed necessary to reflect the new legal framework and to clearly distinguish between lawful residence and unlawful stay.
At the same time, asylum seekers whose applications are rejected will face administrative detention of up to 24 months, in addition to a possible two-to-five-year prison sentence. Authorities stress that the only way to avoid serving time is through voluntary return to their country of origin.
The directive also requires facility managers in migrant reception centers to immediately notify law enforcement after each asylum rejection, ensuring close coordination with the Hellenic Police.
Ministry officials say the move is intended to send an unambiguous message about Greece’s new approach to migration management, while aligning policy language with the strengthened legal framework.
