Fast-track Visa Options For Technical Workers: Türkiye’s AMS Visa And Greece’s Installation Visa

[Editor2]

Companies often need to send technical experts abroad at short notice—for machinery installation, complex system maintenance, or specialized training. These assignments are usually urgent, meaning that traditional work permit routes—often lengthy and paperwork-heavy—can be impractical.
To address this, Türkiye and Greece have introduced tailored visa solutions designed for technical professionals: Türkiye’s Assembly, Maintenance, Service (AMS) Visa and Greece’s Installation Visa. Both provide streamlined pathways that balance speed and compliance, helping companies avoid costly project delays.

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Why Not Use Standard Regional Options?​

In some countries, like Bulgaria, short-term permits remain more complex. The Bulgarian “Short-term Registration” permit involves several steps, including registration with the Employment Agency and notifications to other authorities, often taking up to four months to complete.
By contrast, Türkiye and Greece offer faster, consular-based options designed specifically for technical work, making them more suitable for urgent projects.

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Who Can Apply?​

Both Türkiye’s AMS Visa and Greece’s Installation Visa are limited to foreign nationals providing short-term technical services—such as assembly, maintenance, or servicing of imported products—under a specific service agreement between the home and host entities.

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Online or In-person Applications?​

Neither visa is available fully online. Applicants must attend a consulate in person for filing and collection.

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Processing Times​

• Türkiye (AMS Visa): As little as two days, though it can extend up to three weeks depending on the consulate.
• Greece (Installation Visa): Generally two to three weeks, with less variation between consulates.

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Local Employment Rules​

In both countries:

• Assignees must remain on home-country payroll.
• Local employment contracts with the host company are not permitted.
• Work at third-party client sites is allowed, provided supporting documents are in place.

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Duration of Stay​

• Türkiye: Valid for up to 90 days within six months, though some consulates issue visas valid across 12 months. Renewal in-country is not possible, but limited extensions may apply in certain cases.
• Greece: Valid for up to six months. No domestic extension route.

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Key Features: Türkiye vs. Greece​

Category	Türkiye – AMS Visa	Greece – Installation Visa
Validity	Up to 90 days in 6 months (sometimes issued for 12 months)	Up to 6 months
Reapplication	Possible after 6 months (practice varies by consulate)	Possible from abroad; repeat applications may be discouraged
Processing Time	2 days – 3 weeks	Typically 2–3 weeks
Domestic Option	Yes – work permit exemption route available	No domestic exemption
Documentation	Varies by consulate	More predictable; requires service agreement + posted worker notification

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Türkiye’s Domestic Work Permit Exemption​

In addition to the AMS Visa, Türkiye offers a domestic exemption route. This allows entry as a visitor and subsequent application for a short-term work permit exemption covering the same scope of technical services. While not suitable in every case, it can be a practical alternative for certain projects.

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Final Considerations​

Both Türkiye’s AMS Visa and Greece’s Installation Visa provide fast-track solutions for companies deploying technical workers in the EMEA region.

• Türkiye offers faster turnaround, more flexibility, and an additional domestic exemption route.
• Greece provides greater predictability with structured requirements and consistent processing times.

For employers, the choice will often depend on the balance between speed, documentation predictability, and project duration. Careful planning remains essential to ensure compliance while avoiding assignment delays.

 

[leonard_shelby]

Didn’t we already talk about Türkiye’s AMS visa a few months ago? Or maybe I’m mixing it up with the short-term work permit thing Anyway, this seems like a faster route for those urgent tech jobs — way better than the old four-month Bulgarian process.

 

[hannah_solo]

Oh yeah, because nothing says “efficient bureaucracy” like having to show up in person for a visa that’s supposed to be “fast-track.” Still, two days for Türkiye sounds almost miraculous compared to the usual grind.

 

[victor_vega]

Imagine the rhythm of precision machinery humming under Anatolian skies—foreign engineers, summoned for a brief symphony of assembly. The AMS visa orchestrates that movement, fleeting yet purposeful, before dissolving back into global transit.

 

[sophia_l]

The part about home-country payroll is crucial. I’ve seen companies get in trouble for setting up local contracts under these visas. Both Greece and Türkiye are strict—these are for service delivery, not local employment. Keep payroll offshore and the documentation airtight.

 

[ellie.quinn]

This is sooo helpful!!! I didn’t even know Greece had something like an “Installation Visa”! It’s perfect for short tech deployments without all the red tape!! Love that both countries made it simpler for project teams!!!

 

[tommy_lee]

I remember when our company first sent engineers to Athens back in 2018 — we had to go through the full work permit process. It took months and tons of paperwork. These new fast-track visas would’ve saved us a small fortune and a lot of headaches.

 

[petter]

In the continuum of cross-border technical mobility, Türkiye’s AMS and Greece’s Installation Visa emerge as pragmatic innovations—distinct yet convergent in purpose. One privileges velocity, the other procedural symmetry. Together, they exemplify adaptive immigration governance in an increasingly project-driven economy.