Background checks for Greece
Background checks aren't yet a familiar part of hiring in Greece, so Zinc keeps things clear for candidates and proportionate for you. One platform for Greece and every other country your team hires in.
Checks and features
Checks built for Greece
Criminal checks, kept proportionate
For roles like security, financial services, or work with vulnerable people, Zinc can request an official Copy of Criminal Record from the Greek authorities. It's only used where the law requires it or the role clearly calls for it, not as standard for every hire.
Only ask for what’s needed
Zinc's candidate experience is designed to capture only the data required for a specific role, so candidates in a market where checks aren't yet routine aren't faced with unfamiliar or excessive requests.
Candidate support in 140+ languages
Zinc's AI-powered chatbot is on hand 24/7 in Greek, English, and 140+ other languages, ready to answer candidate questions as they come up. For big questions, our London-based team is ready to help.
9
/10
5
days
Average criminal check completion
36
days
Average education check completion
Fewer candidate surprises
In a market where background checks are still new, an unexpected request can feel unsettling. You control what checks are sent and Zinc only asks for what's genuinely needed, so candidates aren't stuck filling in fields that don't apply to them.
Support when you need it
Zinc's dedicated compliance and legal experts are here to help you think through what a specific role actually needs to check, and why. The final decision on what to check always stays with you.
One platform, globally
No matter where you’re hiring, Zinc keeps all your check results from every country in one dashboard. When you connect your ATS or HRIS at no cost, results get sent straight to your preferred platform.
“When I speak to staff members who have gone through the Zinc process as new recruits they say it's really slick and easy. And, yeah, just managing it is just so simple. Zinc’s referencing process changed what was a nightmare into a dream.”
Checks that work everywhere you do
Full visibility, transparent pricing, and adaptable checks for borderless hiring.
Industry-leading global turnaround times
Adaptive checks, not extra admin
Integrated with your HR tech stack
Truly transparent pricing
Pricing
Built for global teams
Whether you're a growing team or an enterprise hiring across borders, Zinc has a plan for you.
Under 20 hires annually
Pay As You Grow
Get started in minutes. Our Pay As You Grow plan is built for lower hiring volumes — a flat rate per check, with no hidden costs or setup fees.
Start checking in minutes, no setup needed
Flat rates per check, no hidden fees
Pay only for what you check, every month
20+ hires annually
Custom solutions
For larger volumes, our experts build a plan around your needs. Credit is flexible with your hiring and never expires, with integrations, setup, training, and support all included for free.
A custom plan built around your hiring
Credit pool that rolls over and never expires
Integrations, setup, and training included for free
“My favourite thing about Zinc is its seamlessness. The combination of the automation, the time saving and the fact that once I click send to the person, I know they'll understand what to do. It's clear and the user experience is great, both for the person who's being checked but also for us on the other side.”
Are background checks common in Greece?
In general, not yet. Background checks aren't the norm in Greece, and candidates may push back on consent requests, particularly for criminal checks.
Employment screening culture here is less established than in Western European markets, so it's worth explaining to candidates why a check is being requested, what it covers, and what information they’ll have to provide.
Can Zinc run credit checks in Greece?
Yes. Zinc's Greece financial integrity check is sourced from the Ministry of Justice, drawing on data from local debt collection agencies.
Coverage extends to the entire population, including foreigners, and looks back five years. It returns information on debts, loans, protested bills, financial defaults, and unpaid or overdue bills. It's a soft check, so it doesn’t leave a footprint on the candidate's own credit file. Since the EU GDPR came into force in May 2018, publicly available debtor lists from credit bureaus have been more limited, so some debt details may not always be accessible.
What law governs background checks in Greece?
GDPR and Law 4624/2019 together set the rules for how candidate data can be collected and used during hiring.
Does Zinc need candidate consent to run a check in Greece?
Zinc does not collect consent for background checks generally — it's the customer's (employer's) responsibility, since Zinc is the Data Processor and the customer is the Data Controller. Zinc's platform is built to support that step, not to replace it, with in-platform capabilities like custom forms and recruiter note captures. There's one exception for Greece's criminal check specifically: the candidate must provide a Specific Authorisation Form directly through Zinc's platform, in one of two ways:
- A Digital Authorisation (if they have access to Greek Personal Internet Banking Credentials or TAXISnet codes, taking under 2 minutes)
- Original Legalised Authorisation Form sent by post to Zinc's in-country partner (legalised at a police station or Citizen Service Centre if in Greece, or via the Greek Consulate if abroad — legalisation by a lawyer isn't accepted).
This is Zinc collecting a specific, check-level consent, which sits alongside, not instead of, the employer's general consent obligation.
How does Zinc support candidates unfamiliar with background checks in Greece?
Zinc's AI chatbot supports candidates in 140+ languages, and the candidate experience only collects the data needed for the specific role. That means fewer unfamiliar questions and less friction for candidates going through the process for the first time.