- As of July 2026, there were 1,544 unaccompanied children in accommodation facilities in Greece - over 74% of them aged 15-17, meaning most are approaching adulthood in the near term.
- More than 2 in 5 first-instance asylum decisions for unaccompanied children in Greece ended in rejection in 2024.
- Whether a young person can stay in Greece after turning 18 depends heavily on their nationality, rather than on their length of stay, education, language skills, or how well they've integrated.
A new report by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) highlights the precarious situation of unaccompanied children in Greece on the verge of adulthood. On turning 18, many lose lawful access to stable housing and education overnight, and face the risk of detention or return, despite having spent critical, formative years in Greece.
"The scale of the cliff-edge in Greece is alarming. Among almost 1,600 unaccompanied children currently staying in Greek accommodation, almost three-quarters will reach adulthood in the near term, right as support is being cut," said Martha Roussou, the IRC's Senior Regional Advocacy Advisor.
Access to international protection has become the primary route through which unaccompanied children can secure legal residence as adults - but even this route remains uncertain for most. In 2025, 3,502 unaccompanied children applied for asylum and 449 received positive first-instance decisions; comparable data on negative decisions is not yet available, making the full picture unclear.
"Prospects for remaining in Greece after turning 18 depend largely on country of origin, not on factors like length of stay, educational achievement, language skills or how ready a young person is for independent living," Roussou explained. "That creates a stark disconnect between what these young people have built in Greece and the options available to them once they turn 18. And recognition rates are not fixed, we see them shift with geopolitics. Even young people from nationalities with relatively high recognition rates today, like Sudan or Afghanistan, cannot count on a secure future."
IRC own data illustrates the scale of challenge, but also the readily available solutions. Among 381 young people - many of them unaccompanied or former unaccompanied children - supported through the IRC's livelihood programme, nearly 30% were living in precarious situations, including homelessness or overcrowded apartments, at the time they enrolled. By contrast, where structured support does exist, it works: 93% of former residents of the IRC's Supported Independent Living apartments say their lives improved as a result.
The IRC's report sets out recommendations to strengthen the unaccompanied children’s transition to adulthood, including:
- Establishing a formal national transition-to-adulthood framework that bridges child protection and adult systems.
- Guaranteeing continuity of housing support for at least 6-12 months after a young person turns 18, and expanding supported accommodation up to age 21.
- Strengthening pathways into legal employment, including career guidance and employer partnerships that begin before young people leave child protection services.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) Hellas started operating in Greece in 2015, on the island of Lesvos, in response to the unprecedented number of refugees arriving on the island at the time. Our mission at IRC Hellas is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster, to survive, recover and gain control of their future.
