Border Guarding Services have been established in order to address the problem of illegal immigration and cross-border crimes (Law 2622/98).
Border Guarding Services (Zone A) operate in the following prefectures: Thesprotia, Kastoria, Ioannina, Florina, Pella, Kilkis, Serres, Drama, Xanthi, Rhodopi and Corfu.
In addition, Border Guarding Services operate in areas with a large number of illegal immigrants. In particular, they operate at the following prefectures: Preveza, Arta, Trikala, Grevena, Kozani, Imathia, Thessaloniki, Kavala, Halkidiki, Pieria, Larissa and Karditsa.
Finally, three Illegal Immigration Departments have been established within the General Police Division.
Border Guards are recruited on a points-based system and must be Greek citizens. Men should not be over 32 and women over 26 years old. The following qualifications are the criteria for selection: secondary school grades, knowledge of foreign languages, completion of military service preferably as Reserve Officers, or in special services of the Armed Forces or as volunteers with a 5-year service record, place of residence, category D driving license and membership of one of the categories listed by article 42 of Law 1481/1984.
