The Digital Work Card is being extended in 2026 to new sectors of economic activity, with two dates being particularly important for businesses: 12 October 2026 and 16 November 2026.

From these dates, the imposition of the prescribed administrative penalties begins for the new sectors that have been included in the system.

Businesses subject to the Digital Work Card should therefore check in good time whether their principal NACE code is included among the new sectors and ensure that the working-time recording procedures are applied correctly.

Digital Work Card: Which sectors face penalties from 12 October 2026?

By Ministerial Decision 15441/28.05.2026 (Government Gazette B΄ 3051/02.06.2026), new sectors of businesses were mandatorily included in the Digital Work Card system, from 2 June 2026.

For these sectors, the adjustment period ends and the prescribed administrative penalties begin to be imposed from 12 October 2026.

The new sectors include, on the basis of the more specific NACE codes in the relevant decision:

  • telecommunications and certain other information service activities,
  • administrative and support service activities,
  • human health and social work activities,
  • other service activities.

Which sectors face penalties from 16 November 2026?

The extension of the Digital Work Card continued with Ministerial Decision 18047/24.06.2026 (Government Gazette B΄ 3791/29.06.2026), through which another group of businesses was included.

For these sectors, the application of the prescribed administrative penalties begins from 16 November 2026.

This category specifically includes activities relating to:

  • water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities,
  • storage,
  • activities of head offices and management consultancy activities,
  • advertising, market research and public relations,
  • office administrative activities, secretarial support and other business support activities,
  • gambling and betting,
  • repair and maintenance of computers, personal and household goods, motor vehicles and motorcycles.

How does a business check whether it falls under the Digital Work Card?

The main criterion to be examined is the business’s principal NACE code at the AADE.

Inclusion in the Digital Work Card is not determined solely by the general description of a business’s activity. It is necessary to check the principal NACE code and match it with the specific NACE codes included in the tables of the relevant Ministerial Decisions.

Provided that the business’s main NACE code is included, the obligation to apply the Digital Card applies, as a rule, to all employees under a contract or dependent employment relationship who are employed in person at the workplace, without prejudice to the exemptions provided for by law.

At the same time, a specific exemption is provided where the included main NACE code does not generate economic activity, as evidenced by form E3 for the latest tax year, and the economically dominant secondary activity corresponds to a non-included NACE code.

What should businesses do before sanctions begin?

Businesses operating in the new sectors should make sure to check in good time both whether they fall within the scope of the scheme and how they actually apply the Digital Work Card in practice.

Particular attention is required:

  • to the correct recording of employees’ arrival and departure,
  • to the matching of Digital Card entries with actual work performed,
  • to the proper management of the declared working hours,
  • to the correct entry of the relevant data in the ERGANI II IT system.

Preparation before the end of the adaptation period is critical, as after the respective dates the imposition of the предусмотрed administrative penalties is activated.

Digital Work Card 2026: The two dates you need to remember

12 October 2026: Start of the imposition of administrative penalties for the new sectors that joined the system on 2 June 2026.

16 November 2026: Start of the imposition of administrative penalties for the new sectors of the next expansion phase.

Do you need support for the Digital Work Card?

Are you unsure whether your business falls within the new sectors or whether you have properly adapted to the requirements of the Digital Work Card?

The AFS team can support you in checking your business’s obligations and in the correct implementation of the procedures relating to the Digital Work Card and personnel management.

Contact us:

  • 📞 Telephone: 2108317702 ✉️ Email: info@afs.gr 🌐 Website: www.afs.gr
  • Alternatively, complete the contact form below and an AFS associate will get in touch with you.