Residence Permit in Greece

A residence permit in Greece provides the opportunity to legalise your stay in an EU country and opens access to the advantages of living in Europe. Obtaining a Greek residence permit will allow you to work in the country, engage in business, study, receive medical care, and travel visa-free to EU and Schengen Agreement countries. Country residents have the right to purchase local real estate and receive passive income from rental properties. The possibility of acquiring residential and commercial property attracts investors from around the world to the Hellenic Republic.

The Greek investment-based residence permit programme «Golden Visa» is recognised as one of the most accessible in EU countries. Approximately 4,500 applications were approved within the programme during one year. Residence permits in the republic can also be obtained through employment, education, marriage to a Greek citizen, family reunification, and other grounds. After 7 years of living in the country, you have the right to apply for local citizenship.

Is it Worth Obtaining a Residence Permit in Greece in 2026

Acquiring a residence permit in Greece is the first step towards obtaining citizenship of a country that is a member of the European Union. Greece attracts with its comfortable mild climate, low cost of living, and accessible conditions for obtaining residence permits. The most significant advantages of obtaining a residence permit include:

Simplicity of Status Registration

Residence permits in Greece are processed within 1-3 months. Applications and documents can be completed online, and requests are submitted through an authorised representative with a notarial power of attorney. If the grounds for issuing a residence permit have not changed, extending the permit to stay in the country is straightforward.

Visa-Free Travel

Country residents can move freely throughout Europe without the need to obtain visas. A residence permit provides the right to stay in EU and Schengen Agreement countries for up to three consecutive months within a six-month period.

Free Education

Greek state educational institutions at all levels provide education for foreign citizens who have obtained residence permits on a free basis. Higher education for resident students at Greek universities also does not require payment.

Medical Services

Primary and/or emergency care in municipal hospitals can be obtained free of charge by Greek residents. More in-depth examination and further specialised treatment require obtaining state or private insurance policies.

Real Estate Purchase

A residence permit provides the right to purchase residential/commercial property and land plots within the country. Acquired real estate in Greece can be rented out for passive income generation.

Access to Financial Institution Services

A Greek residence permit allows you to open an account with one of the European banks. You will have access to international payment services and money transfers, including in foreign currency and for online shopping payments.

Tax Benefits

Foreign investors, pensioners, and freelancers have the opportunity to use preferential tax regimes. For example, the country has established a fixed annual tax rate for capital investors, income tax reduction to 7% for pensioners, and a 50% tax discount for digital nomads.

Citizenship Acquisition

After living in Greece for 7 years, you can apply for a Greek passport. In addition to fulfilling the residence requirement (mandatory period of residence for naturalisation in the country), you must demonstrate knowledge of the Greek language (level B1 or higher) and history, geography, and political system of the republic.

Disadvantages of obtaining a Greek residence permit include limited rights and the constant need to renew status to accumulate residency time. However, there is another way to relocate to the republic – obtaining an EU citizen passport through an accelerated procedure. With such a document, you can live in any EU country, including Greece.

An immigration specialist from our company can provide detailed information about simplified EU citizenship programmes. To schedule a consultation, you need to complete a form on the website.

Methods of Obtaining a Residence Permit in Greece

The unified Migration Policy Management Service, established under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, handles residence permit issuance in Greece. Foreign citizens who meet a number of mandatory conditions can obtain a Greek residence permit:

• possession of a passport with a validity period that exceeds the potential departure date from the country by at least 3 months (the document must have been issued no more than 10 years ago and have at least 2 blank pages);
• obtaining a national entry visa on the same grounds on which documents for residence permit are planned to be submitted;
• absence from lists and national databases as a person undesirable for entry (Greek law enforcement agencies must not consider you a threat to public order, internal security, and international relations);
• presentation of a criminal background certificate from the country of citizenship and/or actual residence;
• obtaining medical insurance with coverage of at least 30,000 EUR for the entire period of stay in the country.

The listed conditions are mandatory for all applicants seeking to acquire Greek resident status. The list of additional requirements depends on the purpose for which the residence permit is issued.

Residence Permit for Education

Greek residence permits can be obtained by applicants admitted to Greek educational institutions. Permits are also issued to doctoral students, master’s students whose stay in the country is related to their academic activities. To obtain a national D visa and/or residence permit, you must provide an admission certificate to a college/university, payment receipt for education (if studying on a contract basis), and proof of financial capacity (funds for the entire stay period calculated at no less than 650 EUR per month).

Residency for education does not provide the right to request permanent residence and/or obtain citizenship. To obtain permanent residence permits and a country passport, you will need to change the grounds for residence permit and fulfil the residence requirement.

Residence Permit for Employment

Employment-based residence permits can be obtained by officially securing full-time, long-term employment in Greece. Residency for this purpose is also issued to specialists who have relocated to the country as part of internal transfers. The highest probability of successfully obtaining an employment residence permit exists if your profession is among special purpose occupations (fishermen, athletes, religious or cultural figures).

To acquire a residence permit through employment, a contract and permission requested by your future employer to hire you as a foreign worker serve as supporting documents. In some cases, additional criteria are established, such as language proficiency, minimum wage requirements, or others.

Residence Permit for Highly Qualified Specialists (EU Blue Card)

Under the «EU Blue Card» state programme, highly qualified specialists securing employment with local companies can submit residence permit applications in Greece. Your annual income must exceed the average annual salary by at least 1.5 times (approximately 32,000 EUR for 2024). Education and/or qualification requirements are also established, depending on the position held. Under this programme, Greece will also issue residence permits to your spouse, children under 21, and financially dependent parents upon request.

Business Residence Permit

You can apply for a residence permit by establishing your own business in Greece. To obtain residency, you must provide the immigration service with a company registration certificate and a business plan confirming the company’s contribution to the national economy. You must also prepare a tax declaration and bank statement showing account status. Your family (partner and children) can also relocate and apply for residence permits with you upon confirming your financial ability to support them.

Residence Permit for Digital Nomads

Specialists in digital technology fields working remotely for foreign employers can expect to obtain Greek residence permits. You will need to document your employment and income source registration abroad. Applications will only be approved if you do not work for a local company and your after-tax salary is at least 3,500 EUR per month. If your spouse applies for a residence permit, salary requirements increase by 20%. Including children in the application increases the minimum acceptable salary threshold by an additional 15% for each child.

Residence Permit for Financially Independent Persons (FIP)

Residence permits are also obtained by foreigners who have permanent income sources outside Greece. If you are a pensioner, freelancer, or have legal monetary savings, to obtain residence permits you must confirm monthly income equal to or exceeding 2,000 EUR. If a spouse is included in the FIP residence permit application, the stated amount increases by 20%; if a child is included, by 15%. Employment in Greece with this type of card is prohibited.

Residence Permit for Family Reunification

Spouses, children, and dependent parents of Greek residents have the right to apply for Greek residence permits. Joint residence of all family members is a condition for status issuance. Permits are issued when invited persons have documents confirming their family relationship with the sponsor (host), and the latter has an annual income certificate of at least 10,000 EUR + 20% for spouse and 10% for each child. You must also confirm accommodation with sufficient space for the entire family.

Residence Permit Through Marriage

If you are married or in a partnership with a Greek citizen, you have the right to submit a residence permit application. To confirm cohabitation, you must provide a residence certificate, marriage certificate, or cohabitation certificate. Residence permits on this basis are issued immediately with work rights and reduce the total residency period for naturalisation from 7 to 5 years. If you have a common child, citizenship applications can be submitted after 3 years. Upon divorce, you can obtain resident status if the marriage lasted at least three years.

Residence Permit for Humanitarian Reasons

Foreigners who have received asylum in Greece due to persecution, discrimination, threats to life and/or health in their country of residence have the right to request residence permits based on refugee status. Up to 8 family members can be included in asylum applications. Persons under protection do not pay state fees when obtaining residence permit cards and have rights to social benefits, free housing, and other privileges, but have limited rights.

Residence Permit Through Real Estate Purchase

Obtaining a residence permit in Greece through real estate purchase is one way to obtain a «Golden Visa». With this type of residence permit, you can apply for status for your family members and have the right to receive income from renting the property.

Until 31 August 2024, obtaining a «Golden Visa» required purchasing real estate in Greece worth at least 250,000 EUR. From 1 September, the investment threshold increased. To issue long-term residence permits, real estate investments of at least 800,000 EUR are required for Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, Attica, or islands with populations under 3,100 residents. For other Greek territories, the minimum real estate investment threshold is 400,000 EUR. The previous amount remains valid only for architectural monuments and industrial buildings converted to residential structures.

The Greek government established a transition period for foreign buyers. Residence permits for real estate investment under old conditions can be obtained if preliminary purchase agreements with 10% deposit payments were signed before 31.08.2024, and transaction completion occurred/will occur before 31 December 2024. If deposits were made but transactions were not completed by the specified date, investors can purchase other real estate until 30.04.2025, following the old 250,000 EUR threshold.

Residence Permit Through Investment

Investment-based residence permits are another way to obtain Greek «Golden Visas». For application consideration, Greek economy investments must be at least 500,000 EUR. You can open deposits in republican banks, purchase government bonds, or local company shares. When purchasing investment fund shares, the investment threshold is lower at 350,000 EUR. Capital investments exceeding 800,000 EUR allow assembling personal share portfolios for stock exchange participation. Investors’ families can submit applications together. Residence permit processing takes no more than 60 days.

Greek Residence Permit Acquisition Procedure

Temporary resident status in Greece is confirmed by a plastic card (residence card) of the European Union standard format, equipped with a microchip containing personal information and biometric data of the holder. Regardless of the reason for resident status issuance, you can obtain a residence permit only after completing the legally established procedure:

Document Preparation

First, you should collect all documents confirming the basis on which you plan to submit applications, such as employment contracts, university admission certificates, real estate purchase certificates, marriage certificates, and/or other data. All submitted forms must be translated into Greek or English and notarised.

Entry Permit Processing

National category D visas must be requested at Greek consulates or other diplomatic missions located in your country of residence. At this stage, you must provide prepared personal files and undergo interviews with institution officials. Category D visas typically allow stays on Greek territory from 90 to 365 days.

Residence Permit Application and Document Submission

You must submit applications and document packages for residency processing to territorial departments of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum before visa expiration. Applications are submitted personally or through authorised representatives with notarial powers of attorney. Application forms can be completed online, then downloaded and printed. Application receipt confirmation is provided through certificates valid for 12 months and granting residence rights in Greece. During case review periods, you must visit local migration services for fingerprinting. Procedure invitations will be sent to email addresses or phone numbers specified in applications.

Residence Permit Card Collection

Application status can be checked on migration service websites using personal numbers assigned during application submission. Biometric cards must be collected personally or by authorised representatives after presenting valid passports at specified government offices. Certificates received during application submission stages must be returned. Residence permit cards are stored in departments for 30 days. Rejection decisions can be collected within 60 days.

Processing Costs

Residence permit processing in Greece involves expenses at each procedure stage. State fees for national D visa issuance can reach 42 EUR. Biometric plastic card issuance costs 16 EUR. Document translation, legalisation, and apostille certification also require payment. Residence permit processing fees depend on the basis for Greek resident status issuance and range from 150 to 2,000 EUR.

Investors applying for «Golden Visas» and entrepreneurs opening companies must consider all expenses. In addition to real estate, share, and/or other securities purchase costs, purchase-sale transactions, legal support, and property registration require payment. The table below shows state fee amounts for residence permit acquisition for each purpose.

Required Documents

Timely submission of complete, properly assembled personal files is crucial for Greek residence permit issuance. To obtain status, the following must be provided to migration services:

• completed application form;
• certified passport copy;
• 4 colour photographs sized 3.5 x 4.5 cm;
• medical insurance policy with coverage exceeding 30,000 EUR;
• income source confirmation or bank account statement;
• medical certificate confirming absence of socially dangerous infectious diseases;
• rental agreement with landlord or property ownership certificate in the republic;
• criminal background certificate;
• state fee payment receipts.

The general document list must be supplemented with certificates confirming reasons for residence permit card issuance. Depending on residence permit processing grounds, necessary data is added to personal files. The table shows additional document lists for each basis.

Residence Permit Acquisition and Status Validity Periods

Depending on application purposes, Greek residence permits are initially valid for 1 to 5 years. Acquisition periods can range from 30 days to 12 months. You can extend residence permits if original issuance grounds remain. Card extension applications must be submitted to police departments at temporary registration locations personally or online no later than 2 months before expiration. The table shows processing periods and validity durations for all grounds.

Common Rejection Reasons

The Hellenic Republic migration service has the right to refuse residence permit issuance or revoke existing status. The most common reasons for negative card processing decisions or cancellations include:

• providing falsified documents to migration services;
• using false and misleading personal information when submitting applications;
• violating document submission deadlines and ignoring communications regarding processing procedures;
• non-compliance with Greek visa legislation;
• criminal convictions, representing security threats and public order threats in the country;
• inclusion in registries of citizens prohibited from entering Schengen Zone member countries.

If residence permit applications are rejected, you have the right to submit repeat applications within one month of receiving rejection notifications. Two months are provided for appealing negative decisions. Review applications should indicate errors if made by migration services. Appeal responses arrive within one month maximum.

How to Obtain Greek Residence Rights More Simply and Beneficially

Relocation to the Hellenic Republic is popular among foreigners planning European relocation due to residence advantages and EU citizenship acquisition prospects. However, disadvantages include requirements to constantly renew residence permits and live with limited rights in resident status for at least 7 years. Obtaining EU passports that open access to all opportunities is possible through accelerated procedures via other EU countries, such as Bulgaria or Romania. Citizenship can be acquired in any of these countries within one year even without residence permits.