Mediterranean climate year-round, welcoming locals, fresh produce, and endless opportunities for exploration are just a few of the reasons why so many foreigners choose Greece as their new home. Today, around 750,000 foreign nationals reside legally in the country.
Greece offers a welcoming environment for nearly everyone — whether the goal is to work, study, reunite with family, invest, or simply enjoy life on passive income.
This article explores the types of residence permits available in Greece, along with the key benefits of living in the country.
Greece continues to strengthen its position as one of Europe’s most attractive destinations for relocation, retirement, and investment.
The country's welcoming policies, accessible residency options, and growing international appeal are reflected in the following key figures:
These figures reflect Greece’s rising popularity not just as a travel destination, but as a long-term home and strategic Plan B for families and investors worldwide.
Residence permits in Greece are generally issued for a minimum of 1 year, although the exact duration depends on the type of permit granted.
Under Greek law, residence may be granted for various purposes. The most common types include:
Greece offers two main routes to obtain a 5-year renewable residence permit, which is considered a long-term option under Greek migration law.
The EU long-term residence permit becomes available after 5 years of continuous lawful residence, provided the applicant passes a language and integration test and can demonstrate a stable income.
The Golden Visa is granted to non-EU investors who invest at least €250,000 in qualifying assets. It does not require a minimum stay or language exams, but the investment must be maintained for the permit to stay valid and be renewed.
Each pathway to Greek residency comes with its own eligibility criteria, validity period, and stay requirements, making it essential to choose the route that best matches your personal and financial circumstances.
This table compares the main types of residence permits available in Greece. It highlights the core requirements for each option, how long the permit is valid, whether you must spend a minimum number of days in the country, and who in your family can join you.
| Residence permit grounds | Main requirement | Validity | Minimum stay requirement | Family inclusion |
| Investment | Investment of €250,000+ | 5 + 5 years | No | Spouse, children under 21, parents |
| Remote work | Income of €3,500+ per month outside Greece | 2 + 2 years | 183 days a year | Spouse and children under 18 |
| Local employment | Employment contract in Greece | 2 + 3 years | 183 days a year | Spouse and children under 18 |
| Employment for highly qualified professionals | Higher education diploma or 5 years of professional experience | 2 + 3 years | 183 days a year | Spouse and children of any age |
| Financial independence | Passive income of €2,000+ per month | 3 + 3 years | 183 days a year | Spouse and children under 18 |
| Education | University admission and €400+ per month | Duration of studies | 183 days a year | Not possible |
| Family reunification | Sponsoring family member has lived in Greece for 2 years | Duration of the permit of sponsoring family member | 183 days a year | Spouse and children under 18 |
| Marriage | Official marriage registration in Greece | 5 + 5 years | 183 days a year | Spouse |
| International protection | Proof of persecution | 3 years, renewable thereafter | 183 days a year | Spouse and children of any age |
Requirements. To apply for the Greece Golden Visa, investors must be over 18 years old, have a clean criminal record, and be capable of confirming the legality of their income.
Investment options. To obtain a Greece residence permit by investment, applicants can choose from 3 options: purchasing real estate, acquiring investment fund units, or opening a bank deposit.
The investment in fund units requires a minimum of €350,000. These funds offer average annual returns of 4—5%. Placing a bank deposit requires an investment of at least €500,000.
The most popular route is the purchase of real estate. Investment thresholds vary depending on the type and location of the property:
Golden Visa properties can earn income through long-term rentals, with potential annual yields of up to 10%.
Family inclusion. The investor may include their family members in the application:
Family members and the investor are not permitted to take up employment in Greece. However, they are allowed to engage in business activities.
Validity. The Greece Golden Visa is initially issued for 5 years and can be renewed every 5 years as long as the investment is maintained.
After 5 years of legal residence, holders may apply for a long-term EU residence permit, and after 7 years, they become eligible to apply for Greek citizenship. Both statuses grant the entire family full access to the labour market and official employment in Greece.
Benefits. The Greek Golden Visa offers more than a legal foothold in the EU. It combines security, financial utility, and long-term freedom in one investment:
Greece Golden Visa statistics. Since Greece launched its Golden Visa program in 2013, nearly 50,000 residence permits have been issued — not just to investors but also to their family members.
In 2024, the program reached new heights with 9,289 applications, reflecting real estate investments worth at least €2.32 billion. That’s a rise from 2023, which already saw 8,477 applications. But the approval system hasn’t kept pace. In 2024, only 4,536 permits were granted. The backlog suggests bureaucratic limits are being tested by investor appetite.
One striking shift: the United States now accounts for more than half of all applications, overtaking China, Turkey, Lebanon, and the UK — countries that historically dominated the program.
Applying for a Greek residence permit through real estate investment takes at least 4 months. Based on Immigrant Invest’s legal team’s practical experience, here’s how the process typically unfolds — from first checks to final approval.
A certified AML officer runs a background check to flag any issues early. This internal step keeps rejection rates below 1% and sets the foundation for a clean application.
Immigrant Invest real estate experts help match properties to your goals — rental yield, resale potential, lifestyle, or all three. We have a network of vetted partners that offers access to over 200 homes across Greece suitable for the Golden Visa Program.
At this stage, the investor supplies the necessary files and signs a power of attorney, allowing the legal team to act on their behalf in Greece. Immigrant Invest lawyers handle all the paperwork, from ID checks to financial documents.
To buy property, you need a local tax number. It’s usually issued within 3 to 7 business days. Our legal team handles the paperwork.
The purchase begins with a 10% deposit and a draft agreement. The final contract is signed before a notary — either by you or your legal proxy. Once filed, you’ll get certified translations and official records of the deal.
Once the investment is complete, the lawyer submits your application online. Within a week, you receive a confirmation certificate — valid for 1 year while your case is reviewed.
You’ll be scheduled for an in-person appointment to submit biometric data — typically 1 to 2 weeks after the application goes in.
After approval, your residence card is issued. You or your representative can collect it by presenting the original confirmation certificate and a valid passport.
Digital Nomad Visa to Greece is designed for individuals who want to embrace the country’s Mediterranean lifestyle while continuing to work remotely.
The employment condition is that the applicant must work for a company registered outside of Greece or operate as a freelancer with clients based abroad. This visa strictly prohibits employment or business activity involving Greek companies or clients within the local market.
The income requirement is €3,500 per month, which is a minimum net monthly income. If the applicant is accompanied by a spouse or cohabiting partner, the required income increases by 20%. An additional 15% is added for each dependent child.
Required documents include:
Validity. The Digital Nomad Residence Permit is initially granted for up to 2 years. It can then be renewed every 2 years.
Benefits for digital nomads in Greece include:
Before hiring a third-country national, the Greek employer must obtain authorisation from the relevant decentralised administration. This includes submitting a tax-clearance certificate and demonstrating their ability to meet wage obligations stated in the employment contract.
Fees. The application fee to hire a foreign worker is €200 per employee.
A state processing fee of €300 is paid by the employee when submitting the application.
Contract duration. To qualify for a residence permit, the employment contract must be valid for at least 1 year.
Wage levels. As of 1 April 2025, Greece has introduced the following minimum wage thresholds:
Validity. A Greece residence permit for employed workers is issued initially for 2 years and renewable for a further 3 years at a time.
Benefits for employees in Greece are the following:
In 2024, there were 119,517 active residence permits issued for employment purposes.
For non-EU nationals with advanced skills, the EU Blue Card offers an alternative route to employment-based residence in Greece.
The minimum gross annual salary is €31,919, which is 1.6 times the national average.
To qualify for the EU Blue Card, the applicant must:
In addition, the following conditions must be met:
Validity. The EU Blue Card is issued for 2 years and can be extended for 3 more years.
If the employment contract is shorter than 2 years, the permit will be issued for the duration of the contract plus an additional 3 months, provided the total does not exceed the 2-year maximum.
Benefits for EU Blue Card holders in Greece include:
In 2024, 58 EU Blue Cards were issued in Greece.
Monthly income of at least €2,000 is required to qualify as a financially independent person in Greece. The source of income must be outside Greece.
If family members accompany the applicant, the required income increases by 20% for a spouse and 15% for each dependent child.
No employment or business activity in Greece is allowed under this type of residence permit. However, after holding the permit for 5 years and obtaining long-term residence, all family members gain the right to work in the country.
Validity. The permit is initially granted for 3 years and is renewable for an additional 3-year period, provided the financial conditions remain satisfied.
Benefits that apply to freelancers are listed below:
Requirements. Applicants must provide proof of university admission and demonstrate they can financially support themselves during their studies. To meet this requirement, at least €400 per month must be available in a bank account.
Benefits the students can enjoy are:
Validity. The residence permit is issued for the duration of the studies. After living in Greece for 5 years, students can become long-term residents, typically after completing a master's degree.
Requirement. If a foreign national has lived in Greece for 2 years with a residence permit, they are entitled to reunite with close relatives.
Eligible family members include:
Validity. The residence permit for family reunion is issued for the same duration as the permit held by the sponsoring family member. To renew the family member's residence permit, it is necessary to reconfirm family ties, as well as the tax and social status of the sponsoring individual.
Benefits for family members obtaining a residence permit in Greece:
To marry a Greek citizen, a foreign national must first enter Greece on a tourist visa and submit a marriage application at the local municipal office. Once the marriage is officially registered and a marriage certificate is issued, the foreign spouse becomes eligible to apply for a residence permit.
A key requirement is to prove the genuineness of the marriage. The couple may be invited to an interview, during which they will be asked questions about their shared life to confirm the relationship is authentic.
Validity. The residence permit granted through marriage is valid for 5 years. After this period, the foreign spouse may apply for long-term residence.
Benefits for Greek residents through marriage:
Eligibility. In Greece, refugee status is granted to individuals who cannot return to their country of origin due to a well-founded fear of persecution based on:
The applicant must prove that they are under threat of torture, inhumane treatment, or criminal punishment.
Validity. A residence permit for refugees is issued for 3 years, with the possibility of renewal. Spouses and children of the applicant are also entitled to receive a residence permit.
Benefits of a residence permit for refugees:
There were 50,117 refugee statuses granted in 2024.
Stay requirement. Long-term residency in Greece is available after 5 years of residing in the country. Short absences are permitted during this period, provided they do not exceed 6 months at a time or a total of 10 months over the 5-year period.
Integration requirement. Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of the Greek language at an A2 level, along with a basic understanding of Greek history and culture.
Income requirement — €10,560 per annum. Pretenders for long-term residence in Greece should prove an annual income not lower than the minimum wage, which in 2025 is €10,560.
Benefits of long-term residency in Greece:
Validity. Long-term residence status has no expiration, though the residence card must be renewed every 5 years.
All EU, EEA, Swiss citizens, and their family members have the right to reside in Greece.
Straightforward process. No special visa, residence permit, or investment is required. Individuals planning to stay in Greece for more than 90 days must simply register their presence.
Registration process. Registration is carried out at the local Aliens and Immigration Department or at Citizens’ Service Centres and is typically completed within 30 days of submitting the application.
Required documents. A valid passport or national ID card, proof of employment or self-sufficiency, and health insurance must be provided.
Key rights and perks include the following:
1. EU and Schengen gateway. A Greek residence permit offers more than the right to live in Greece — it opens the door to the entire Schengen Area. Holders can travel visa-free across 28 countries for up to 90 days within any 180-day period, eliminating the need for separate visas for destinations like France, Germany, or Spain.
Greek residency also provides flexibility for short-notice business or leisure trips, as well as streamlined access to healthcare and public services in EU countries. After 5 years of legal residence, it becomes possible to apply for Greek long-term resident status. Citizenship is available after 7 years of living in Greece.
2. Easy to settle. With a large and well-established expat community, Greece offers a strong support network through active online groups, local meet-ups, and community organisations. Among the most popular are InterNations Athens and Digital Nomads Greece.
This international presence has also fostered a high level of English proficiency. According to the EF Index, Greece ranks 9th globally among countries with the highest English skills, making communication easier for non-Greek speakers.
Additionally, Greece ranks 10th in the world for ease of settling in, based on the Expat Insider Survey. This ranking reflects the country's welcoming atmosphere, relaxed lifestyle, supportive communities, and overall openness to foreigners.
3. Affordable quality of life. Greece’s overall cost of living is around 21% lower than in the US or the UK. Basic groceries in Greece cost about 19% less than in the UK and nearly 38% less than in the US.
Rent is also significantly cheaper — on average, around 50% lower. For example, a one-bedroom apartment in central Athens rents for approximately €460 per month, whereas similar accommodation in London or New York exceeds €1,000.
4. Safety and stability. According to the Numbeo Safety Index, Greece ranks as a safer country than Ireland, Sweden, New Zealand, and Italy. The intentional homicide rate is just 0.8 per 100,000 people.
5. Mediterranean climate year-round. Greece’s mild climate offers four distinct yet pleasant seasons, with cool, rainy winters, warm springs and autumns, and long, dry summers ideal for outdoor living. This weather supports an active lifestyle year-round and fills local markets with fresh, seasonal produce — from spring strawberries and cherries to winter citrus.
6. Healthy lifestyle. Greece promotes wellbeing through its natural and cultural assets. Therapeutic hot springs on Milos and Ikaria soothe body and mind, while Epirus and Paxos offer some of Europe’s darkest skies for restorative, starlit nights.
Thanks to varied microclimates — from snowy Mount Parnassus mornings to sun-drenched afternoons in Delphi — residents enjoy a balanced environment that contributes to a life expectancy of 83.1 years.
7. Rich cultural and natural diversity. The depth of landscape and heritage allows residents to enjoy Greece not only as a place to live, but as a country to continually explore and rediscover.
In the north, the Prespa Lakes near the Albanian border reveal a tranquil landscape of wetlands, rare bird species, and Byzantine hermitages carved into cliffs. The Pelion Peninsula blends forested mountains with hidden beaches and stone-built villages like Tsagarada and Makrinitsa.
In the Peloponnese, the mountainous region of Arcadia offers myth-laden trails and ancient monasteries tucked into gorges, while nearby Mani showcases fortified tower houses and barren, dramatic coastlines. Further east, the island of Samothrace is a haven for hikers, known for its waterfalls, hot springs, and mystical ruins.
Greece offers a variety of residence permits to suit different purposes of stay. Below are the main types of residence permits available:
A Greek residence permit can be obtained on the following grounds: employment, remote work, financial independence, university studies, family reunification, marriage to a Greek citizen, investment through the Golden Visa program, highly qualified employment, or on refugee status.
In Greece, the so-called 5-year permit refers to the EU long-term residence permit. It is available to non-EU nationals who have lived legally and continuously in Greece for 5 years, with total absences not exceeding 10 months during that time.
The permit is valid for 5 years and can be renewed every 5 years without needing to meet the original eligibility requirements again. It grants access to the labour market, even for those who were not allowed to work under their original residence permit, such as investors, financially independent individuals, or digital nomads.
Permanent residency in Greece becomes available after 5 years of continuous legal residence in the country. During this period, short absences are allowed, as long as they do not exceed 6 months at a time or a total of 10 months over the 5 years. Applicants must also demonstrate basic knowledge of the Greek language at A2 level, familiarity with Greek history and culture, and an annual income at or above the minimum wage, which is €10,560 in 2025.
Under Greek law, non-EU nationals who have held lawful residence in Greece for at least 7 consecutive years may apply for naturalisation as Greek citizens.
A Type D visa in Greece is the national long-stay visa. It is issued by Greek consulates for third-country nationals who wish to stay longer than 90 days for purposes such as work, study or family reunification.
Yes, under the Greece Golden Visa program, purchasing property is one of the eligible routes to obtain a five-year residence permit. The minimum investment is €250,000 for properties acquired for renovation, while for newly built properties, the threshold rises to €400,000.
The amount of money required for a residence permit in Greece depends on the application. Investors can obtain residency by investing at least €250,000 through the Golden Visa program.
Digital nomads must prove a stable monthly income of at least €3,500 from sources outside Greece. Students are expected to have a minimum of €400 per month in their bank account to cover living expenses for the entire duration of their studies. Financially independent individuals must demonstrate passive income of at least €2,000 per month.
