Greece · Visas & Residency

Three ways in.
One fits you.

Greece has a visa for people with passive income, one for remote workers, and one for investors. Here they are with 2026 numbers — no salesmanship.

Figures verified 8 July 2026

The 2026 comparison

VisaWho it's forMoney requirement (2026)Leads to
FIP
Full guide →
Retirees and anyone with stable passive income (pensions, rents, dividends) €3,500/month (+20% spouse, +15% per child) — raised from €2,000 in Jan 2025; no work allowed in Greece 3-yr permit → 3-yr renewal → citizenship eligibility at 7 yrs of actual residence
Digital Nomad
(Law 4825/2021)
Remote employees and freelancers working for clients outside Greece €3,500/month net remote income (+€700 spouse, +€525 per child) 12-month visa → 2-yr residence permit, renewable while conditions hold
Golden Visa
(investor permit)
Investors who don't want to live in Greece full-time (no minimum stay) €800k property in Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini & islands 3,100+ pop.; €400k elsewhere (single property ≥120 m²); €250k only for commercial conversions or listed-building restorations 5-yr permit, renewable while the investment is held; citizenship only with real residence
FIP and digital nomad routes start at a consulate. You apply for a national (type D) visa at the Greek consulate covering your US state or Canadian province, then convert to a residence permit after arrival. The Golden Visa is the exception — you can enter visa-free under the 90/180 rule and file in Greece. Either way, the EES biometric border system has been logging your Schengen days since October 2025, and ETIAS (~€20, free for 70+) is expected in late 2026.

After the visa: the residency timeline

Step 1 · Months 0–6

Visa + first permit

Consular D visa, then a residence-permit application with biometrics at the Ministry of Migration & Asylum. First FIP permit: 3 years.

Step 2 · Year 3

Renewal

Renew for 3 more years. You must have spent at least 183 days/year in Greece — renewals check this.

Step 3 · Year 5

Long-term status

After 5 years' legal residence you can apply for EU long-term resident status — income and integration conditions apply, including Greek language.

★ Step 4 · Year 7

Citizenship

7 years of continuous lawful residence, the PEGP exam (B1 Greek + civics), €550 fee. Dual citizenship is allowed.

Reality check on timelines. Consular D-visa slots in the US and Canada can take weeks to months to book, and residence-permit decisions in Greece routinely take several months, during which you stay on a receipt (blue certificate). Build slack into your plans — and into your lease dates.
In this section

Guides

★ New

Greece's FIP visa: the 2026 guide

The €3,500/month requirement, income evidence, documents, fees, and the step-by-step process from the US or Canada.

Read the guide →
Guide

Residency to citizenship: the 7-year path

How the clock works, the PEGP exam, fees — and why Golden Visa years may not count.

Read the guide →
Coming soon

Golden Visa in 2026: the new tiers

€400k vs €800k zones, the 120 m² rule, the short-term-letting ban, and real all-in costs.

Coming soon

The digital nomad visa

€3,500/month net, what consulates want to see, and the tax-residency trap at 183 days.

Coming soon

Scouting trips & the 90/180 rule

How Schengen counting works, the EES biometric border system, and ETIAS (expected late 2026, €20).

Coming soon

Consulate survival guide

Which Greek consulate covers your state or province, appointment tactics, and translation rules.

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