A Complete Guide to Obtaining a Greece Retirement Visa
Learn moreOctober 21, 2024
Getting your paperwork organized is an important step in your decision to move to Greece. Applying for a residency permit is something you need to start organizing within a couple of months of your arrival if you wish to stay in the country for more than 90 consecutive days.
The first step in obtaining a residence permit in Greece is to identify the type of residence permit you need. The application process varies depending on your nationality, the purpose of your stay, and other factors.
There are two types of residency permits: temporary and permanent. The temporary residency permit is usually obtained within 40 days upon application submission. The permanent residency permit is issued after the temporary one, which expires after 5 years. Alternatively, you can also apply for Greek citizenship after 7 years in the country (for this, you must show some Greek language skills and knowledge of its history and culture).
If you are an EU citizen, and you want to move to Greece to work, you must apply for an EU card. EU citizens do not need a residence permit, but they must obtain an EU registration from the competent police authorities of Greece.
Citizens can apply for this registration ether as an independent individual (having at least 5,000 euros in a bank account, Greek or foreign) or as an employee of a Greek entity, with an offer letter or work contract provided by the employer. Also note that you must show a proof of address such as a phone or internet bill, and if you are staying in an Airbnb, or with a host, you would need to provide the landlord's ID or passport, along with a utility bill.
Alternatively, you can also remain in Greece for longer than 3 months if you demonstrate that you are studying or in vocational training. If you are unemployed and haven’t found work, you can show that you have sufficient funds and health insurance.
If your citizenship is non-EU i.e. the United States or United Kingdom, you will need to apply for a separate Greek visa.
However, if you have a family member that is an EU citizen, you can submit an application for residency within 3 months of arrival. This application is submitted to the immigration authority of your place of residence with a fee of €16 for printing an e-residence permit.
Unless you are of Greek origin, married to a Greek citizen, or intend on being a full-time student, you will fall into these residency permit categories:
One way in which you can obtain residency as an EU national is if you have a Greek partner or close family member (you don’t have to be married). They can accompany you to your appointments and will have to sign a few documents. Note: there is less paperwork if you choose this option.
If you’re planning to stay for only one year, then you must apply for a “D” Type Visa at the nearest Greek consulate or embassy in your home country. The application should be filled out online, and you can book an appointment with your nearest Greek consulate or embassy in order to submit your application in person. This visa can be extended by filing for a residence permit if you plan on staying longer than one year.
As a general rule, if you're a third-country national intending to apply for the non-EU temporary residency permit, then you must be physically present in Greece in order to receive the relevant permit and attend your biometrics appointment at the assigned immigration authority. However, depending on the type of residency permit that you wish to apply for, you do not need to be physically in Greece to submit your residency application.
Every document listed above must be submitted in Greek. Official documents need to be translated by a Lawyer, a certified Translator, or the Greek Foreign Ministry’s Department of Translation.
You might get asked for an AFM number, which is a nine-digit Greek tax number. However, it is recommended to apply for this soon after arriving in the country, as it is needed to secure rental contracts, open a bank account and install a landline/wifi in your home.
If you are self-employed or work as a freelancer, bring additional documents like official contracts, pay slips and legal documents to demonstrate the existence of your business or where you generate your earnings.
To apply for the Greek residency permit, you need to find the nearest Hellenic Police station with an Aliens Department and call to book an appointment. The application fee is €16.
The Foreign Office will speak to you and review your forms, discuss your purpose of being in Greece, and take copies of your passport and other documents.
You will be handed a blue receipt that shows that you have applied for residency. If all of your documents are approved, your permit will be ready after a few weeks, which you can pick up from the Police station.
The Citizen’s Service Office (or KEP) website can provide more information on how to get a Greek residence permit but must be translated since it is only displayed in the Greek language (you can use a Google chrome extension for this.)
After you have been living in Greece for five years, you are eligible to apply for the ten-year residence permit. To apply, you will need to make another appointment with the local police authorities to swap out your permit.
For third-country nationals, there are additional ways to obtain residency, such as applying for a Golden Visa or a Financially Independent Person’s Visa (FIP).
Here is a list of additional visas available and their requirements:
From the 31st of March 2024, FIP applicants may enter Greece and apply for a respective residency permit only after obtaining the relevant Visa from the Greek Consulate of their place of residence outside of Greece. The applicants will no longer be eligible to apply directly for a Visa D from Greece after entering the country with a Visa C or with a passport. Meanwhile, Digital Nomad Visa applicants can directly apply for their residency permits within Greece. These new changes originated from the new Greek Immigration Law 5038/2023 in article 68.
There are two types of residency permits that exist for non-EU visa holders. The first is for Digital Nomads, where they get a two-year residency permit, and the latter is strictly for the FIP permit, which is valid for a period of three years.
To apply for the residency permit (after obtaining the Visa), there is an initial application submission fee of €1000 (also known as e-paravolo in Greek) and provide the following documentation:
As of June 2024, new legislation regarding the FIP Visa in Greece extends its validity from two years to three. Additionally, the required deposit amount has to be a minimum of €126,000 in order to cover those three years.
Additionally, instead of depositing the said amount into any bank account, Greek or foreign, applicants can also demonstrate to the Greek authorities that they receive a pension or passive income equaling €3,500 per month, which they can show through bank statements.
The FIP permit costs €1000 as a deposit fee upon making the application with an additional €16 for the issuance of the electronic card itself. Following the residency permit application, the applicant (or their lawyer) will be notified of when their biometrics appointment will take place. For this, the applicant must be in Greece in order to attend the appointment.
The Financially Independent Person’s permit is a residency program for third-country nationals, ideally retirees, who have the financial means to cover their expenses during their residency. These permit holders can travel freely to all Schengen countries during this time, but are required to reside a minimum of 6 months per year in Greece. The FIP visa is an ideal option for retirees who currently earn a pension from abroad.
If you’re looking to go down this route, you will need:
Proof of sufficient funds corresponding to a stable annual income to cover living expenses i.e. retirement pension, bank account statements, title deeds, social security pension (which needs to be apostilled), lease contracts or any other legal evidence. (Note: The Greek authorities require a stable income of at least €3,500 per month, which is increased by 20% if you have a spouse and 15% for each child. Bank deposits are the safest ways to prove your income.)
The refusal rate is usually quite high, as a salary is sometimes not considered a secure income, only a pension. Note that a two-year fund for yourself or the whole family (if you have one) must be deposited in advance to a Greek bank. These permit holders are not allowed to work or have any investment activity in Greece.
For family members, they will need:
Since the 5th of April 2024, according to the new law 5100/2024 (Government Gazette A’ 49/05-04-2024), the minimum value requirement of the property investment has increased to €800,000. The said property must also equal to a minimum of 120 square meters. The investment must be made in a single property, including for undivided joint ownership purchases per individual.
Please note that the new minimum property investment value only applies to these areas:
See more information on our latest article, Golden Visa Program Changes in 2024.
The “Golden” visas cost €500, which is paid and obtained through the “e-Paravolo” platform and and an additional €16 for the issuance of the card. You will also need to show these documents for the application:
The last obvious way to obtain residency is to prove that one of your family members is from Greek descent, or from a spouse that is of Greek heritage. However if you are of Greek descent yourself who has moved back to Greece after living abroad, you must complete your military service if you are a man in order to acquire Greek citizenship papers.
As you can see there are many ways to obtain residency in Greece. Always ensure that you obtain the correct documents to do so, and keep checking on the Citizen’s Service Office or KEP page to keep updated on the latest immigration policies on obtaining residency in Greece.
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