Greece Visas Overview: Complete Guide for 2026

Greece offers one of Europe's most diverse visa systems, from short-term Schengen access to investor-based residency through the Golden Visa program. With recent changes to investment thresholds and new restrictions on rental properties, understanding your options has never been more important.

This guide breaks down every visa pathway to Greece, including current fees, processing times, and the specific requirements that trip up most applicants.

Greece Visa Types at a Glance

Before diving into specifics, here's how each visa option compares:

Greece Schengen Visa (Type C): How Do Short Stays Work?

The Schengen visa grants access to Greece and 29 other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This is the standard tourist visa for non-EU nationals.

Eligibility Requirements

• Valid passport with at least 6 months validity beyond your planned stay
• Completed visa application form
• Two recent passport photos (35mm x 45mm)
• Proof of accommodation (hotel bookings, invitation letter)
• Travel itinerary and return flight tickets
• Travel health insurance with minimum €30,000 coverage
• Proof of sufficient funds (approximately €50-100 per day)
• Evidence of ties to home country (employment, property, family)

Schengen visa application process

1. Determine the correct consulate. Apply at the Greek consulate if Greece is your main destination or first point of entry into the Schengen zone.
2. Book an appointment. Most consulates require appointments 2-4 weeks in advance during peak season.
3. Submit your application. Appear in person with all required documents.
4. Biometric data collection. First-time applicants provide fingerprints (valid for 59 months).
5. Wait for processing. Standard processing takes 15 calendar days; complex cases may take up to 45 days.
6. Standard visa fee: €90
7. Children aged 6-11: €45
8. Children under 6: Free
9. Certain nationalities may have reduced fees under bilateral agreements

The 90/180 rule is strictly enforced. Overstaying—even by one day—can result in fines, deportation, and future visa bans across all Schengen countries.

If you plan to stay longer than 90 days, work in Greece, or establish residency, you need a different visa category.

Greece National Visa (Type D): Who Needs Long-Stay Residence?

The National Visa (Type D) is your gateway to Greek residency for purposes beyond tourism. This category covers employment, study, family reunification, and other long-term stays.

Type D Visa Categories

Work Visa

• Requires a job offer from a Greek employer
• Employer must obtain a work permit from the Public Employment Service (DYPA)
• Initial permit valid for 1-2 years
• Can convert to permanent residence after 5 years

Student Visa

• Acceptance letter from a Greek educational institution
• Proof of tuition payment or scholarship
• Health insurance coverage
• Proof of accommodation
• Financial means of at least €400-500/month

Family Reunification

• For spouses, children, and dependent parents of Greek residents
• Sponsor must demonstrate adequate housing and income
• Health insurance for dependents required

Financially Independent Person (FIP)

• For retirees and those with passive income
• No employment in Greece permitted
• Must demonstrate stable income (pension, investments, rental income)
• €3,500/month net for a single applicant (+20% for a spouse, +15% per child), set by Law 5038/2023

Application Requirements

All Type D applications require:

• Valid passport (at least 12 months beyond visa validity)
• Completed national visa application
• Two passport photos
• Proof of purpose (employment contract, acceptance letter, family documents)
• Health insurance with full coverage in Greece
• Proof of accommodation
• Criminal background check (apostilled)
• Proof of financial means

Fees and Processing

• Visa fee: €180
• Processing time: 30-90 days (varies significantly by consulate and category)
• Residence permit fee upon arrival: €150

Converting to Permanent Residence

After 5 years of continuous legal residence in Greece, Type D visa holders can apply for a Long-Term Resident permit. This EU-wide status grants:

• Indefinite residence rights
• Access to employment without work permits
• Enhanced mobility within the EU
• Pathway to Greek citizenship after 7 total years

Greece Digital Nomad Visa: How Much Do You Need to Earn?

Launched in 2021 and refined in subsequent years, Greece's Digital Nomad Visa targets remote workers, freelancers, and entrepreneurs who work for employers or clients outside Greece.

Eligibility Criteria

• Employment: Must work remotely for an employer or clients based outside Greece
• Income: Minimum €3,500/month net income (after tax)
• Family: Income threshold increases by +20% for spouse (€4,200 total) and +15% per dependent child
• Health Insurance: Comprehensive coverage valid in Greece for the visa duration
• Clean Record: No criminal convictions

Income Documentation

You must provide evidence of consistent income through:

• Employment contract with remote work provisions
• Bank statements showing 3-6 months of salary deposits
• Tax returns from your country of residence
• Client contracts for freelancers (showing ongoing relationships)

Digital Nomad visa application process

Important 2026 change: since 6 February 2026 (Law 5275/2026) you must obtain the Digital Nomad Visa as a national (Type D) visa at a Greek consulate in your country of residence before you travel. Entering as a tourist and converting inside Greece has been abolished. See our Greece Digital Nomad Visa guide for the current step-by-step.

1. Gather documents. Employment verification, income proof, insurance, accommodation
2. Apply at Greek consulate. Submit Type D visa application with Digital Nomad supporting documents
3. Receive entry visa. Processing takes approximately 10 working days
4. Enter Greece. Within 90 days of visa issuance
5. Apply for residence permit. At the local Aliens Bureau (Αλλοδαπών) within 30 days of arrival
6. Biometrics and permit. Residence permit card issued within 30-60 days
7. Fees: about €180 for the national (type D) visa at the consulate, then a €1,000 residence-permit fee (e-paravolo) on arrival, plus about €150 per dependent and €16 per card.
8. Residence permit fee: €1,000
9. Renewal fee: €1,000 annually

Digital Nomad Visa holders who spend more than 183 days in Greece become tax residents. Greece offers a 50% income tax exemption for 7 years for qualifying new tax residents—a significant incentive for high earners relocating from higher-tax jurisdictions.

To qualify for the tax exemption:

• You must not have been a Greek tax resident in the previous 5 of 6 years
• You must relocate from an EU/EEA country or a country with a tax information exchange agreement
• You must commit to staying in Greece for at least 2 years

Renewal and Permanent Residence

The Digital Nomad permit renews annually as long as you continue meeting income requirements. After 7 years of continuous residence (and meeting Greek language requirements), you can apply for citizenship.

Greece FIP / Retirement Visa: Who Qualifies?

The FIP permit is issued for 3 years and renews for 3 years at a time, but unlike the Golden Visa it requires you to live in Greece at least 183 days a year to renew (Law 5038/2023). It is the residence route for people who genuinely relocate, not a passive investment permit.

Greece welcomes retirees and financially independent individuals who can support themselves without employment in Greece. This pathway is ideal for those with pensions, investment income, or other passive revenue streams.

Requirements

• Proof of Income: Regular passive income of at least €3,500/month net for a single applicant (+20% for a spouse, +15% per child), per Law 5038/2023. This is the same permit marketed as the 'retirement visa'.
• Health Insurance: Private insurance with comprehensive Greek coverage
• Clean Criminal Record: From country of residence
• Accommodation: Proof of housing (rental agreement or property ownership)

Acceptable Income Sources

• Government or private pensions
• Social security payments
• Investment dividends and interest
• Rental income from foreign properties
• Annuities and retirement account distributions

FIP / retirement visa application process

1. Apply for Type D visa at Greek consulate with FIP supporting documents
2. Include bank statements showing 12 months of income history
3. Provide pension statements or investment account documentation
4. Enter Greece and register for residence permit within 30 days
5. Visa fee: €180
6. Residence permit: €150 initially, then annual renewal
7. Processing time: 60-90 days
8. No requirement to work
9. Can bring spouse and dependent children
10. Access to Greek healthcare system (with contributions)
11. Pathway to citizenship after 7 years

Greece's Golden Visa program remains one of Europe's most popular investor residency schemes, though significant changes in 2024-2026 have raised thresholds and introduced new restrictions.

How Much Does the Greece Golden Visa Cost in 2026?

Greece's Golden Visa grants five-year, renewable residence to non-EU nationals who buy qualifying property. The minimum is tiered by location: €800,000 in high-demand areas (Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, and islands over 3,100 residents), €400,000 in the rest of Greece, and €250,000 only for a commercial-to-residential conversion or the restoration of a listed building. The investment must be a single property of at least 120 m2. For the full process, costs, and zone detail, see our Greece Golden Visa guide, or get it handled with our Golden Visa service.

Investment Thresholds (2026)

Critical Restrictions (2026 Rules)

Single Property Requirement

You must invest the full threshold amount in a single property. The previous strategy of combining multiple smaller properties no longer qualifies.

Minimum Size Requirement

Properties must be at least 120 square meters. This effectively excludes most studio and one-bedroom apartments in urban areas.

No Short-Term Rentals

Renting a Golden Visa property short-term (under 60 days, Airbnb-style) is banned under Law 5100/2024; a breach can trigger a fine of at least €50,000 and revocation of your residence permit. Long-term lets of 60 days or more remain allowed.

Golden Visa properties cannot be listed on Airbnb or similar platforms. Violators face substantial fines (reportedly up to €50,000) and potential permit revocation. This restriction aims to address housing affordability concerns in major Greek cities.

Zone Classification

The €800,000 zones include:

• Attica region (Greater Athens)
• Thessaloniki municipality
• Islands with more than 3,100 residents (including Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, and other popular destinations)
• Designated tourist areas

The €400,000 threshold applies to:

• Mainland Greece outside Attica/Thessaloniki
• Less-developed islands
• Rural and semi-urban areas

Golden Visa application process

1. Select Property: Work with a Greek lawyer to identify qualifying properties
2. Obtain Tax Number (AFM): Required for any financial transaction in Greece
3. Open Greek Bank Account: For property purchase and ongoing expenses
4. Complete Purchase: Notarized deed (συμβόλαιο) registered with land registry. Note: Proof of Land Registry submission is now sufficient for initial application; full registration is required only for renewal.
5. Submit Golden Visa Application: At Ministry of Migration with all supporting documents, including the investor's real estate declaration (E9 Form), which became mandatory in November 2025
6. Biometrics: Fingerprints and photo at designated center
7. Receive Permit: Currently experiencing 12+ month backlogs
8. Valid passport
9. Greek tax number (AFM)
10. Property deed showing investment amount
11. Proof of legal property acquisition
12. Health insurance valid in Greece
13. Criminal record certificate (apostilled)
14. Proof of legal entry to Greece
15. Biometric data (collected in Greece)
16. Residence permit fee: €2,000 for the main applicant, plus about €150 per adult dependent and €16 per card
17. Legal fees: €3,000-5,000 typically
18. Notary fees: 1-2% of property value
19. Property transfer tax: 3.09% of declared value
20. Land registry fees: 0.475% of property value

While the government targets 2-month processing, actual wait times have extended to 12 months or longer due to high demand. Premium processing services have been eliminated.

Golden Visa Benefits

• 5-year residence permit (renewable indefinitely)
• Visa-free Schengen travel (90/180 days in other countries)
• Family inclusion: Spouse, children under 21, parents of both spouses
• No minimum stay requirement: Unlike most residency permits, Golden Visa holders have no obligation to live in Greece
• Path to citizenship: After 7 years of actual residence (not just permit holding)

Important Considerations

Golden Visa does NOT equal citizenship rights.

The permit has no minimum stay requirement, but citizenship requires:

• 7 years of actual residence in Greece
• Greek language proficiency (B1 level minimum)
• Integration into Greek society
• Clean criminal record

Many Golden Visa holders maintain permits indefinitely without pursuing citizenship, using Greece as a Schengen access point while residing elsewhere.

Demand check: Greece received a record 9,289 main-applicant Golden Visa applications in 2024 and has attracted over €10 billion since 2013 (€2.32 billion in 2024 alone). Processing runs long — the pending backlog was about 42,000 applications in late 2025, so budget many months for approval.

What does the Greece Golden Visa cost all-in?

Budget about 5–8% on top of the property price. Example: a €250,000 Athens resale works out to roughly €267,000–€275,000 all-in for a single applicant. Compare programs in our Greece Golden Visa guide.

2026 Immigration Reforms (Law 5275/2026)

Greece overhauled its immigration code with Law 5275/2026, in force from 6 February 2026, which also transposes the EU's recast Blue Card directive. The main changes:

• EU Blue Card: now valid for three years (up from two), for highly qualified employees earning at least 1.6 times Greece's average gross salary.
• Tech Visa: a 12-month visa for hires at startups in the national Elevate Greece registry, with immediate work rights and a route into the Blue Card.
• Talent Visa: a 12-month visa for highly qualified graduates (Master's, PhD, or postdoc from top-ranked institutions) to seek work or start a business.
• Specialized Personnel Visa: for staff transferred to large projects in Greece (project value of €10 million or more).
• Digital Nomad Visa: must now be obtained at a consulate before arrival; in-country conversion from tourist status is abolished.

Some thresholds for the new Tech and Talent visas are set as multiples of the average salary and finalised by ministerial decision, so confirm the current figure with a Greek consulate before applying.

How Do You Get Greek Citizenship?

All residence permits in Greece can eventually lead to citizenship, but the requirements are substantial.

Basic Requirements

• 7 years of legal residence in Greece (reduced to 3 years for spouses of Greek citizens, or those with Greek children)
• Greek language proficiency: B1 level certification
• Integration test: Knowledge of Greek history, culture, and institutions
• Clean criminal record: No serious convictions
• Tax compliance: All Greek tax obligations fulfilled
• Continuous residence: Absences limited to 6 months per year, 10 months total

Citizenship application process

1. Submit application to the Decentralized Administration (Αποκεντρωμένη Διοίκηση)
2. Provide all residence permits, tax records, and integration evidence
3. Interview with Naturalization Committee
4. Language and knowledge examination
5. Decision by General Secretary (typically 12-24 months)
6. Oath ceremony and issuance of citizenship documents

Greek citizenship provides:

• EU citizenship rights (live and work anywhere in EU/EEA)
• Visa-free access to 180+ countries
• Access to Greek healthcare and education
• Voting rights in Greek and EU elections
• Protection under Greek and EU law worldwide

Visa Processing Tips

General Advice

• Apply early. Start 3-6 months before intended travel for long-term visas
• Use certified translations. All non-Greek documents require official translation
• Apostille everything. Documents from Hague Convention countries need apostilles; others need embassy legalization
• Work with professionals. Greek immigration lawyers can significantly smooth the process
• Keep copies. Maintain digital and physical copies of all submitted documents

Common Rejection Reasons

• Insufficient proof of income or funds
• Incomplete health insurance coverage
• Missing or expired documents
• Inconsistencies in application information
• Poor interview performance (for categories requiring interviews)

Contact Information

Ministry of Migration and Asylum

Website: migration.gov.gr

Email: info@migration.gov.gr

Greek Consulates

Find your nearest consulate at: mfa.gr/en/appendix/greece-bilateral-relations

Related Greece guides and services

Each route has a dedicated step-by-step guide, and Movingto can run the main routes for you end to end:

Sources

• Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum
• Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs

This guide is general information, not legal advice, and reflects Greek visa rules as of June 2026. Immigration policy changes often — confirm current requirements with the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum or a qualified immigration lawyer before applying.