Greece Visas Overview: Complete Guide for 2026

A Greek national visa (Type D) is a long-stay visa issued by a Greek consulate for stays of more than 90 days; once in Greece, you exchange it for the residence permit of your route, such as the 2-year digital nomad permit or the 3-year FIP permit. Greece's Golden Visa thresholds rose in 2024 (Law 5100/2024), and Law 5275/2026 changed several work and digital nomad routes from 6 February 2026.

Greece Visa Types at a Glance

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

The Schengen visa grants access to Greece and the 28 other Schengen countries (29 members in total) for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. It is the standard short-stay visa for non-EU nationals who need one; visa-exempt travellers, such as US citizens, enter without it (see moving to Greece from the US).

Eligibility Requirements

• Valid passport issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure from the Schengen area (EU Visa Code art. 12)
• 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 for the length of your stay (the consulate tells you the amount it expects)
• 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. Book early: in peak season, appointment slots at some consulates can fill weeks ahead.
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
• The Greek employer applies electronically to the Ministry of Migration one-stop service to invite you (the μετάκληση procedure), within the labour-market quota set each year (Law 5275/2026 art. 21)
• The work permit (type E.4) is valid for 3 years and renews for 5 years; it needs an employment contract of at least 6 months
• 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
• Proof of sufficient financial means (the amount is set by joint ministerial decision KYA 225679/2024)

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)
• At least €3,500 a month for a single applicant (+20% for a spouse, +15% per child), set by joint ministerial decision KYA 225679/2024; a pension, other lawful income or bank savings can count

Application Requirements

All Type D applications require:

• Valid passport covering at least the visa period (check your consulate's validity rule)
• 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: varies by category, for example €75 for a digital nomad and €180 for several employment categories (EU Immigration Portal)
• Processing time: varies by consulate and category; for the digital nomad visa the consulate must decide within 10 days
• Residence permit fee: depends on the permit (Migration Code art. 171), for example €2,000 for the Golden Visa, plus €16 for the card; confirm the current fee on the e-paravolo portal before you pay

Converting to Permanent Residence

After 5 years of lawful residence in Greece, and with proof of Greek language and history knowledge, permit holders can apply for EU long-term resident status (see our Greece permanent residency guide). This EU-wide status grants:

• Indefinite residence rights
• Access to employment without work permits
• Enhanced mobility within the EU
• A shorter citizenship clock: long-term residence is one of the permits that qualify for the 7-year naturalisation route, while holders of other permits need 12 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
• Recent bank statements showing your salary or client payments
• 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. The consulate must decide within 10 days (Migration Code art. 68)
4. Enter Greece. Travel while the 12-month national visa is valid
5. Apply for residence permit. Before the visa expires, apply for the 2-year digital nomad residence permit at the Aliens and Migration Directorate of the Decentralised Administration
6. Biometrics and permit. Give fingerprints and a photo for the residence card; timing depends on the office
7. Fees: €75 for the national (Type D) visa at the consulate (€90 for each family member's visa), then the residence-permit fee (e-paravolo) set by Migration Code art. 171 and €16 for the card; confirm the current permit fee on the e-paravolo portal before you pay (EU Immigration Portal, checked 18 October 2026).
8. Permit length: 2 years. Confirm the current permit fee (e-paravolo) before you apply

Spending more than 183 days in Greece in any 12-month period makes you Greek tax resident (Income Tax Code art. 4). Greece's article 5C regime exempts 50% of qualifying income for 7 tax years, but only if you work for a Greek employer or a Greek branch (permanent establishment) of a foreign firm, or carry on business activity in Greece, so it does not apply to every digital nomad. Our Greece tax services page explains how we prepare your file for a licensed Greek tax adviser.

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 residence permit lasts 2 years and can be renewed while you keep meeting the income and remote-work conditions. On its own it does not open the 7-year citizenship route: holders of permits that are not on the qualifying list need 12 years of continuous residence, unless they hold long-term resident status or another qualifying permit when they apply (MITOS naturalisation procedure, checked 18 October 2026).

Greece FIP / Retirement Visa: Who Qualifies?

The FIP (financially independent person) permit is issued for 3 years and renews for 3 years at a time, and neither you nor your family may work in Greece on it (Migration Code art. 163, checked 18 October 2026). The "183 days a year to renew" condition often quoted online is not in article 163 or in KYA 225679/2024, so ask the Decentralised Administration about presence before you renew. 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 resources: at least €3,500 a month for a single applicant (+20% for a spouse, +15% per child), set by KYA 225679/2024. A pension, other lawful income or bank savings count; savings are assessed per year (€42,000 a year for one person). 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 recent bank statements and evidence of your income history or savings
3. Provide pension statements or investment account documentation
4. Enter Greece on the national visa and apply for the FIP residence permit before the visa expires
5. National visa fee: set by category; confirm the current amount with your consulate
6. Residence permit: the permit fee set by Migration Code art. 171, plus €16 for the card; the permit lasts 3 years and renews for 3 years (Migration Code art. 163)
7. Processing time: varies by consulate and Decentralised Administration office
8. No requirement to work
9. Can bring spouse and dependent children
10. Access to Greek healthcare system (with contributions)
11. Citizenship: 12 years on the FIP permit alone, or 7 years if you hold long-term resident status or another qualifying permit when you apply

Greece's Golden Visa remains one of Europe's best-known investor residence schemes, though the 2024 reform (Law 5100/2024, in force since 1 September 2024 for the new thresholds) raised the thresholds and banned short-term letting.

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 the Attica Region, the Regional Unit of Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini (Thira) and islands with more than 3,100 residents; €400,000 in the rest of Greece; and €250,000 only for converting a commercial or former industrial building to residential use, or for restoring a listed building (Migration Code art. 100, checked 18 October 2026). The investment must be a single property, and in the €800,000 and €400,000 tiers a built property needs at least 120 m2 of main areas. For the full process, costs and zone detail, see our Greece Golden Visa guide; our Golden Visa service plans the route and sequences the purchase and filing with you.

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

In the €800,000 and €400,000 tiers, a built property must have at least 120 m2 of main areas. This effectively excludes most studio and one-bedroom apartments in urban areas.

No Short-Term Rentals

Letting a Golden Visa property short-term through the sharing economy (Airbnb-style), or subletting it, is banned (Migration Code art. 100(7A), added by Law 5100/2024). A breach means revocation of the permit and a fixed €50,000 fine (€150,000 for breaking the listed-building restoration rules). Long-term letting remains allowed, and the law sets no minimum lease length for it.

Zone Classification

The €800,000 zones include:

• Attica region (Greater Athens)
• The Regional Unit of Thessaloniki
• The Regional Units of Mykonos and Thira (Santorini), and any island with more than 3,100 residents at the last census (for example Crete, Rhodes and Corfu)

The €400,000 threshold applies to:

The €250,000 threshold applies anywhere in Greece, but only to converting a commercial or former industrial building (no industry operating for at least 5 years) to residential use, finished before you apply, or to restoring a listed building, which must be fully restored by your first renewal.

• Mainland Greece outside Attica/Thessaloniki
• Islands with 3,100 residents or fewer (other than Mykonos and Santorini)
• 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 (our Greece AFM service organises the documents and the AADE process)
3. Open Greek Bank Account: For property purchase and ongoing expenses
4. Complete Purchase: Notarised deed (συμβόλαιο) registered with the Land Registry or Hellenic Cadastre
5. Submit Golden Visa Application: At Ministry of Migration with all supporting documents, including a copy of the investor's E9 property declaration (required by Migration Code art. 100(6) since Law 5100/2024)
6. Biometrics: Fingerprints and photo at designated center
7. Receive Permit: the legal target is 2 months from a complete file (Migration Code art. 100(10)); in practice it can take several months longer
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 and €16 per card (Ministry of Migration Golden Visa page); family members' permit fees are set by Migration Code art. 171
17. Legal fees: negotiable; about 1% of the price is a common market estimate, and some lawyers quote a fixed fee
18. Notary fees: a regulated scale of 0.8% up to €120,000 and lower rates above, plus fixed fees and 24% VAT
19. Property transfer tax: 3% of the taxable value on resale property (about 3.09% with the municipal surcharge); new builds carry 24% VAT instead, suspended until 31 December 2026
20. Cadastre registration fee: 0.5% of the value, plus fixed fees (Cadastre decision 2/12-01-2026)

The law sets a 2-month target from a complete file (Migration Code art. 100(10)). Real waits depend on the office and can be much longer, so build slack into your timeline.

Golden Visa Benefits

• 5-year residence permit (renewable indefinitely)
• Visa-free Schengen travel (90/180 days in other countries)
• Family inclusion: spouse or registered partner, unmarried children under 21, parents of both spouses, and (since 6 February 2026) adult children who lack legal capacity and live with and are supported by you
• 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
• Passing the PEGP written naturalisation exam (Greek language, history, culture and institutions)
• Integration into Greek society
• Clean criminal record

Some Golden Visa holders keep the permit for years without pursuing citizenship, using it for Schengen access while living elsewhere.

What does the Greece Golden Visa cost all-in?

Budget roughly 5–8% on top of the property price (a rough estimate, not an official figure). Example: a €400,000 resale home outside the €800,000 zones works out to roughly €420,000–€432,000 all-in for a single applicant. A €250,000 ordinary resale does not qualify in Athens or anywhere else: all of Attica sits in the €800,000 tier, and €250,000 applies only to conversions and listed buildings. Compare programs in our Greece Golden Visa guide and see the line-by-line Greece Golden Visa cost guide.

What Changed in Greece's 2026 Immigration Law (Law 5275/2026)?

Greece amended its Migration Code with Law 5275/2026 (FEK A' 17/06.02.2026), in force from 6 February 2026. It transposes the EU Single Permit directive (Directive (EU) 2024/1233); the Blue Card directive was already transposed by the 2023 Migration Code. The main changes (Law 5275/2026, checked 18 October 2026):

• EU Blue Card: now valid for three years (up from two) and renewable for three years at a time; the salary floor stays at 1.6 times Greece's average gross annual salary.
• Tech Visa: a 12-month visa for hires at startups in the national Elevate Greece registry, with a contract of at least 12 months and a salary of at least 1.6 times the average gross annual salary; it gives immediate work rights with that employer and a route into the Blue Card.
• Talent Visa: a 12-month visa for graduates with a Master's, PhD or postdoc obtained in the last 5 years from institutions ranked in at least two international rankings, to seek work or start a business. The list of qualifying institutions is set by joint ministerial decision, which we could not confirm as issued as of 18 October 2026.
• Specialized Personnel Visa: for staff of a foreign firm building or running industrial, technology or pharmaceutical plants under a contract with a Greek company, where the investment is more than €10 million; the visa lasts up to 12 months.
• Digital Nomad Visa: must now be obtained at a consulate before arrival; in-country conversion from tourist status is abolished.
• Permits and renewals: first permits are now generally issued for 3 years, renewal applications go in during the 2 months before expiry, and a late application up to 3 months after expiry costs €100 per month of delay.

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?

Greek citizenship by naturalisation takes 7 years of lawful and permanent residence if you hold a qualifying permit when you apply (such as long-term residence, a 10-year permit or the Golden Visa), and 12 years on other permits (MITOS naturalisation procedure, checked 18 October 2026). Our Greek citizenship guide covers each step.

Basic Requirements

• 7 years of lawful and permanent residence on a qualifying permit (12 years on other permits); 3 years for spouses of Greek citizens who have a child together, for parents with custody of a Greek child born in Greece, and for EU citizens
• Knowledge test: the PEGP certificate (Πιστοποιητικό Επάρκειας Γνώσεων για Πολιτογράφηση), a written exam on Greek language, history, culture and institutions, held twice a year
• Economic and social integration in Greece, assessed on your file
• Clean criminal record: No serious convictions
• Tax compliance: All Greek tax obligations fulfilled

Citizenship application process

1. Pass the PEGP written exam (held twice a year) before you apply
2. Submit your application and the €550 fee to the Regional Citizenship Directorate (Περιφερειακή Διεύθυνση Ιθαγένειας) of the Ministry of Interior, with your residence permits, tax records and integration evidence
3. Decision on your application (processing times vary)
4. 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

How Do You Avoid Delays and Refusals?

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 Greek embassy or consulate through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (mfa.gr).

Related Greece guides and services

Each route has a dedicated step-by-step guide. On the main routes, Movingto plans the route, sequences the purchase and filing and prepares the documents with you:

Sources

• Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum
• Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Law 5275/2026 (FEK A' 17/06.02.2026), Ministry of Migration PDF
• Law 5100/2024, codified text (Golden Visa thresholds), Ministry of Migration PDF
• KYA 225679/2024 (sufficient resources for FIP and other permits)
• MITOS: naturalisation of foreign nationals (gov.gr procedures register)

This guide is general information, not legal advice, and reflects Greek visa rules as checked on 18 October 2026. Immigration policy changes often — confirm current requirements with the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum or a qualified immigration lawyer before applying.