Fact-checked · Up to date · Official sources
Moving to Greece is simple for EU and EEA citizens, who can live there freely and register after three months. Most other nationals need a national visa and then a residence permit, through the financially independent person (FIP) route, the digital nomad visa, a work permit or the property-based Golden Visa. After arrival come a tax number (AFM), a bank account, a social security number (AMKA) and a decision on tax residence.
Last verified: 20 October 2026Visa routes for retirees, the 7% flat tax on foreign pensions, S1 healthcare and where to live.
Read more →Moving to GreeceHousehold spending, prices, inflation, rents and utility bills across Greece from ELSTAT, Eurostat and official tariffs.
Read more →Moving to GreeceRents by neighbourhood, public transport fares, utility tariffs and household spending in Athens and Attica.
Read more →Moving to GreeceIncome test, duration, family members and tax for remote workers who want to live in Greece.
Read more →Moving to GreeceThe financially independent person visa for retirees and people living on passive income from abroad.
Read more →EU and EEA citizens can move to Greece without a visa. Almost everyone else needs a national visa and then a residence permit, chosen by how you will support yourself.
For EU and EEA citizens, the right to live in Greece comes from EU free movement law. After the first three months you may be asked to register, and pensioners show comprehensive health insurance and enough resources to support themselves, according to the European Commission’s Your Europe portal. In Greece the registration certificate (βεβαίωση εγγραφής) is issued by the Hellenic Police aliens offices. Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic and Liechtenstein nationals follow similar rules.
Citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Israel, Turkey, the UAE, Lebanon and China are third-country nationals. They can visit for short stays, but living in Greece needs a permit. UK nationals who moved before 1 January 2021 hold rights under the Withdrawal Agreement. UK nationals moving now apply for a Type D national visa before arrival and a residence permit after it, according to the UK government’s Living in Greece guide (updated 2026).
Relocating to Greece from outside the EU usually means one of four routes: the financially independent person (FIP) visa, the digital nomad visa, a work-based permit or the property-based Golden Visa. Each has its own income or investment test.
| Route | Who it suits | Key condition | Can you work in Greece? |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU/EEA free movement | EU and EEA citizens | Register after 3 months | Yes |
| FIP visa | Retirees and people living on passive income | €3,500 a month, plus 20% for a spouse and 15% per child | No |
| Digital nomad visa | Remote employees and freelancers with clients abroad | €3,500 a month net, plus 20% for a spouse and 15% per child | Only for employers or clients outside Greece |
| Golden Visa | Property investors | €250,000, €400,000 or €800,000 depending on area and property type | No salaried work |
| Work permit or EU Blue Card | People with a job offer from a Greek employer | Employer and job conditions | Yes, for that job |
The FIP figures come from the law firm Stathaki-Tsopela, which says the permit lasts three years and is renewable. The digital nomad visa was created by Law 4825/2021. EY Greece’s tax alert states the visa lasts up to 12 months and can be followed by a two-year renewable permit. Golden Visa thresholds are set by Law 5100/2024: €800,000 in Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and islands with more than 3,100 residents; €400,000 elsewhere; €250,000 for conversions and listed buildings.
The full list of permit types is on our Greek residence permits page. Retirees should also read retire in Greece.
The first practical steps are a Greek tax number, a bank account, a social security number and, for EU citizens, registration of your stay. Most other tasks depend on these.
You become a Greek tax resident if your permanent home, habitual abode or centre of vital interests is in Greece, or if you spend more than 183 days there in any 12-month period, according to KPMG’s Greece summary. Greek tax residents are taxed on worldwide income.
Greece offers three special regimes to new residents under the Income Tax Code (Law 4172/2013). Each requires that you were not a Greek tax resident for most of the previous years, and each needs an application to AADE.
| Regime | Who it is for | Tax treatment | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Article 5A (non-dom) | Investors not tax resident in 7 of the last 8 years who invest at least €500,000 | €100,000 a year on foreign income, plus €20,000 per covered relative | Up to 15 years |
| Article 5B (pensioners) | People with a foreign pension, not tax resident in 5 of the last 6 years | 7% flat tax on foreign income | Up to 15 tax years |
| Article 5C (workers) | Employees and self-employed people starting work in Greece, not tax resident in 5 of the last 6 years | 50% exemption on Greek employment or business income | 7 tax years |
Sources: PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries (reviewed 8 September 2026) for Articles 5A and 5C. For Article 5B, AADE decision A.1192/2026 set a yearly application deadline of 31 October and payment by the last working day of December. Read our 7% pensioner tax guide for details.
Most people rent first and buy later, once they know the area. Rents are rising faster than incomes in many cities, so budget for that.
Asking rents rose 1.3% nationally and 4.5% in Attica in the year to the second quarter of 2026, according to Spitogatos. ELSTAT’s consumer price index shows actual rents up 5.9% in the year to September 2026. In Athens, the number of homes advertised for rent fell in the third quarter of 2026, according to xe.gr listings. Our rent in Athens data page tracks rents by area.
Foreigners can buy property in Greece on the same terms as Greeks in most of the country. Some border areas need a permit for non-EU buyers. See how to buy property in Greece as a foreigner and the costs of buying.
Greece has a public National Health System (ESY, ΕΣΥ). Residents who work and pay social insurance use it on the same basis as Greek citizens. People who do not work usually need an S1 form or private insurance.
Private health insurance premiums depend on age and cover. No official average premium is published.
Greek state schools are free and teach in Greek. Private and international schools charge fees and some teach in English or follow the International Baccalaureate.
Greek households spent an average of €64.54 a month on education in 2025, or 3.5% of their budget, according to ELSTAT’s Household Budget Survey 2025. That figure covers all households, including those without children. School fees vary widely by school and are not published centrally.
An average Greek household spent €1,820.20 a month in 2025, and an Attica household €2,081.78, according to ELSTAT. Consumer prices in Greece were 87.4% of the EU average in 2025, Eurostat data show.
| Indicator | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Average monthly household spending, Greece | €1,820.20 | ELSTAT, Household Budget Survey 2025 |
| Average monthly household spending, Attica | €2,081.78 | ELSTAT, Household Budget Survey 2025 |
| Price level, household consumption | 87.4 (EU = 100) | Eurostat, 2025 |
| Annual inflation | 5.0% | ELSTAT CPI, September 2026 |
| Monthly minimum wage | €920 | Ministerial decision, from 1 April 2026 |
Inflation rose to 5% in September 2026, with housing costs up 14.7%. See our report. Full breakdowns are on cost of living in Greece and cost of living in Athens.
Greece pays €10,000 to households that move their main home to certain northern and border areas. The decision’s household definitions refer to Greek citizens, so check eligibility before you plan around it.
The scheme runs under joint ministerial decision 22695 (Government Gazette B’ 6139, 9 October 2026). It pays two €5,000 instalments and covers up to 1,000 households in 11 regional units, including Evros, Florina, Kastoria and Ioannina. The decision’s household definitions refer to an adult Greek citizen who files Greek tax returns. Applications go through relocation.vouchers.gov.gr. See the official rules.
EU and EEA driving licences are valid in Greece. Several non-EU licences can be exchanged for a Greek one, and pets need a microchip and rabies vaccination.
Yes. A US citizen needs a Greek national visa and then a residence permit. The usual routes are the financially independent person (FIP) visa, the digital nomad visa, a work permit or the property-based Golden Visa. Each has its own income or investment test. See Greek residence permits for the full list.
The FIP and digital nomad routes each require about €3,500 a month in income, plus 20% for a spouse and 15% per child, according to the law firm Stathaki-Tsopela and EY Greece. The Golden Visa requires a property investment of €250,000 to €800,000. EU citizens only need to show they can support themselves.
If you live in Greece for more than 183 days in any 12-month period, or your main home and interests are there, you are normally a Greek tax resident and taxed on worldwide income. Double tax treaties can change this. Special regimes offer a 7% rate for foreign pensions and a 50% exemption for new workers.
Public healthcare is available to residents who pay Greek social insurance and to EU and UK pensioners with a registered S1 form. Other residents who do not work usually need private health insurance, which is also required for a visa and permit. Medicare does not normally cover care outside the United States.
Buying a home does not by itself give a non-EU citizen the right to live in Greece. A purchase of at least €250,000, €400,000 or €800,000, depending on area and property type, can qualify for a Golden Visa residence permit. EU citizens can buy and live in Greece without a permit.
Start with a Greek tax number (AFM). You need it to rent, buy, open a bank account and sign utility contracts. Then open a bank account, register your stay or apply for your permit, and get a social security number (AMKA) for healthcare. See our AFM guide.