Fact-checked · Up to date · Official sources
To retire in Greece, EU citizens simply register their stay, while most non-EU retirees use the financially independent person (FIP) visa at €3,500 a month or a Golden Visa property purchase. Foreign pensioners who move their tax residence can pay a flat 7% on foreign income for up to 15 years, if they apply by 31 October and pay each December.
Last verified: 20 October 2026EU and EEA pensioners can retire in Greece without a visa. Non-EU retirees usually use the financially independent person (FIP) visa or the property-based Golden Visa.
| Route | Main condition | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EU/EEA citizens | Health insurance and enough resources | Register your stay after three months, according to Your Europe |
| FIP visa | €3,500 a month, plus 20% for a spouse and 15% per child | Three-year renewable permit, no work, according to the law firm Stathaki-Tsopela |
| Golden Visa | Property of €250,000, €400,000 or €800,000 | No minimum income; threshold depends on area and property type under Law 5100/2024 |
The FIP route starts with a national visa (type D) from a Greek consulate. The permit itself is then issued in Greece. The Ministry of Migration and Asylum lists the financially independent persons permit among its permit categories.
The Golden Visa has no income test but needs a larger investment. The €800,000 threshold applies in Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and every island with more than 3,100 residents, so Crete, Corfu and Rhodes are included. Elsewhere it is €400,000. Converting a commercial building to homes or restoring a listed building qualifies at €250,000 anywhere. See all residence permits.
Article 5B of the Income Tax Code (Law 4172/2013) lets pensioners who move their tax residence to Greece pay a flat 7% on foreign income for up to 15 tax years. You must apply each new year by 31 October and pay in full every December.
The Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) issued decision A.1192/2026, published in the Government Gazette (B 5767/24.9.2026). It moved the application deadline from 31 March to 31 October.
| You move tax residence | First 7% tax year | Apply by |
|---|---|---|
| By 2 July | Year of arrival, or the following year | 31 October of the chosen year |
| After 2 July | Following year only | 31 October of the following year |
The decision’s text applies the 7% to total foreign-source income. AADE’s press release of 25 September 2026 refers to foreign pension income. If you have foreign rent, dividends or interest, confirm the scope with an accountant. Read our 7% flat tax guide, the new AADE rules and the free PDF Retire in Greece and pay 7% tax.
EU and UK state pensioners can use Greek public healthcare through an S1 form. Most other non-EU retirees need private health insurance.
Health was 7.6% of average Greek household spending in 2025, or €138.24 a month, according to ELSTAT’s Household Budget Survey 2025. No official average premium for private health insurance is published.
A single person aged 65 or over in Greece spent €829.22 a month on average in 2025, according to ELSTAT. That is 45.6% of the €1,820.20 national household average.
Consumer prices in Greece were 87.4% of the EU average in 2025, Eurostat data show. Inflation, however, rose to 5% in September 2026, with housing costs up 14.7%, according to ELSTAT.
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Single person aged 65+, monthly spending | €829.22 | ELSTAT, 2025 |
| Attica household, monthly spending | €2,081.78 | ELSTAT, 2025 |
| Electricity, ΔΕΗ regulated tariff up to 200 kWh | €0.15913 per kWh | ΔΕΗ, October 2026 |
| Annual inflation | 5.0% | ELSTAT, September 2026 |
The electricity price is the supply charge only. Network charges, levies and VAT are added on the bill. See cost of living in Greece and cost of living in Athens.
No official statistics show where foreign retirees settle in Greece. Choose by healthcare access, transport links and housing costs, which do vary widely.
Asking rents give a guide to the gap. In the second quarter of 2026 the Cyclades had the highest average asking rent in Greece at €14.4 per m² a month, according to Spitogatos. The north suburbs of Athens and Lefkada were both at €11.8. Within Attica, asking rents ranged from €22.0 per m² in Vouliagmeni to €7.5 in Agios Stefanos.
| Area | Asking rent, € per m² a month | Asking sale price, € per m² |
|---|---|---|
| Cyclades | 14.4 | 4,063 |
| South suburbs of Athens | 13.3 | 4,231 |
| Centre of Athens | 12.0 | not in top five |
| Thessaloniki centre | 12.0 | 3,056 |
| Lefkada | 11.8 | 3,302 |
| North suburbs of Athens | 11.8 | 3,519 |
| Chania (regional unit) | not in top five | 3,102 |
| Pella | 4.6 (lowest in Greece) | not published |
Source: Spitogatos, average asking prices for all homes, second quarter of 2026 (released 4 August 2026). Spitogatos published only the highest and lowest areas, so many places have no figure. These are advertised prices, not signed leases or sales.
Our area guides cover Crete, the Peloponnese, Corfu and Thessaloniki.
Renting first lets you test an area through a winter. Buying gives cost certainty and can support a Golden Visa, but brings purchase taxes and annual property tax.
Read how to buy property in Greece as a foreigner and the full costs of buying.
Property in Greece is subject to Greek inheritance tax, and the 7% regime does not change that. EU Regulation 650/2012 lets you choose the law of your nationality to govern your estate.
Under Article 22 of the EU Succession Regulation, a person may choose the law of the state whose nationality they hold. Without a choice, the law of the last habitual residence usually applies, which for a retiree in Greece would be Greek law. Greek law reserves shares of the estate for close relatives. A will made with that choice can avoid surprises for heirs abroad. See Greek inheritance and gift tax.
Retiring in Greece takes planning. Work through these steps in order, because the tax and permit timelines interact, so start six to twelve months before you move.
Yes. US citizens usually retire in Greece on the financially independent person (FIP) visa, which needs about €3,500 a month in income, or through a Golden Visa property purchase. Medicare does not normally cover care abroad, so private health insurance is needed. Foreign pension income can qualify for the 7% flat tax under Article 5B.
The FIP visa asks for €3,500 a month for the main applicant, plus 20% for a spouse, according to the law firm Stathaki-Tsopela. Actual spending is lower for many people: ELSTAT found a single person aged 65 or over spent €829.22 a month on average in 2025, before any rent they pay.
A foreign pension, including a US pension, can qualify if you were not a Greek tax resident in 5 of the last 6 years and you move from a country with a tax cooperation agreement with Greece. Some US government pensions may be taxable only in the US under the double tax treaty. An accountant should confirm your case.
Under AADE decision A.1192/2026 you apply by 31 October of the first tax year you claim, send missing documents by 30 November and pay the full 7% by the last working day of December. If you move after 2 July, your first 7% year is the following year. See our deadline report.
Yes. UK State Pension holders living in Greece may get state healthcare paid by the UK through an S1 form. They request it from NHS Overseas Healthcare Services, obtain a Greek social security number (AMKA) and register the S1 with EOPYY, according to the UK government’s Healthcare in Greece guide.
Overall consumer prices in Greece were 87.4% of the EU average in 2025, according to Eurostat, so most everyday costs are lower than in higher-cost EU states. Housing in Athens and on popular islands is no longer cheap, and Greek inflation was 5% in September 2026. Compare rents in your chosen area before deciding.