How-to

How to Move to Greece from the USA: Visas, US Taxes and Social Security

To move to Greece from the USA, you need a Greek national visa and then a residence permit, because US citizens can only stay visa-free for short visits. The main routes are the financially independent person (FIP) visa, the digital nomad visa and the Golden Visa. Americans also keep filing US tax returns after the move. This guide on how to move to Greece from the USA covers visas, US tax, FBAR, Social Security, healthcare and banking.

Last checked: October 2026

At a glance

US citizens can visit Greece without a visa for up to 90 days, with a passport valid for 3 months beyond departure.
US citizens are taxed on worldwide income wherever they live, so filing with the IRS continues after the move.
The foreign earned income exclusion is $132,900 for tax year 2026, but it does not cover pensions or Social Security.
An FBAR is required if your foreign accounts together exceed $10,000 at any time in the year.
US citizens can generally keep receiving Social Security in Greece, and the SSA can pay by direct deposit to a Greek account.
Medicare generally does not cover care outside the United States.

Visas: how to move to Greece from the USA

Americans can visit Greece for up to 90 days without a visa, according to the US State Department. Living there requires a type D national visa from a Greek consulate in the US, followed by a residence permit in Greece.

Route	Who it suits	Main condition
Financially independent person (FIP)	Retirees and people living on investment or pension income	At least €3,500 a month, plus 20% for a spouse and 15% per child; no work in Greece
Digital nomad	Remote workers for US employers or clients	At least €3,500 a month net; visa up to 12 months, then a 2-year permit
Golden Visa	Property buyers	€800,000, €400,000 or €250,000, depending on location and property type
Work or family	People with a Greek job offer or a Greek or EU spouse	Employer sponsorship or a family link

The FIP figures come from a Ministry of Migration decision of September 2024. The FIP permit lasts 3 years and is renewable, and its fee is €1,000. Read our FIP visa guide and our digital nomad visa guide for the full process.

The Golden Visa needs €800,000 in Attica, the Thessaloniki regional unit, Mykonos, Santorini and islands with more than 3,100 residents, and €400,000 elsewhere, each for a single property of at least 120 m². Conversions and listed-building restorations qualify from €250,000 anywhere. See our Golden Visa guide.

American buyers should also watch a bill that would raise transfer tax on homes to 15% for buyers who are not EU or EEA tax residents, for final contracts signed from 1 July 2027. After public consultation (18 October to 1 November 2026), it was tabled in the Hellenic Parliament on 3 November 2026 (Article 16 of the bill). It has not been voted and is not law. Buyers who qualify for the first-home exemption of Article 42 of the Property Tax Code would be excluded. Our transfer tax bill report has the details.

US taxes after you move

Moving to Greece does not end your US tax filing. The IRS taxes US citizens on income from all sources, wherever they live.

US citizens living abroad on the regular due date get an automatic 2-month extension, from 15 April to 15 June, for filing. Interest still runs on any tax not paid by 15 April. Form 4868 can extend the filing date to 15 October.

The foreign earned income exclusion lets qualifying taxpayers exclude salary or self-employment income earned abroad. The IRS sets it at $132,900 for tax year 2026, up from $130,000 for 2025. To qualify, you need a tax home abroad and must pass either the bona fide residence test or the physical presence test of 330 full days in 12 consecutive months. The exclusion does not apply to pensions, annuities or Social Security benefits.

In Greece, you become a tax resident if you spend more than 183 days there in any 12-month period, or if your main home or centre of vital interests is there. Greek residents file a Greek return each year, so most Americans in Greece file in both countries.

The US–Greece tax treaty

The US and Greece have an income tax treaty dating from 1950, listed on the IRS treaty pages. It does not stop the US taxing its own citizens.

Article XI covers pensions. Private pensions and life annuities from one country are exempt there when the recipient lives in the other country. Pensions paid by a government for services to that government are exempt in the other country.

Article XIV contains a saving clause. It lets each country tax its own citizens and residents as if the treaty had not come into effect. In practice, a US citizen in Greece still reports all income to the IRS, and relief for Greek tax paid comes through US foreign tax credit rules rather than the treaty alone.

Greece’s 7% flat tax for foreign pensioners under Article 5B of the Income Tax Code may also be relevant. It requires a move from a country that has a tax administrative cooperation agreement in force with Greece. See our 7% regime guide, and check how it interacts with US tax before relying on it.

FBAR and FATCA reporting

A Greek bank account counts as a foreign account for US reporting. You must file an FBAR if your foreign accounts together exceed $10,000 at any time during the calendar year.

File FinCEN Form 114 (the FBAR) electronically. It is due on 15 April, with an automatic extension to 15 October.
Check whether you must also file Form 8938, the Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets, with your tax return.
Expect your Greek bank to ask whether you are a US person.

Greece has signed a FATCA agreement with the US and follows Model 1A. Greek financial institutions report US account data to the Greek tax authority (AADE), which passes it to the IRS.

Social Security and Medicare in Greece

US citizens can keep receiving Social Security while living in Greece, as long as they remain eligible. The SSA lists Greece among the countries where it can pay by international direct deposit into a local bank account.

The US and Greece also have a social security (totalization) agreement. It covers retirement, invalidity and survivors benefits. It stops people paying into both systems for the same work. Workers can get a certificate of coverage so that only one country’s system applies, and self-employed people are covered by their country of residence. Credits from both countries can be combined where needed to qualify for benefits.

Medicare generally does not cover health services outside the United States, according to the SSA. Plan for health cover in Greece separately.

Healthcare and banking in Greece

Most residence permits require full health insurance. Greek migration law says people who do not work in Greece must be insured with private insurers, unless foreign cover applies there. People who work in Greece join the Greek social security fund (EFKA) and get public healthcare that way.

For banking, you need a Greek tax number (AFM) first. Our guide to getting an AFM and a bank account sets out the steps. Banks will run FATCA checks and ask for US tax details at account opening.

If you plan to let your Greek home, see our guide to Greek rental income tax for owners abroad.

Driving, pets and practical steps

Visitors can drive on a valid US licence, and insurers may also ask for an international driving permit. The State Department says a Greek licence is required if you stay more than 185 days.

Greece lets residents convert a valid US licence into a Greek one. The Greek consulate guidance asks for health certificates, a translation of the licence and a letter from the issuing agency, and the applicant must have normal residence in Greece.

Pets entering the EU need a microchip and a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel, plus an EU health certificate. A USDA-accredited vet issues the certificate and USDA APHIS endorses it, so check the APHIS pet travel guidance before booking.

For the wider picture, see our guide to retiring in Greece.

Frequently asked questions

Can a US citizen live in Greece?

Yes, with a residence permit. Most Americans use the FIP visa, the digital nomad visa or the Golden Visa.

Do I have to pay US taxes if I live in Greece?

You must still file a US return, because the US taxes citizens on worldwide income. Exclusions and credits can reduce or remove the US tax due.

Can I get my Social Security in Greece?

Yes. US citizens can generally keep receiving payments while living in Greece, and the SSA can pay into a Greek bank account by direct deposit.

Does Medicare work in Greece?

Generally no. Medicare does not usually cover health services outside the United States, so you need Greek public or private cover.

Do I need to file an FBAR for a Greek bank account?

Yes, if your foreign accounts together exceed $10,000 at any time during the year.

Can I swap my US driver’s license for a Greek one?

Yes. Greece allows residents to convert a valid US licence into a Greek licence through the transport authorities.

Buyers should confirm how this applies to them with a Greek lawyer or accountant.

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