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The Greece FIP visa lets non-EU nationals live in Greece on their own means, without working. You need stable income of at least €3,500 a month from sources such as pensions, rents, dividends or savings, plus 20% for a spouse and 15% per child. You get a national visa at a Greek consulate, then a 3-year renewable residence permit. Any home, rented or owned, can qualify.
Last verified: 20 October 2026It is the common name for the residence permit for third-country nationals with sufficient resources, type I.8. The legal basis is Article 163(8) of the Migration Code, Law 5038/2023, which replaced the older financially independent persons permit of Law 4251/2014.
The process has two steps:
The FIP permit suits retirees and people with investment income who want to live in Greece. It is not for people who need to work. Remote workers should read the digital nomad visa guide. Investors who will not live in Greece should compare the Golden Visa. All options are side by side on our residence permits page.
You must show stable income of at least €3,500 a month. Joint Ministerial Decision 225679/2024, published in September 2024, set this figure, replacing the €2,000 that applied under the old law. It adds 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child.
| Household | Minimum monthly income | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant alone | €3,500 | €42,000 |
| Applicant and spouse | €4,200 | €50,400 |
| Applicant, spouse and 1 child | €4,725 | €56,700 |
| Applicant, spouse and 2 children | €5,250 | €63,000 |
The decision accepts a foreign pension certificate, a bank account or other proof of funds of legal origin. Regular income such as pensions or dividends is assessed monthly. Savings are assessed on a yearly basis. Article 163(8)(b) lets the family meet the test together or each member individually. In practice, consulates and Greek banks expect at least a year of statements.
The FIP permit gives no right to work. Article 163(8)(c) of Law 5038/2023 bars any employment or independent economic activity in Greece, for the holder, the spouse or partner and every family member.
If you later want to work, you must change to a work-based permit.
Start at the Greek consulate for your country of residence. The national visa is the entry ticket, and the residence permit follows in Greece.
A power of attorney can help a Greek lawyer handle paperwork, but you must appear in person for biometrics.
The national visa documents are set by ministerial decision and each consulate publishes its own list. Typical requirements are:
Foreign documents need an apostille and a certified Greek translation. For the permit in Greece, the Decentralised Administration also asks for the national visa, the fee receipts and, if your passport lacks a Latin-script birthplace, a translated birth certificate.
The permit lasts 3 years and is renewable for equal periods while you still meet the conditions, under Article 163(8)(a) of Law 5038/2023.
| Item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| National visa | Set by the consulate (€75 for most national visas) | Consulate fee schedule |
| I.8 residence permit | €1,000 | Law 5038/2023, Art. 171 |
| Permit card | €16 | Mitos, e-paravolo code 2119 |
| Holders with a Greek state pension | €150 | Law 5038/2023, Art. 171 |
| Minors | No permit fee | Law 5038/2023, Art. 171(2) |
Some law firms still describe a 2-year first permit, which was the rule under Law 4251/2014. The current Migration Code text says 3 years. A pensioner who receives a pension from a Greek public insurer can renew whatever the pension amount, under Article 163(8)(d).
You can rent or buy. The FIP permit has no property purchase requirement and no price threshold, unlike the Golden Visa.
Note the draft bill raising transfer tax for buyers who are not EU or EEA tax residents from July 2027. It is a draft, not law. See our report.
The current law does not set a minimum number of days for I.8 holders. Article 163(8) of Law 5038/2023 contains no stay or absence rule. The Golden Visa is different: Article 100(4) says absences do not block renewal.
Absences still matter in three ways:
Living in Greece on an FIP permit usually makes you a Greek tax resident. Under Article 4 of the Income Tax Code (Law 4172/2013), a stay of more than 183 days in any 12-month period makes you resident, taxed on worldwide income subject to tax treaties.
Two special regimes can reduce the bill:
| Regime | Who qualifies | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Art. 5B pensioners | Receive a foreign pension; not Greek tax resident in 5 of the previous 6 years; move from a country with a tax cooperation agreement with Greece | 7% on all foreign income for 15 years, paid by the last working day of December |
| Art. 5A non-dom | Not Greek tax resident in 7 of the previous 8 years; invest at least €500,000 in Greece | €100,000 a year flat on foreign income for up to 15 years |
The 7% regime fits most FIP retirees. Read our 7% flat tax guide, the application deadline report and the free retirement tax PDF. Greek-source income, such as rent from a Greek flat, stays taxed under the normal rules.
The FIP permit can lead to long-term residence if you live in Greece. Article 144 of Law 5038/2023 grants EU long-term resident status after 5 years of continuous legal residence, with income at least equal to a minimum-wage salary, full health insurance and knowledge of Greek.
Citizenship takes longer. The Ministry of Interior’s January 2026 list of permits that qualify for naturalisation after 7 years does not include the I.8 permit. Holders of other permits need 12 years. Switching to a long-term resident permit, which is on the list, shortens the route. Read the citizenship guide and our retire in Greece page.
The FIP permit is Greece’s passive income visa. It costs the least of the three if you have the income but not the capital.
| FIP | Golden Visa | Digital nomad | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Requirement | €3,500 a month passive income | Investment from €250,000 | €3,500 a month net remote income |
| Work | None | None | Remote, for abroad only |
| Permit length | 3 years | 5 years | 12-month visa, then 2 years |
| Permit fee | €1,000 | €2,000 | €1,000 |
| Stay rule | Not fixed in law; check renewal practice | None | Not fixed in law |
More options on our moving to Greece hub.
You need stable income of at least €3,500 a month, or €42,000 a year, under Joint Ministerial Decision 225679/2024. Add 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child, so a couple needs €4,200 a month. Income can come from pensions, rents, dividends, interest or savings of legal origin, but not from work in Greece.
No. Article 163(8)(c) of Law 5038/2023 bars any employment or business activity in Greece for the permit holder and every family member. You can hold investments and property and receive income from them. Remote workers should use the digital nomad visa, and people with a Greek job offer need a work permit.
The current Migration Code, Article 163(8) of Law 5038/2023, sets the permit at 3 years, renewable for equal periods while you meet the conditions. Before that, the old Law 4251/2014 gave 2 years at first, which is why some guides still quote 2 years. Confirm the term on your decision.
The current law text does not set a minimum stay for the FIP permit. Some Greek law firms advise living in Greece at least six months a year for renewal. Long absences also break the continuity needed for long-term residence, which allows no absence over 6 consecutive months and no more than 10 months over 5 years.
Yes. The FIP permit lets you rent or buy any home with no minimum price. A lease or a title deed serves as proof of accommodation. If you buy property above the Golden Visa threshold, €250,000 to €800,000 depending on location and type, you could apply for a Golden Visa instead.
Yes, if they qualify. Article 5B of the Income Tax Code lets people with a foreign pension who move their tax residence to Greece pay a flat 7% on all foreign income for 15 years. They must not have been Greek tax residents in 5 of the previous 6 years and must move from a country with a tax cooperation agreement.
Slowly. The I.8 permit is not on the Ministry of Interior’s January 2026 list of permits that qualify for naturalisation after 7 years, so holders need 12 years unless they first obtain EU long-term residence, available after 5 years. Every applicant must also pass the PEGP Greek exam and prove integration.