Greece Financial Independence Visa (Type D)
Greece GRC
Greece's Financial Independence Visa (Type D) allows non-EU nationals with sufficient passive income from foreign sources to reside in Greece without engaging in local employment. Holders may benefit from Greece's exceptional 7% flat tax regime on all foreign pension income, making it one of the most tax-efficient retirement destinations in the EU. After five years of legal residence, holders may apply for permanent residency, and Greek citizenship is accessible after seven years.
Program Details
- Category
- Retirement
- Processing Time
- 3 months
- Application Fee
- $165
- Minimum Income
- $2,200/mo
- Minimum Investment
- —
- Family Included
- An additional 20% of the base income requirement applies per dependent spouse or child
- Path to PR
- Yes — 5 years
- Path to Citizenship
- Yes — 7 years
- Physical Presence
- Must reside primarily in Greece; the permit is initially issued for 2 years and renewable in 3-year increments. Must not be absent from Greece for more than 6 consecutive months, or 10 months cumulatively, in any permit period.
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Tax Impact
- Retirees who transfer their tax residency to Greece may benefit from Greece's flat 7% tax rate on all foreign-sourced pension income for up to 15 years, available to those who were not Greek tax residents in 5 of the preceding 6 years. No work is permitted on this visa.
- Renewal Cost
- $165
Minimum monthly passive income of €2,000 (~$2,200 USD) for a single applicant from sources outside Greece, such as pensions, dividends, rental income, or investments. An additional 20% is required per dependent family member.
Application Timeline
Apply
3mo processing
Visa Granted
Initial permit
Permanent Residency
After 5 years
Citizenship
After 7 years
Key Requirements
- ✓Proof of passive income of at least €2,000/month from sources outside Greece (pension, dividends, rental income, investments)
- ✓Additional 20% of base income per dependent family member
- ✓Proof of accommodation in Greece (rental contract or property deed)
- ✓Valid private health insurance covering Greece with full medical coverage
- ✓Clean criminal background check
- ✓Valid passport with at least 1 year remaining validity
- ✓No intention to take up employment or conduct business activities in Greece
Am I eligible for Greece Financial Independence Visa (Type D)?
Quick self-check based on the published criteria. Not legal advice. No data leaves your browser.
Nationality eligibility
Select your nationality to check.
Minimum monthly income
Programme requires $2,200/month.
Fill in the fields above to see a verdict.
This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.
Nationality Restrictions
This program restricts applications from nationals of: EU/EEA and Swiss nationals do not require this visa, Work in Greece is strictly prohibited for Financial Independence Visa holders
Application Process — Step by Step
- 01
Gather passive income documentation
home countryProof of €2,000+/month passive income (+20% spouse, +15% per child) from pension, investments, rental, or annuity sources. 12 months bank statements. Clean criminal record, health insurance, passport, accommodation proof.
Typical duration: 4-6 weekssource ↗
- 02
Apply at Greek consulate
home countrySubmit application at Greek consulate with jurisdiction over residence. Consulate appointments available in most major cities.
Typical duration: 4-12 weeks
- 03
Receive visa and travel to Greece
home countryNational Type D visa issued if approved (typical 30-60 days). Valid 90 days to enter Greece.
Typical duration: 30-60 days
- 04
Apply for Greek residence permit
destinationWithin 90 days of arrival, apply for Greek residence permit (adeia diamonis) at local Aliens Directorate.
Typical duration: 8-16 weeks
Documents Required
| Document | Issued By | Apostille | Translate to | Validity (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Home country | No | — | 180 |
| Proof of €2,000+/month passive income | Bank/pension/rental statements | No | el | 90 |
| Criminal record | Home country | Yes | el | 90 |
| Health insurance | Insurer | No | el | 365 |
| Accommodation proof in Greece | Landlord/registry | No | el | 180 |
Realistic Costs
Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: lawyer_fee_low, lawyer_fee_high, translations, apostilles, health_insurance_first_year, relocation_misc, total_first_year_low, total_first_year_high, total_5_year_low, total_5_year_high.
Ranges are industry estimates.
Realistic Timeline
- Consulate wait4–12 weeks
- Decision → arrival4 weeks
- Residence card issuance12 weeks
- Total to residence card20–32 weeks
Greek residence permit processing is relatively efficient; Aliens Directorate appointments typically available within 4 weeks.
Renewal
- First renewal after
- 24 months
- Subsequent cycle
- 36 months
- Renewal fee
- $150
- Requirements
- Continued passive income; health insurance; no serious absences from Greece.
Path to Permanent Residency — Details
- Years required
- 7
- Language test
- Required (A2)
- Integration test
- Required
Path to Citizenship — Details
- Years required
- 7
- Language test
- Yes (B1)
- Civic test
- Required
- Oath
- Required
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
Tax Residency
- Trigger
- 183 days/year of presence
- Taxation scope
- Worldwide income
- Exit-tax country
- No
Special regimes
- Greek Pensioner Tax Regime7% flat on all foreign-sourced income for 15 years
Foreign pension income; not Greek tax resident 5 of previous 6 years.
Duration: 15 years
source ↗
Health Insurance
- Mandatory
- Yes
- Minimum coverage
- $30,000
Examples: Allianz Greece, Generali Hellas, Cigna Global
Family Specifics
- Spouse work rights
- Spouse included but cannot work under this visa category
- Child school enrolment
- Public + international schools
- Parent inclusion
- Eligible (min age 65)
- Sibling inclusion
- Not eligible
Gotchas — Things to Watch For
- ⚠Greek citizenship requires 7 years residence + B1 Greek + civic test — significant barrier vs Portugal A2 requirement
- ⚠Pensioner tax regime only applies to foreign pension income
- ⚠Schengen 90/180 rule does not apply to Greek residents — Greek permit grants full residency rights
What This Visa Does NOT Allow
- ×Work in Greece
- ×Business activities
Common Rejection Reasons
- •Passive income below threshold
- •Income source deemed unstable
- •Incomplete criminal record documentation
Recent Legislative Changes
2024-09-01
Residence permit framework harmonised with new Migration Code (Law 5038/2023).source ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
How much income do I actually need?+
Minimum €2,000/month (~$2,200) for primary applicant, +20% for spouse (€2,400), +15% per child. Consulates generally strict about the minimum — budget comfortably above the threshold.
What is the 7% pensioner tax regime?+
If you have foreign pension income and transfer your tax residence to Greece (and were not Greek tax resident in 5 of the previous 6 years), you pay flat 7% on all foreign-sourced income (including pension, dividends, rental, etc.) for 15 years.
Good Fit For
Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.
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