Moving to Greece: every visa & residency route in 2026
There are 4 ways to move to Greece legally as of 2026 — spanning digital nomad, retirement, investment and ancestry routes. Here's every one, what it actually requires, and where it leads.
All 4 routes checked against official government sources · July 2026 · how we verify
Every route, side by side
| Route | Type | Requirement | Leads to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Nomad Visa | Digital nomad | $3,750/mo income | Temporary residency |
| Financially Independent Person (FIP) Visa | Retirement | $3,750/mo income | Citizenship in ~7 yrs |
| Golden Visa (Real Estate) | Investment | $290,000 investment | Citizenship in ~7 yrs |
| Citizenship by Descent (Greek Ancestry) | Ancestry | Greek parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent, evidenced by an unbroken chain of registration in a Greek municipality (dimos) | Direct citizenship / passport |
Digital nomad route to Greece
Compare digital nomad visas across every country →
$3,750/mo income
Driven by a $3,750/mo income bar and annual renewal.
~€3,500/mo (+20% spouse, +15% per child). Convertible to a 2-year residence permit on arrival; a 50% income-tax cut for 7 years if you move tax residency.
Official source →Retirement route to Greece
Compare retirement & passive-income visas across every country →
$3,750/mo income
Driven by a $3,750/mo income bar.
~€3,500/mo passive income (+20% spouse, +15% per child). PR after 5 years, citizenship after 7. A 7% flat tax on foreign income for 15 years for foreign retirees.
Official source →Investment route to Greece
Compare golden visas & residency-by-investment programs across every country →
$290,000 investment
Driven by $290,000 of committed capital.
Three-tier real-estate system since 2024: €250K (only for commercial-to-residential conversions or restoration of listed buildings), €400K (most of Greece), €800K (Attica/Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini). Short-term/Airbnb rental of the property is banned. No minimum-stay requirement; renewable every 5 years.
Official source →Ancestry route to Greece
Compare citizenship & residency by descent across every country →
Greek parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent, evidenced by an unbroken chain of registration in a Greek municipality (dimos)
Modest by comparison: proof of descent rather than money.
EUR 240-340 in total — a EUR 100 declaration fee plus EUR 140-240 consular fees where they apply. The dollar figure is the LOW end, not an average; filing inside Greece rather than through a consulate can mean only the EUR 100. Fee source (checked 2026-08) →
Available through parent/grandparent/great-grandparent, but hinges on proving an unbroken municipal-registration and civil-record chain back to the Greek ancestor — the documentation is the hard part. No residence or language requirement for the descent route. Greece allows dual citizenship. Processing ~1–2+ years for straightforward cases.
Official source →Next steps: the money side
Set up your finances before and after you move.
Planning a move to Greece?
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
Moving to Greece: FAQ
How many ways are there to move to Greece?
This dataset tracks 4 residency or visa routes into Greece as of 2026, across digital nomad, retirement, investment, ancestry pathways. Each has its own income, investment, or heritage requirement.
Does Greece have a digital nomad visa?
Yes — the Digital Nomad Visa lets remote workers live in Greece. It requires about $3,750/month in income. ~€3,500/mo (+20% spouse, +15% per child). Convertible to a 2-year residence permit on arrival; a 50% income-tax cut for 7 years if you move tax residency.
What's the lowest-income way to get residency in Greece?
The most accessible income-based route is the Financially Independent Person (FIP) Visa at roughly $3,750/month. Requirements reset annually and move with exchange rates, so confirm the current figure with the official source before you apply.
Can I get Greece citizenship by descent?
Greek parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent, evidenced by an unbroken chain of registration in a Greek municipality (dimos) Available through parent/grandparent/great-grandparent, but hinges on proving an unbroken municipal-registration and civil-record chain back to the Greek ancestor — the documentation is the hard part. No residence or language requirement for the descent route. Greece allows dual citizenship. Processing ~1–2+ years for straightforward cases. This is a direct route to a passport, not just residency.
Does moving to Greece lead to a second passport?
Yes — at least one route to Greece has a defined path to citizenship. The exact timeline and physical-presence rules vary by program; check each route's official source below.
Greece, compared
Visas, cost, and healthcare side by side with the alternatives people weigh.