Greece Financially Independent Person Visa: €2,000 a Month Route

The Greece financially independent person visa is the closest thing Greece has to a retirement visa. It is for non-EU citizens who live on stable income from abroad, such as a pension, and who will not work in Greece. The income test on the Greek government page we read is €2,000 a month, raised by 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child. The permit is issued for two years after you enter on a Type D visa.

It is a good fit for retirees and for people with passive income. If you work remotely for foreign clients, the Greece digital nomad visa may fit better. The source page is the Decentralised Administration of Attica. Check the official page before you apply.

Who qualifies

You need to be a non-EU citizen with stable annual income that does not depend on employment in Greece. The page says income is mainly shown through a pension from abroad or a Greek bank account statement. You may not work in Greece while holding the permit.

Income requirement

Greece asks for sufficient means of subsistence at the level of a stable income of €2,000 a month. For a couple that rises by 20% (about €2,400 a month) and for each child by 15%. The page mentions no minimum age, so the route appears open to people living on other regular foreign income too, but confirm that with the consulate. Our arithmetic on a couple with one child, if the uplifts are added together, is about €2,700 a month.

Documents you'll need

• A certified copy of a valid passport
• A Type D entry visa
• A private insurance policy from an insurance company
• Supporting documents showing the income level above
• Recent photos in the required format
• Proof of the electronic fee and the card fee

Documents differ by consulate and have been updated since the page was posted in November 2023. Confirm the checklist with the Greek consulate that serves you.

Step-by-step application

1. Gather proof of income, such as pension statements or bank records, and buy private health insurance.
2. Apply for a Type D national visa at the Greek consulate.
3. Enter Greece and apply for the residence permit within the visa period.
4. Pay the fees and provide biometrics.
5. Collect your electronic residence permit and plan for renewal.

Costs and timeline

The Attica page lists a €1,000 electronic fee and a €16 fee for printing the electronic permit. The consulate will charge a separate visa fee. We did not find an official processing time. The permit duration is two years.

Taxes once you're resident

If you spend more than 183 days a year in Greece you are likely a Greek tax resident taxed on worldwide income, with rates from 9% to 44%. Foreign pensioners who move their tax residence to Greece may be able to apply for a 7% flat rate on qualifying foreign income. A September 2026 press report said the regime can last up to 15 years and that the application deadline moved to 31 October, with conditions such as not having been Greek tax resident in five of the previous six years. Ask a Greek tax adviser about the current terms.

Family members

The income test includes uplifts for a spouse and children, so the permit is designed to cover a family. Confirm dependants' documentation with the consulate.

Alternatives

• Remote worker? The Greece digital nomad visa asks for €3,500 net a month.
• Investor? The Greece golden visa starts at €400,000 in most areas and €800,000 in prime zones.
• For other retiree-friendly islands, compare Cyprus permanent residence and Malta's permanent residence programme.
• See [[visa-table:country:greece]] for every Greek route.

Good places to start looking: Athens, Thessaloniki or the wider Greece guide. Take the Where should I live? quiz if you are undecided.