Greece Elective Residency (FIP)
For those with steady income who wish to reside in Greece without working.
For: Financially independent non-EU citizens.Estimated Timeline
3-5 months
The Application Process
Step by step, from start to approval.
Consular Phase
You apply for the National Type-D visa at the Greek consulate covering your country of residence. The FIP visa is a long-stay entry that allows you to convert to a 3-year residence permit on arrival.
- Required documents: apostilled criminal record, medical certificate, evidence of monthly income above €3,500 (+20% spouse, +15% per child), proof of accommodation in Greece, and Greek-valid private health insurance.
- Acceptable income sources: pensions, dividends, interest, rental income, royalties. The visa explicitly prohibits work with a Greek employer.
- Consular fee is approximately €180 per applicant.
- Decisions are usually issued within 30 to 60 days from filing.
Arrival & Registration
Enter Greece on the Type-D visa within its 12-month validity. Within the visa window, file for the 3-year residence permit at the Decentralised Administration covering your declared address.
- Get a Greek tax number (AFM) at the local DOY on arrival; you'll need it for the bank account and the lease registration.
- Open a Greek bank account, sign a long-term lease (12 months minimum), and register it through the AADE platform.
- Application fee for the residence permit is approximately €1,000 for the main applicant, plus €150 per dependent.
- Once filed, the immigration office issues a 'blue card' provisional document allowing legal stay while the physical card is processed.
Financial Proof
Throughout the residence-permit review, the immigration office may ask to see ongoing income flow and a Greek bank balance. Many applicants pre-deposit 12 months of required income to demonstrate liquidity.
- Pension awards: official certificate from the paying agency, sworn-translated into Greek.
- Brokerage portfolios: 12 months of statements plus a CPA letter on the underlying composition.
- Real estate rentals: title deeds, lease agreements, and tax returns from the source country.
- All income evidence must be apostilled and sworn-translated into Greek for the residence-permit file.
Permit Renewal
The first residence permit is valid for 3 years, with renewals also for 3 years. To renew, you must show continuous income above the threshold and respect the residency rules.
- Maximum absence rule: you cannot stay outside Greece for more than 6 consecutive months in any year, or the permit can be cancelled.
- Tax residency in Greece is triggered by 183 days of physical presence; non-doms with foreign-source income can apply for the lump-sum tax regime (€100,000 per year for up to 15 years).
- After 5 years of legal residence you become eligible for an EU long-term residence permit.
- Citizenship requires 7 years of residence and B1 Greek language testing.
Core Requirements
What you need to qualify for this visa.
Stable monthly income of at least €3,500 from outside Greece (pensions, dividends, rental, royalties), +20% for a spouse and +15% per dependent child
No work allowed for a Greek employer or under Greek self-employment, this is strictly a passive-income visa
Maximum absence rule: cannot remain outside Greece for more than 6 consecutive months in any year
Private health insurance from a Greek-licensed insurer (or approved foreign equivalent with full Greek coverage)
Apostilled criminal-record certificate and medical certificate of good health
Do You Qualify?
Answer a few quick questions to see if you meet the key requirements for this visa.
Do you have passive income of at least €3,500/month (net)?
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If this option is not the right fit, here are the alternatives we work with for Greece.
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