There are several ways in which foreign nationals, both from EU and non-EU countries, can obtain residence in Greece, and they have to do with the motive for staying in the country for shorter or longer periods of time. Our team of Greece immigration agents describes the most important types of residence permits in this article and can assist foreign nationals who are willing to apply for one in 2025.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Temporary residence permit types | Work and investment reasons, studies, voluntary work, family reunification, humanitarian reasons. |
|
The time needed to obtain the temporary residence permit (approx.) |
5 days for the investment residence permit, more for others. |
|
Temporary residence permit validity |
5 years for the investment residence permit, 1-2 years for the employment residence permit; temporary residence permits are renewable. |
| Documents for obtaining temporary residence | Specific documents depending on the type of residence permit (proof of investment, employment agreement, etc.), general documents for the applicant (identification documents, recent photographs, proof of fee payment, etc.). |
| Mandatory registrations with state authorities (i.e. with the population/municipality register) |
Yes |
| Dependents can join the temporary permit holder |
Yes, for the investment residence permit; please check with our Greek immigration agents for other situations. |
| Temporary or permanent residency for investment purposes |
Yes |
| Type of investments available for residency purposes |
Real estate, investments in certain types of securities, or bank deposits. |
| Minimum investment amount |
EUR 250,000 – 500,000 depending on the location of the property for real estate investments. |
| Minimum temporary residence before applying for permanent residence | After at least 5 years. |
| Residency for individuals married to a citizen of the country |
Upon an application for a residence permit. |
| Documents for obtaining permanent residence |
Application form, identification documents, proof of income, proof of accommodation (purchase or lease), proof of investment (for golden visa applicants), proof of Greek language knowledge, and proof of fee payment. |
| Naturalization requirements |
Proof of permanent residence in the country, sufficient income and proof of accommodation in Greece, and proof of integration (sufficient Greek language knowledge, proof of Greek history and culture knowledge). |
| Citizenship after permanent residence |
After at least 7 years lawfully spent in the country. |
| Dual citizenship permitted (Yes/No) | Yes |
Table of Contents
The first step toward residency
Determining the required documents for a chosen type of permit is just as important as choosing the permit that is suitable for the purpose of stay. This means that a difference is made between the residency in Greece awarded for employment and that for investment in property, compared to that in engaging in independent economic activity. Certain special categories of residence will understandably have different requirements, such as those for victims of human trafficking.
You can watch the short video below for information about residency in Greece:
Our team of immigration lawyers in Greece can provide a complete list of the categories of residence permits and the documents that are mandatory when applying for these.
The infographic below also offers some key data about the Greek residence permit application process:
Main residence categories in Greece
Determining the category in which one can be included is the first step when applying for a residence permit in Greece in 2025. The main types are the following:
- Residence permit for employment: this permit can be divided into several other categories, depending on the type of work; there is general employment for EU and non-EU nationals as well as special-purpose work; highly specialized employment under the Blue Card category is also included here;
- Residence permit for investment in property: this is the permanent residence permit for investors in real estate in Greece; it is subject to a condition for minimum investment, detailed in this article presented by our immigration lawyer in Greece;
- Residence permit for independent activity: the Greek residence permit for independent economic activity is different from that reserved for employees and it concerns professionals who are involved in providing services such as accountancy, legal or business counseling, and others;
- Temporary residence permit: awarded to seasonal workers, members of artistic groups who will perform in the country, higher education students participating in internships, the leaders of organized tourism groups;
- Study residence permit: awarded to individuals who have been accepted by a Greek University as well as those who will perform voluntary work, or will participate in special programs; this residence permit is also awarded to those involved in research activities or vocational training;
- Family reunification residence permit: a third-country national who has been legally residing in Greece for two years can apply for a residence permit for his family members; this process is subject to certain conditions, detailed below by our Greece immigration agents.
Documents required when applying for a residence permit in Greece
When applying for any of the above-mentioned permits for residency in Greece, the applicant needs to note the importance of the enclosed documents. These are used as proof for the application and can include the employment contract for the employment residence or the proof of purchasing real estate for the investment residence permit in Greece. The family reunification permit for third-country nationals is subject to further examination of the relationship between the applicant and the family who will join him or her in Greece. This is why we recommend requesting the services offered by our immigration lawyer in Greece when applying for this permit. Some additional conditions include the following:
- proof of accommodation: the one applying for family reunification needs to show that there is sufficient space for all of the family members to live, according to the provisions set forth by the Ministry of Health;
- proof of income: the foreign national who submits the application also needs to show that he or she has sufficient income to provide for all of the family members;
- health insurance: this is required, and it can be a work health insurance that also covers family members;
- family relationship: a competent authority may perform personal interviews to establish the existence of the family relationship.
Are you interested in applying for a residence permit in Greece as one of the ones described above? Please reach out to our team of agents specialized in Greek immigration. They will be able to answer any particular questions and guide you throughout the application process in 2025. If you are already in the country and have one of these permits, we can provide assistance for applying for Greek citizenship when the time is right.
Should a consular or diplomatic authority refuse to allow entry for an individual who has made a visa application or the granting of a Greek residence permit, this action needs to be explained. The following situations concerning third-country nationals should also be explained, in those cases in which there are reasons to believe that public safety and security are concerned:
- Refusals in case of third-country nationals who are family members of a Greek national;
- Cases involving third-country nationals who are family members or nationals of another EU Member State;
- International protection beneficiaries and their family members;
- Third-country nationals employed in companies that are established in another EU state and move to Greece to perform work under a relevant contractual obligation.
Other situations may apply. Our team of immigration agents can help you during the application procedure to ensure that the submission for the Greek residence permit is approved.
Third-country nationals who enter Greece for one of the reasons described herein are asked to meet the following requirements:
- Hold a valid travel document that contains at least two blank pages, was issued in the past ten years, and has a validity period that extends at least three months after the last intended departure date;
- They hold a valid national visa;
- They are not a threat to public policy, national security, or international relations; moreover, they are not registered in the national database of undesirable aliens;
- They pose no threat to public health.
Moving to Greece is a process that starts with acquiring the right type of permit for residency purposes. During the application process, and as early as you decide to relocate (even before you enter the country), our team can answer important questions concerning the general requirements, the documents, and how you can bring your family members with you, among other things.
Many foreign nationals are thinking of retiring to Greece, and their choice is entirely justified. The islands, beaches, and valleys, as well as the beautiful and welcoming cities, are just some of the reasons why those who were visitors now wish to relocate to the country. Greece can be a suitable location for retirement in Europe, and our team can assist those interested in this step.
Residence permit in Greece for investment purposes
The investment residence permit can be attractive for non-EU citizens, particularly because it allows the holder to obtain permanent residence (a five-year permit that is subject to renewal, a period during which the holder may even apply for Greek citizenship by investment, should he comply with the requirements – thus making the stay permanent).
An advantage of the investment route is that the entrepreneur who purchases property or makes another significant investment is able to submit the residence permit application through a proxy. In fact, a non-EU national is able to never previously visited Greece when making this submission. One does, however, need to provide proof of the investment – a step that can also take place using a proxy for purchasing the property in the investor’s name.
For the Greek residence permit application, the entrepreneur who has made an investment can reach out to one of our agents who will act as a proxy under a power of attorney. An important condition is that the said power of attorney is signed before a Greek consular authority. After this is done, the non-EU investor will be required to enter the country within the following 12 months in order to submit their biometric data to the authorities.
Some of the documents required for the initial permanent residence permit for investors include the following:
- The filled-in application form;
- Four recent photographs;
- Certified passport copy that also includes the valid Greek visa;
- The appropriate fees (these also include a fee of EUR16 for the printing of the residence permit);
- Proof of investment (such as a notary certificate attesting the property purchase or lease) and other documents that may be required on a case-by-case basis to prove the legitimacy of the investment (such as the certificate of non-encumbrance issued by the cadastre agency);
- Invoices, proof of investment transfer (where relevant, for the type of investment on which the residence permit is based).
Residency by investment programs are popular in many countries. Our lawyers can also help you apply for Malaysia My Second Home Program (MM2H) if you need to obtain residency in Malaysia and you are a foreign investor.
Residence permit renewal in Greece
Foreign nationals who hold a Greek residence permit need to observe the requirements for its renewal. This must be done within two months before the expiry date of the permit, and the applicant must provide the required documents. Individuals may lodge an overdue application within one month after expiry, however, a fine applies in this case.
No applications are received past the one-month period, unless the applicant can prove a reason for special circumstances (force majeure). The application is usually made by the residence permit holder, however, it can also be lodged by other parties: the spouse, authorized attorney, ascendants, and adult descendants.
The renewal option for third-country nationals is available online, and, as needed, our Greek immigration specialists can assist you, as it can also be filed by an attorney-at-law.
We remind residence permit holders who are third-country nationals that they must submit the following when renewing their residence permit in Greece:
- Supporting documents;
- Proof of fee payment (some exceptions can apply);
- Contact details (such as email address and mobile phone number);
- Relevant power of attorney, when the application is submitted by a third party, such as one of your local specialists, who can help you with this process.
Once the application is made, the individual receives a certificate that attests to the fact that the application has been lodged. This replaces the residence permit until the new one is issued, and during this time, the holder has the same rights. However, should the application for renewal be rejected, the holder automatically loses the said rights.
If an application to renew one’s right to residency in Greece is successful, they will receive information on how to proceed to the next step, which is taking their biometrics. Applicants are informed in all cases, even if the decision is negative in terms of residence permit renewal.
We remind those interested in renewing a residence permit in Greece that compliance with the permit’s requirements is mandatory. Therefore, a permit can only be renewed if the initial conditions for its issuance continue to remain valid (for example, the individual continues to work for a Greek employer).
Obtaining Greek nationality
Some foreign nationals who obtain residency in Greece may be interested in ultimately acquiring Greek nationality.
Greek citizenship can be acquired by EU and non-EU citizens, and in some cases it is subject to fewer requirements (such as in the case of foreign nationals who are married to a Greek citizen).
Below, our immigration lawyer in Greece highlights the main conditions for obtaining citizenship by naturalization:
- Reside in Greece uninterruptedly for 7 years (3 for those married to a Greek citizen who have a child with him or her, and in other cases);
- Provide documents on the relations to Greece and the Greeks;
- Offer information on one’s personal tax audits;
- Fill in the application for naturalization.
Greece’s population
According to the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, the number of residents across the Greek islands increased in 2024, compared to 2023. Some of the data is summarized below by our team:
- The number of island residents saw a significant increase, of 232% in January 2024 compared to the same month a year prior;
- Lesbos was the island with the most total inhabitants (15,997), followed by Samos, Chios, Kos, and Leros;
- The country’s total resident population (not just that of the Islands) was 112% larger in January 2024, compared to the same month in 2023;
- As far as asylum seekers were concerned, there were 3,283 arrivals in the first month of 2024, and more decisions in the first and second instances were issued in their case, compared to January 2023.
Contact us if you are interested in moving to Greece and need to apply for a residence permit.
