A residence permit in Greece is a temporary resident document with which you can usually stay in the country for up to three years. A residence card is issued to those who have a reason to move legally. For example, you have taken a job with a Greek company, invested in the state's economy, enrolled in university or want to reunite with a family member. A temporary residence permit, depending on the basis, grants you certain rights - among them may be official employment, social support and other privileges.

A residence permit is the first step towards naturalization in Greece and obtaining a European Union passport. The residence permits can be categorized, for example for study and teaching, work and professional activities, family and humanitarian reasons. The basic conditions for the issuance of a residence permit include law-abiding behavior, absence of diseases dangerous to the society, possession of a valid passport and health insurance.

You can settle in the Hellenic Republic for a longer period of time by obtaining a passport from another EU country under a simplified program. With the support of Immigrantinlaw's migration specialists, you can obtain your second citizenship in up to 12 months without major costs and worries. Learn more about it during a free consultation with a specialist of our company.

What gives you a residence permit in Greece?

As a resident of the Hellenic Republic, you may legally stay in the country for up to 36 months (usually with the possibility of extending this period), as well as:

• unlimited number of times to leave the state (for example, travel to home country) and return without a visa;
• for certain types of residence permits - to officially work and/or conduct commercial activities in the EU;
• use the services of European banking and medical institutions on conditions that are not available to ordinary tourists;
• to stay in the country for permanent residence and to obtain citizenship in compliance with the naturalization rules;
• apply to state authorities, e.g., for financial benefits or judicial assistance;
• reunite with relatives in the country and apply for a residence permit (depending on the category of residence);
• participate in support programs from private and public investors, e.g., for start-ups or students.

Grounds for obtaining a residence permit in Greece

Article 9 of the Greek Immigration Code stipulates that the right of residence in Greece may be granted to:

• employees of local companies;
• highly qualified specialists;
• students and researchers;
• financially secure immigrants;
• family members of residents of the country;
• foreign investors;
• business people;
• ethnic Greeks;
• refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection.

The right to reside in Greece is also granted on other, less common grounds. Examples are receiving medical care, participating in internship or exchange programs, volunteering, and learning about monastic life. Usually for temporary purposes a national visa is issued, which is valid for up to 12 months. Also, not all types of residence permits are immigration-type documents. Some of them are issued one-time and are not renewed, so you cannot stay for permanent residence with them.

The period of registration of a Greek residence permit is not defined by law. For the period of processing the request, the government gives you a certificate of electronic application, which confirms the legality of your stay in the country. After 5 years of legal residence in Greece, you can apply for a long-term residence permit. After another 24 months, you have the right to naturalize and obtain a passport of the Republic, provided you meet the associated requirements.

Employees of local companies

A person who enters into a work contract of 12 months or more with a salary not lower than the national minimum wage can reside in Greece. The employer needs to obtain the right to employ the foreigner through the electronic services of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum. Working residence permits are issued subject to annual quotas and only if the selected vacancy could not be covered by the local labor market. There are exceptions to this rule for certain professions, such as sportsmen and coaches, managerial staff, teachers and civil servants.

Residency in Greece is also granted for short-term employment. An example is seasonal employment for up to 9 months of the year. Relocation is also possible for those who are transferred to the Greek representative office of an international company, go on a long business trip, visit the country within the framework of mobility programs of the European Union. In any case, it is necessary to have a relevant employment contract and a compulsory health insurance policy.

Highly qualified specialists

Like other EU countries, Greece issues a special type of residence permit - the Blue Card, which is granted to foreigners with a profession from the list of Directive 2021/1883/EU, such as IT specialists. You need to sign a work contract in the Republic for a period of six months or more with a salary of 160% of the national average, i.e., about 27,500 EUR per year.

The applicant needs to prove his/her specialized education and undergo a diploma recognition procedure if the profession is regulated by Greek laws. With the Blue Card you have special advantages, e.g., you can change employers within the European Union.

Family members of residents

Holders of a Greek residence permit who have lived in the country for more than two years can invite family members. The same right is available to permanent residents and citizens of the Republic without any residency requirements. Family reunification is possible if the receiving party provides housing for relatives and assumes obligations for their financial support. To support dependents, 20% of the minimum wage is required for the spouse and 15% for each minor child.

Foreign investors

Greece is one of the few countries in the European Union, which grants residence permits for investment for 5 years at a time and offers a wide range of investment options. The minimum amount of financial contribution is 350 000 EUR. Investments can be made, for example, in Greek companies, government and corporate bonds, units of business participation funds. Also, the right of residence is granted if you buy residential or commercial real estate - it is allowed to buy houses, apartments, offices and even monuments. The price of the object must exceed 250,000-800,000 EUR, depending on its type and location.

Commercial figures

It is possible to move to Greece for business reasons. To apply for a residence permit, one must be the founder, director or key employee of a company in which 500,000 EUR or more from other countries have been invested. Multiple directors or employees are allowed to immigrate within the same company. Instead of the requirement for the size of the company's share capital, an assessment of its annual turnover may be applied, which must be equal to or exceed 4,000,000 EUR. In any case, you receive a residence card for investment activities, which is issued for a period of five years.

Students and researchers

A residence permit is issued to those who come to study at accredited universities. You must be enrolled on a full-time (full-time) basis, have a place to live in the country and the means to support yourself, and pay for your education. In addition, student residence permits are available to participants in international student exchange programs and those who come for internships or advanced training. Also eligible for immigration are scientific researchers and university professors who come at the invitation of a specialized body.

Financially secured immigrants

In Greece there is a residence permit for foreigners who have sufficient means of subsistence (e.g., rentiers or pensioners). Your income should be from 2000 EUR per month, and you should have a year's worth of 24,000 EUR in a bank account. You can move together with your family members - your spouse is entitled to 400 EUR per month, minor children - 300 EUR (for each of them).

You and your relatives will not be able to work or carry out independent economic activities in the territory of the Republic. Residence permit for financially independent persons is issued only by individual decision of authorized bodies. The number of extensions of residence is not limited. Greece is one of the few EU states where self-supporting foreigners have the right to naturalize.

Ethnic Greeks

Greece grants residency rights to expatriates from Albania, Turkey and former Soviet Union states. One needs to document his/her ethnicity to prove his/her belonging to the people of the republic. In this case, a residence permit is issued immediately for 5 years. There is also a possibility to obtain citizenship in a simplified procedure by repatriation.

Refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection

The right to reside in Greece is granted to those who can document their inability to remain in their home country. Examples are refugees from hot spots in the Middle East or victims of discrimination. The Republic provides additional and temporary protection to those who need it. Residence permits are also granted on other humanitarian grounds: for victims of human trafficking or sexual exploitation, those who have suffered domestic violence or cannot leave the country for objective reasons.

The easiest way to move to Greece is as a citizen of the European Union. Immigrantinlaw's international law specialists can help you apply for a second passport in Romania, Slovenia or Bulgaria without a long waiting period, residence in a country with a residence permit/permanent residence permit or demonstrating income. Analyze your chances of qualifying for expedited immigration procedures in a free consultation.

Residency without the right to immigrate

It is also possible to reside in Greece for reasons that do not imply subsequent naturalization. Depending on the situation, you receive a national visa or a residence permit for 6-12 months. For example, such a residence permit is opened for:

• volunteer activities;
• internships;
• diplomatic work and participation in official foreign missions;
• therapeutic hospitalization;
• getting to know the monastic life of St. George;
• language courses;
• youth mobility within the framework of international agreements.

A residence permit can also be issued in the interests of the Republic, e.g., for those who have outstanding talents in different fields. The document looks like a standard residence card, but the conditions of its granting can be changed by the government's decision.

Conditions for obtaining a residence permit in Greece

You can obtain a temporary residence card in Greece if you:

• have a reason for relocation, an appropriate list of documents for residence permit and a passport;
• have opened a national long-term visa of category D for the same reason as your future residence permit;
• do not pose a threat to public order, internal security or international relations of the republic (including no criminal record);
• not registered in European and foreign databases as an undesirable person, e.g., due to violations of migration rules;
• have no diseases dangerous to public health, which may require a medical examination after the move;
• have taken out full medical insurance for all possible risks associated with immigration of foreigners.

Additional requirements for the issuance of a residence permit depend on the reason for which you intend to come to Greece. Usually, the authorities also ask you to provide proof of your financial solvency and the availability of housing in the territory of the Republic.

How to obtain a residence permit in Greece

To apply for a temporary residence permit in Greece, you have to go through the following steps:

1. Consult a lawyer to draw up a plan of action.
   You should start the process of opening a residence permit with legal advice. A specialist in international law will explain to you the pros and cons of different immigration programs, after which you will jointly choose a suitable option to move to Greece.
2. Apply for a visa at the competent authority.
   You request an entry permit at the diplomatic mission of Greece in the country of your permanent residence. You open a D visa for the same reason as a resident card, e.g., work, registration of a sole proprietorship, study, purchase of real estate or enrollment in a university. You will need to submit documents and leave your passport until a decision is made. The law does not stipulate the time limit for consideration of requests.
3. You move to Greece and apply for a residence permit.
   While the entry permit is valid, you need to get to the Republic and apply for a residence permit through the e-services portal on the official website of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum. To the application form, you attach scanned copies of the required documents, according to the basis, and a receipt for the payment of the administrative fee.
4. Wait for a response and collect the residence permit.
   After submitting your application for a residence permit, you will receive by e-mail a certificate with a unique serial number, which allows you to stay legally in Greece until a decision on the request is made. At the discretion of the authorities, you may additionally be summoned for a personal interview at the Immigration Committee. After all legal formalities, you receive your residence permit by presenting a valid identity card (passport).

What do you need to obtain a residence permit in Greece?

To open a residence card in Greece, you form the appropriate dossier, translate and certify documents, pay administrative fees. Also, you will need to personally visit the competent authorities to submit requests and receive the finished residence permit.

List of documents

The residence permit in Greece is granted after the authorities have examined your documents:

• electronic application (a sample of filling out the application form is available on the Immigration Portal);
• original and copy of a valid passport or its analog;
• a national long-term visa of category D;
• four recent passport-size color photos;
• metric documents (marriage, birth certificates), if applicable;
• proof of participation in a commercial or public life and health insurance scheme;
• proof of the right to relocate according to the basis, e.g., work contract or investment certificate.

A criminal record certificate is not required for the issuance of a residence permit, but may be requested by the Greek diplomatic mission before granting a long-term visa. Possible additional documents include proof of financial security (e.g., bank statement or pension information), your diploma or employment history (to prove professional qualifications). Documents are accepted with an official translation into Greek.

Submitting an application

You can apply for a Greek residence permit online through a special Immigration Portal. To the application form you add electronic versions of the documents according to the requirements for your basis. On a certain day you will be invited to submit biometric data, which is necessary for the subsequent issuance of a resident ID-card. You may also be scheduled for an interview with an official or asked to send additional documents by registered letter or electronically. You can check the status of your application on the Greek Immigration Portal using your personal application number.

How much does the registration cost?

The biometric card of a Greek resident will cost you 16 EUR as of 2025. Separately, you pay a fee for the acceptance and processing of the application - 150 EUR on general grounds, 1000 EUR for financially independent persons and 2000 EUR for investors. Some categories of applicants are exempt from the state fee, e.g., family members of citizens of the Republic. In addition, you will need to pay a notary, translator, immigration specialists. The cost of their services is calculated individually.

International law lawyers of Immigrantinlaw will help you find the best way to move to Greece with minimal costs. Support of our specialists at every stage is a guarantee of successful immigration.

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Residence permit extension

In order to extend the residence permit in Greece, it is necessary to apply to the competent authority within two months before the expiration of the current document. The renewal procedure is also carried out through the Immigration Portal. You fill in the application form, pay the administrative fee again, upload electronic copies of the dossier through the service. If you are late with the renewal of your residence permit for no more than a month, you will have to pay a fine of 100 EUR. If this period is exceeded, applications for renewal will not be accepted (except for force majeure).

After five years of continuous residence in Greece, you have the opportunity to obtain a permanent residence permit. For this purpose, it is necessary to be sufficiently integrated into society, i.e., to speak the national language at a conversational level and to know the socio-cultural peculiarities of the Republic. In addition, you will need to have a permanent source of funds to support yourself and family members, as well as full medical insurance. It is possible to count on citizenship by sedentary (naturalization) after seven years spent in the country. At the same time, one must be involved in the economic and social life of the republic.

Refusal and revocation of status

A Greek residence permit is denied to those who knowingly provide false or incomplete information about themselves or who use forged documents in their file. The application is terminated if you do not respond to the written summons of the competent authority within 2 months (e.g., you do not show up for the interview). You may also be denied for reasons of national security or if you fail to meet at least one of the conditions for residency.

According to the law and immigrants' feedback, a temporary residence permit is no longer valid if it turns out that you have issued it fraudulently. The residence permit is also canceled if you leave the country for more than six months in a row without a valid reason. In order not to encounter such situations in the immigration procedure, it is worth enlisting the support of specialized lawyers of Immigrantinlaw. With their help, you are guaranteed to obtain the required status in the European Union in a short period of time and without large investments.

About the author

Diana Weber

Lawyer of international law

Diane Weber is an international law specialist with 10 years of legal practice experience. Her portfolio includes successful stories of citizenship in different European Union countries under simplified procedures. Diana provides detailed advice and helps many people to achieve their immigration goals in a short period of time, including resolving visa issues, assisting in obtaining residence permits and citizenship in the EU countries. In her blog, Diana Weber enjoys providing readers with detailed information about the features of most popular programs for obtaining a second passport.