Greece Immigration Guide

Greece Immigration Guide

Complete guide to immigrating to Greece — Golden Visa, digital nomad visa, residence permits, and official resources.

0/100

RelocationHub Score™

Overall Score

Score Breakdown

Immigration Ease
75
Cost of Living
75
Job Market
25
Healthcare
50
Family Friendliness
63
Safety
75
Tax Friendliness
50
Community
25
Education
50
Quality of Life
50

Community and safety

Recent antisemitism trend in Greece

Limited pictureLimited data

We found references to incidents, but not a reliable multi-year national series strong enough for a full comparison.

What recent reporting shows

Greece should be treated as a limited-data case rather than scored as if it had full parity with larger datasets.

How to use this in relocation planning

Athens may still suit some families for proximity and lifestyle, but users should verify current local conditions directly with community contacts.

Based on retrieved public reporting from Tel Aviv University, ADL/J7, and other relevant monitoring sources. Where a reliable series is missing, we mark the destination as a data-gap case rather than inferring a false trend.

Source base: OSCE, Retrieved public reporting

What to line up before moving to Greece Immigration Guide

A practical staged checklist with 22 base and country-specific tasks.

Opens a print view to save as PDF.

Documents & Identity

Check passport validity for all family membersMust

Make sure each traveler has a valid passport with enough validity buffer for the destination and visa process.

When to do it: 3-9 months before move

Collect birth/marriage/divorce certificatesMust

Obtain official copies of civil records before translation, notarization, and apostille.

When to do it: 3-6 months before move

Prepare sworn translations, notarization, and apostilles for required documentsMust

Build a destination-specific document list and prepare both physical and digital certified copies.

When to do it: 2-5 months before move

Collect diplomas, transcripts, CV, and employment documentsMust

Especially relevant for work pathways, professional recognition, licensing, and dependent applications.

When to do it: 2-4 months before move

Visas & Legal Status

Confirm visa pathway and status for each family memberMust

Confirm main applicant, dependents, work rights, and entry/stay conditions.

When to do it: 2-8 months before move

Build visa application or port-of-entry document packMust

Gather work approvals, offer letters, proof of funds, insurance, temporary address, and supporting documents.

When to do it: 1-4 months before move

Israeli-side Administration

Review Israeli tax residency position before departureMust

Review center-of-life factors, possible tax residency disconnection, exit tax, Form 1348, and double-tax risk.

When to do it: 2-6 months before move

Plan Bituach Leumi and Israeli health fund statusMust

Understand whether to keep paying, possible waiting periods on return, and how this interacts with time abroad.

When to do it: 1-3 months before move

Arrange Israeli accounts, power of attorney, and mailing addressShould

Decide what stays active, who handles urgent matters in Israel, and how official mail will be received.

When to do it: 1-2 months before move

Health & Insurance

Export medical records, prescriptions, and medication supplyMust

Request doctor summaries, generic medication names, vaccinations, test results, and relevant medical history.

When to do it: 1-3 months before move

Arrange health coverage for the relocation gap periodMust

Ensure coverage from departure from Israel until local or employer insurance becomes active.

When to do it: 2-8 weeks before move

Family & Schools

Collect school/daycare records for childrenMust

Gather report cards, immunization records, transfer letters, evaluations, and special support documentation if needed.

When to do it: 2-6 months before move

Check military-service status implications for Israeli children abroadShould

Especially relevant for families with children who are Israeli citizens or dual nationals.

When to do it: Before move and during long-term stay planning

Housing, Flights & Arrival

Book temporary housing for the first weeksMust

Avoid rushing into a long-term lease before understanding the area, transport, and local document requirements.

When to do it: 2-8 weeks before move

Book flights after a safe visa/approval triggerMust

It is usually safer not to lock non-flexible flights before visa approval, entry clearance, or a firm employer trigger.

When to do it: After key approval milestone

Money & Banking

Build a 3–6 month cash bufferMust

Prepare reserves for temporary housing, deposits, furniture, salary delays, and setup costs.

When to do it: 2-6 months before move

Set up banking, FX transfers, and international cardsMust

Reduce unnecessary fees and make sure you can pay for essentials before opening a local bank account.

When to do it: 2-6 weeks before move

Logistics & Shipping

Decide what to ship, store, or sellShould

Make an inventory based on shipping cost, expected stay length, home size, and destination voltage standards.

When to do it: 1-3 months before move

Pets & Car

Check pet import requirementsConditional

Includes microchip, vaccines, blood tests, health certificate, airline rules, and quarantine where relevant.

When to do it: 3-6 months before move

Check driving licence conversion and car rulesConditional

Check whether you can drive with an Israeli licence, for how long, and whether conversion or testing is required.

When to do it: 1-2 months before move

First 30 Days After Arrival

Plan the first 7 days after landingMust

SIM/eSIM, local tax/ID number, bank, transport, clinic, address registration, and onboarding documents.

When to do it: Before departure + first week after arrival

Check local tax number setup after arrivalMust

Digital Nomad Visa

Best for remote professionals who want a lighter-footprint route into Greece before deeper investment decisions.

Processing1 to 3 months
Profile noteIncome and insurance
  • Income, insurance, and foreign employer structure are central.
  • Good first move before deciding on longer-term residency strategy.
  • Works well for flexible professionals who do not need a local employer.

Greece attracts investors, digital nomads, and retirees looking for a Mediterranean lifestyle inside the European Union. Immigration is managed by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum. Greece has well-known investor pathways and added digital nomad provisions in recent years.

Visa and residence framework

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals need a national visa (type D) for long-term stays. Greece's residence permit system covers employment, investment, self-employment, family reunification, and the Golden Visa for investors. After seven years of continuous legal residence, applicants may qualify for long-term EU residence status or Greek citizenship.

EU/EEA/Swiss nationals may reside in Greece freely; they must register with local authorities for stays over three months.

Pathways covered on this site

Investment

  • Golden Visa: Greece's Golden Visa is one of Europe's best-known investor residence programs. It was historically based on real estate investment of €250,000, but the minimum thresholds were raised significantly in 2023 (€800,000 in high-demand areas including Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, and Santorini; €400,000 elsewhere). Other qualifying investments include government bonds, business capital contributions, and shares in qualifying funds. The Golden Visa grants a five-year renewable residence permit for the investor and immediate family. It does not require physical presence.

Remote work and digital nomads

  • Digital Nomad Visa: For non-EU nationals who work remotely for employers or clients outside Greece. Requires proof of remote employment or freelance contracts, sufficient income, and health insurance. The initial permit is valid for one year, renewable for two-year periods. Greece introduced additional tax incentives for qualifying foreign-source income under Law 4758/2020.

Key facts about Greece

  • Capital: Athens
  • Official language: Greek
  • Currency: Euro (EUR)
  • Government: Unitary parliamentary republic
  • Population: approximately 10.4 million (Hellenic Statistical Authority / ELSTAT)

Living and working in Greece

Greece has a Mediterranean climate, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and a relaxed pace of life. The public healthcare system (ESY) provides free or low-cost care; quality varies and private supplemental insurance is common among expats. The Greek economy is recovering and growing, with strengths in tourism, shipping, agriculture, and an expanding technology sector. Athens has a developing startup ecosystem. Greek language skills greatly ease daily life, though English is widely spoken in urban areas and tourist regions.

Official resources

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration rules change frequently. Consult a licensed immigration attorney before making decisions.