Complete Guide to Residency Permits in Greece

To obtain a residence permit in Greece, you need to collect and submit a specific set of documents according to your grounds for application, such as work, study, investment, or family reunification. These documents typically include a valid passport, proof of income, health insurance, and other supporting documents translated into Greek or English. The process also involves obtaining a national visa (or White Paper), submitting biometrics, and receiving a residence card after approval.

In this article, we explain what is required to obtain a residence permit in Greece.

Main Steps for Obtaining a Residence Permit in Greece

A Greek residence permit is a plastic card with a microchip. It contains all your personal information and fingerprints. To receive this card, you must follow several steps, regardless of the basis on which you are applying for resident status:

1. Document Preparation. First, you need to gather everything that proves your right to a residence permit, such as an employment contract, a university admission letter, property documents, or a marriage certificate — all must be translated into Greek or English and notarised.
2. Obtaining a D Visa or White Paper. To enter Greece and submit your documents for a residence permit, you need a national D visa. It can be obtained at the Greek consulate in your country by presenting all collected documents and attending an interview. The D visa is affixed in your passport and is valid for 90 to 365 days. In certain cases, such as under the Greek investment residence programme, a foreigner may receive a special entry permit instead of a D visa – the White Paper.
3. Submitting Residence Permit Documents. While the D visa is valid, you must submit your application and documents for the residence permit at the local office of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum in Greece. This can be done in person or via an authorised representative. In return, you will receive a special certificate valid for 12 months that allows you to legally remain in Greece. You will also need to pay a government fee.
4. Investors enter Greece using the White Paper permit, which is valid for 1 year.
5. Biometric Submission. After your application is approved, you will need to submit fingerprints and have your photo taken – this can only be done in person.
6. Receiving the Residence Permit Card. You can track your application progress on the website of the migration service. When the card is ready, it can be collected either in person or via a representative.

We explain the types of residence permits in Greece in more detail in this article.

List of Documents for a Residence Permit in Greece

The document list may vary depending on the grounds on which you apply for the Greek residence permit.

Personal Documents

• Passport valid for at least 3 months beyond the residence permit duration

• D visa or White Paper

• Certificate of no criminal record from your home country

• Completed application form

• Photo

• Documents confirming permanent residence address – rental agreement or property title

• Documents proving the right to obtain a residence permit:
  • For employees – signed employment contract specifying position and salary, confirmation of required education and/or relevant work experience

  • For university students – enrolment letter; for minors – parental or guardian consent for study and residence in Greece

  • For investors – proof of investment according to the selected option

  • For entrepreneurs – business plan and justification for the future company’s activity

  • For financially independent persons – proof of passive foreign income of at least €2,000 per month

  • For digital nomads – employment contract with a foreign company allowing remote work with a salary of at least €3,500/month

  • For spouses – marriage certificate or partnership agreement

  • For family reunification – personal documents of family members obtaining residence: passports, visa, marriage certificate, children’s birth certificates, photos

  • For refugees and those under international protection – documents proving refugee status

  • For scientific research – approval from the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs of Greece

  • For pilgrims and religious workers planning education or other activities at the Athos Academy – registration certificate from the academy, sponsorship letter from the Holy Epistasia confirming full coverage of expenses and accommodation

Financial Documents

• Proof of financial solvency – bank statement, income certificate (e.g., 2-NDFL), salary slips, etc.

• Tax return for the previous reporting year

• Receipt of government fee payment

Medical Documents

• Health insurance with coverage of at least €30,000 for the entire planned stay in Greece and residence permit duration

• Health certificate

Requirements for Submitting Documents for a Greek Residence Permit

Passports and other certificates/documents not in Greek must be translated into Greek or English, notarised, and apostilled. All copies must be clear and legible. Health insurance must cover the full term of the residence permit. Forms must be filled out neatly and correctly. It’s important to provide a complete document set to avoid delays or refusals.

Applying for a Greek residence permit can be complex, so it’s best to rely on professionals who understand the legal and bureaucratic nuances of the process.

Greece’s Golden Visa Through Real Estate Investment

The fastest and most effective way to obtain residency in Europe is through real estate investment. To maintain your status, you do not have to live in the country; it is enough to visit for biometric submission.

Family members of the investor – spouse, children, and both sets of parents – also receive residence permits. The residence card is valid for 5 years with unlimited renewals. The process takes 6–9 months.

The purchased property can be rented out for 4–6% annual returns or used for personal residence.

To participate in the programme, you must buy residential property in Greece – one unit of at least 120 m². The required investment depends on the property’s location:

• From €800,000 for properties in Athens, the Attica region, Thessaloniki, Crete, Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini and other islands with populations over 3,100

• From €400,000 in the rest of Greece

There are exceptions allowing Golden Visa acquisition from €250,000. In this case, the property can be of any size and located anywhere in Greece.

Here’s how it works:

• If the building is of historical value but requires renovation, the investor may buy and restore it. The restoration must be completed within 5 years; otherwise, the residence permit will not be renewed.

• If a building is converted from commercial to residential use, the developer handles all reconstruction work, following safety and energy efficiency standards. The investor invests in the future project and receives a modern apartment with a fresh renovation. This option is particularly popular in Athens and Attica due to the abundance of older buildings.
  

In Greece, VAT is 24%, but for real estate transactions, it is currently suspended nationwide. You only pay the property transfer tax – 3.09%.

We’ve prepared a guide to help you choose a property for your Golden Visa in Greece.

Investors can travel across Schengen countries without a visa and enjoy all the benefits available to residents of Greece and the EU. Learn more about the programme’s conditions and advantages in our detailed article.

Astons is your trusted partner for investment immigration and overseas property. Contact us for a free consultation – our experts will help you find the best solution tailored to your needs and budget, and guide you through the entire process from document collection and property selection to obtaining your Greek residence permit.

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