Visa guide · Greece
Relocating to Greece: visa categories and tax landscape
Mediterranean EU member with a Digital Nomad Visa (2021), Golden Visa, and a non-dom tax regime for inbound retirees and high-net-worth movers.
The Greece relocation landscape
Greece is one of the most accessible EU destinations on cost-of-living, particularly outside Athens. The Digital Nomad Visa (introduced 2021) and several tax-favoring regimes for new tax residents have made the country an active inbound-talent destination through the 2020s.
EU citizens have freedom of movement. Non-EU applicants choose between the digital nomad route, employment-sponsored permits, or the Golden Visa investment-based residency.
Visa categories worth knowing
The main residence-permit categories used by relocators. Listed in editorial-priority order, not exhaustive.
Introduced 2021 for non-EU remote workers meeting income and remote-employment criteria. Initially 1 year, renewable.
Standard employer-sponsored route. Subject to labour market needs test outside specific shortage categories.
Standard EU-wide route for highly qualified workers with a binding job offer.
Investment-based residency, traditionally via real-estate purchase. Threshold has been raised periodically; current rules vary by region. Family inclusion is broad.
For non-EU applicants with sufficient passive income to support themselves without local employment. Popular with retirees.
For founders and freelancers launching activities in Greece. Documentation-heavy.
Tax landscape for inbound residents
What the tax picture looks like for someone moving to Greece, alongside any special expat regimes.
Two notable inbound regimes: (1) a non-dom flat-rate option for qualifying high-net-worth individuals transferring tax residency to Greece — pay a fixed annual fee instead of progressive tax on foreign-sourced income; (2) a separate 50% tax exemption for the first 7 years for qualifying inbound workers / pensioners not previously Greek-resident.
Outside those regimes, Greek income tax is progressive and combines with employee-side social security (EFKA). Combined effective payroll deduction lands in the high 20s to mid 30s for typical professionals.
Practical considerations
- Greek language is required for most public-administration interactions. English usable in expat-heavy neighborhoods (Kolonaki, Glyfada) and tourism but limited elsewhere. The Greek script adds friction for newcomers.
- Bureaucracy is slow but well-documented. AFM (tax ID) and AMKA (social security number) are the universal first steps after arrival.
Greece cities on Mundevo
Cost-of-living and salary breakdowns we maintain for cities in this country.
Related terms
Before you act
Verify with the consulate. Search for "Greece consulate" plus your current country of residence; the consulate site is the authoritative source on current categories, thresholds, and required documents.
Get a tax read. Tax residency, special regimes, and home-country exposure interact in ways no editorial guide can address for your specific situation. A consultation with a tax advisor familiar with Greece before you move pays for itself many times over.
Build the cost picture. Run the salary and cost calculations for the specific city in Greece you're considering — visa eligibility is only one of the three pillars (visa, cost, tax) that decide whether a move makes sense.