Move to Athens, Greece. The routes, mapped.
12 visa routes into Greece, each with its real required-document list, pulled live from the Nomad knowledge graph. Start a plan and we sequence the right one for your situation.
United States to Greece: the money facts
Treaty coverage, double-tax exposure, and what setup actually costs, so you know the financial shape of the move before you commit.
How you can legally move to Greece
12 visa routes into Greece, every route the knowledge graph maps, unranked. The numbers that decide the route: income floor, timeline, filing costs, and who comes with you.
| Route | Income floor | Timeline | Costs | Family & work | About & documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investment Residence Permit (Non-Real-Estate) | Varies | 5 years~16 wks processing · Renewable | $2,280 fee$15,000 all-in | Remote work ok, Family ok | A 5-year renewable residence permit for non-EU investors who deploy capital into Greek company shares, bonds, bank deposits, or investment funds instead of property. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), FBI Background Check ·a, Hague Apostille (US), Investment Proof Greek Securities, Greek Bank Account, Bank Transfer Proof Greece, Health Insurance Proof (Costa Rica-valid), +2 more Official source |
| EU Blue Card (Greek implementation) | $3,250/mo | 2 years~12 wks processing · Renewable | $171 fee$2,500 all-in | Family ok | A 2-year renewable work residence permit for non-EU nationals hired by a Greek employer at a qualifying salary, with immediate dependent rights and intra-EU mobility after 12 months. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), FBI Background Check ·a, Hague Apostille (US), Greek Employment Contract 12mo, University Degree Apostilled, Professional Qualifications Apostilled, Health Insurance Proof (Costa Rica-valid), +2 more Official source |
| FIP (Financially Independent Person) Residence Permit | $2,280/mo | 2 years~8 wks processing · Renewable | $86 fee$3,500 all-in | Family ok | A two-year renewable residence permit for non-EU retirees and rentiers who earn at least €2,000 per month in passive income from outside Greece. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), FBI Background Check ·a, Hague Apostille (US), Bank Statements 12mo, Passive Income Proof, Health Insurance Proof (Costa Rica-valid), Proof Accommodation Greece, +3 more Official source |
| Retirement Residence Permit (FIP Variant for Retirees) | $2,280/mo | 2 years~8 wks processing · Renewable | $86 fee$3,500 all-in | Family ok | A 2-year renewable residence permit for non-EU retirees with at least €2,000 per month in foreign pension income, pairable with a 7% flat tax on foreign-source income for 15 years. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), FBI Background Check ·a, Hague Apostille (US), Pension Award Letter Apostilled, Bank Statements 12mo, Health Insurance Proof (Costa Rica-valid), Proof Accommodation Greece, +2 more Official source |
| Sponsored Work Residence Permit (Dependent Employment) | $1,057/mo | 2 years~16 wks processing · Renewable | $171 fee$2,000 all-in | Family ok | A 2-year renewable work residence permit for non-EU nationals taking up salaried employment with a Greek employer, subject to annual quotas and a labour market test. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), FBI Background Check ·a, Hague Apostille (US), Greek Employment Contract 12mo, Labour Market Test Greece, Health Insurance Proof (Costa Rica-valid), Greek Translation Certified, +1 more Official source |
| Digital Nomad Visa (Greek DNV) | $3,990/mo | 1 year~4 wks processing · Renewable | $86 fee$3,000 all-in | Remote work ok, Family ok | A residence permit for remote workers employed abroad, requiring at least €3,500 per month net income, with dependents allowed and renewable up to 5 years total. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), FBI Background Check ·a, Hague Apostille (US), Bank Statements (3 months, certified) ·a, Employer Letter Remote Work, Health Insurance Proof (Costa Rica-valid), Proof Accommodation Greece, +3 more Official source |
| Student Residence Permit (Type D) | $800/mo | 1 year~6 wks processing · Renewable | $103 fee$800 all-in | Remote work ok | A renewable annual residence permit for non-EU nationals enrolled full-time at an accredited Greek higher education or vocational institution, with limited part-time work allowed. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), FBI Background Check ·a, Hague Apostille (US), Greek University Acceptance Letter, Tuition Payment Proof, Subsistence Funds Proof, Health Insurance Proof (Costa Rica-valid), +2 more Official source |
| Type D National Long-Stay Visa | Varies | 1 year~4 wks processing | $86 fee$500 all-in | Family ok | A mandatory 12-month entry visa for non-EU citizens that authorizes arrival in Greece and initiates conversion to a substantive residence permit. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), FBI Background Check ·a, Hague Apostille (US), Health Insurance Proof (Costa Rica-valid), Proof Accommodation Greece, Greek Translation Certified, Visa Application Form Greece Official source |
| Family Reunification Residence Permit | $2,280/mo | 2 years~12 wks processing · Renewable | $171 fee$1,500 all-in | Remote work ok, Family ok | A renewable 2-year residence permit for the spouse, minor children, and dependent parents of a legally resident third-country national in Greece, requiring the sponsor to earn at least 2,000 euros per month. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), FBI Background Check ·a, Hague Apostille (US), Marriage Certificate Apostilled, Birth Certificate Apostilled, Sponsor Residence Permit Greece, Sponsor Income Proof, +3 more Official source |
| Greece Golden Visa (Permanent Investor Residence Permit) | Varies | 5 years~24 wks processing · Renewable | $2,280 fee$30,000 all-in | Remote work ok, Family ok | A renewable 5-year investor residence permit for non-EU nationals who deploy qualifying capital in Greece, granting Schengen travel and family inclusion with no income requirement. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), FBI Background Check ·a, Hague Apostille (US), Greek Property Title Deed, Property Purchase Agreement Greece, Bank Transfer Proof Greece, Health Insurance Proof (Costa Rica-valid), +3 more Official source |
| Long-Term EU Resident Permit (Greek PR) | $928/mo | 5 years~16 wks processing · Renewable | $342 fee$1,000 all-in | Remote work ok, Family ok | A permanent EU long-term resident permit for those with 5 continuous years of legal residence in Greece, granting full labour market access, intra-EU mobility rights, and coverage for dependents. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), Prior Greek Residence Permits, Greek Tax Returns 5yr, Bank Statements 12mo, Income Proof 12mo, Health Insurance Proof (Costa Rica-valid), Proof Accommodation Greece, +2 more Official source |
| Greek Citizenship by Naturalization | $928/mo | 999 months~156 wks processing | $800 fee$2,500 all-in | Remote work ok, Family ok | A permanent citizenship route granting a Greek passport and full EU rights to legal residents after 7 continuous years of residence, a B1 Greek language test, and a civics exam. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), Greek Long Term Resident Permit, Prior Greek Residence Permits, Greek Tax Returns 7yr, Greek Language Test B1, Greek Civics History Test, FBI Background Check ·a, +4 more Official source |
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Which route is right for you?
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