Published: 16.10.2026

• 2026-10-16Greece details naturalisation requirements for citizenship

  For naturalisation, applicants must be adults, hold an eligible residence document, demonstrate lawful and permanent residence, integration, compliance with tax and social-security obligations, and no public-order or security impediments. The general residence requirement is seven years, while three years applies to EU citizens, spouses of Greek citizens with a child, and certain other categories; the standard fee is €550.

• 2026-10-05Temporary Protection for Ukrainians in Greece Runs Until 4 March 2028

  Temporary protection in Greece is valid until 4 March 2028 and provides access to work, business, education and healthcare. However, time spent under temporary protection does not count toward the residence period required for Greek permanent residence or citizenship, so another legal basis will be needed after the status ends.

• 2026-09-29Greece Defines Tax Residence by Place of Living and Center of Vital Interests

  An individual is considered a Greek tax resident if Greece is their permanent or main residence, usual place of residence, or the center of their personal and economic interests. Staying in Greece for more than 183 days during any 12-month period also results in tax residency from the first day of presence.

• 2026-09-28Greece Maintains Three-Year Residence Permit for Financially Independent Applicants

  Foreign nationals can obtain a Greek residence permit by proving stable passive income from abroad of at least €3,500 per month. The permit is issued for three years; the income threshold rises by 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child, and holders must stay in Greece for at least 183 days a year.

• 2026-09-22Greece details a Golden Visa route based on long-term tourist-accommodation leases

  Third-country nationals can obtain a five-year investor residence permit by signing a timeshare or long-term tourist-accommodation lease for at least five years. The minimum value is €800,000 in Attica, Thessaloniki, several popular islands and islands with more than 3,100 residents, and €400,000 elsewhere; the permit does not grant access to employment.

• 2026-09-22Greece Provides a Humanitarian Residence Permit for Certain Spouses of Persons of Greek Origin

  Third-country nationals whose marriage to a person of Greek origin ended because of death, divorce or particularly difficult circumstances may apply for a humanitarian residence permit. The permit is valid for one year, grants access to the labour market and must be applied for in person by appointment; the standard fee for the electronic permit card is €16.

• 2026-09-22Greece details Golden Visa conditions for properties converted to residential use

  Third-country nationals can obtain a five-year investor residence permit by purchasing a single property worth at least €250,000 whose main spaces have been converted to residential use. The conversion must have been completed after 5 April 2024 and before the application is submitted; applications are filed online, and the permit does not grant access to employment.

• 2026-09-22Greece Offers a Golden Visa for Purchasing Listed Real Estate

  Third-country nationals can obtain a five-year residence permit by fully purchasing a listed building or part of one to be restored or reconstructed, with a minimum value of €250,000. Applications are submitted online; the permit does not grant access to employment, and reselling the property leads to its revocation.

• 2026-09-11Greece Temporarily Suspends New Investment Residence Applications for Russian and Belarusian Citizens

  According to the sources, Greece has temporarily stopped accepting and approving new investment-residence applications from Russian and Belarusian citizens, including Golden Visa applications. The restriction remains in place until further notice.

• 2026-09-11Greek Banks Apply Tax-Status and Source-of-Funds Checks to Foreigners

  Foreigners and non-residents can open bank accounts in Greece, but banks may request an AFM, identity and address documents, tax-residency information, and proof of source of funds. Additional KYC/AML and sanctions screening may apply, and account information can be exchanged under CRS.

• 2026-09-07Greece Plans to Raise the Real-Estate Transfer Tax for Third-Country Buyers

  From 1 July 2027, Greece plans to raise the real-estate transfer tax for buyers from third countries to 15%. According to the announced measures, the change will apply to transactions involving individuals rather than legal entities.

• 2026-08-28Visa-Free Entry to Greece Remains Available to Ukrainian Citizens for Up to 90 Days

  Ukrainian citizens with biometric passports can enter Greece visa-free for up to 90 days. Longer stays require temporary protection or a residence permit; the source also expects ETIAS to be introduced for non-EU nationals from 2027.

• 2026-08-11Greece Maintains Special Tax Regimes for New Tax Residents

  Individuals with their centre of vital interests in Greece or who spend more than 183 days there are generally treated as Greek tax residents. Certain new residents may qualify for a €100,000 annual flat tax on foreign-source income, while foreign pensioners may qualify for a 7% rate on foreign income subject to the programme’s conditions.

• 2026-08-06Greece Applies a New Personal Income Tax Scale from 1 January 2026

  From 1 January 2026, salaries, pensions and self-employment income are taxed under a new progressive scale ranging from 9% to 44%, with changes for some income levels and families with children. The source also describes special regimes for new tax residents, including a flat-tax option for investors and relief for certain inbound residents.

• 2026-07-25Greek Golden Visa Renewal Does Not Require Annual Residence

  According to the source, Greece does not impose a minimum annual stay requirement for renewing a Golden Visa, provided the investment remains valid and renewal documents are submitted on time. However, merely holding the permit is not enough for citizenship, for which actual residence in Greece matters.

• 2026-07-23Greece Continues Issuing Short-Stay Visas to Russian Citizens in 2026

  Russian citizens need a Schengen visa to enter Greece. The source reports that Greece continues to issue short-stay visas to Russians in 2026.

• 2026-07-23Greece outlines residence-processing timelines and routes to permanent residence and citizenship

  Relocation materials state that residence permit applications in Greece are subject to a processing timeframe of up to 90 days in 2026. For most routes, applicants may seek permanent residence after five years of lawful residence and citizenship after seven years of continuous residence.

• 2026-07-23Greece’s digital nomad residence route is intended for remote work outside the country

  The route is intended for foreigners working remotely for companies or clients outside Greece. Sources describe an initial one-year visa followed by a two-year residence permit, while employment by a Greek company is prohibited.

• 2026-07-22Greece Introduces a Unified Residence-and-Work Permit and Updates Rules for Foreign Specialists

  According to the source, Greece’s Law No. 5275/2026 on legal migration provides for a unified residence-and-work permit. The source also reports the introduction of Tech and Talent Visas and an increase in the average permit validity period to two years.

• 2026-07-22Opening a Greek Bank Account Requires a Tax Number and Proof of Status

  According to the source, opening a bank account in Greece requires a passport or ID, a local tax number (AFM), proof of address, and a residence permit.

• 2026-07-09Greece Requires Digital Nomad Applications to Start from Abroad

  Since February 2026, digital nomad applicants must start the process through a Greek consulate in their country of residence. In-country applications for this category are not permitted.

• 2026-07-07Greece Applies a 7% Flat Tax to Foreign Income of Foreign Pensioners

  Foreign pensioners who transfer their tax residence to Greece may pay a 7% flat tax on foreign income. The sources state that the regime applies for 15 years.

• 2026-07-03Greece Expands Automated Checks of Tax Residents’ Foreign Income

  Greece’s tax authority, AADE, is launching a new round of cross-checks on income and assets using information received from 93 countries. The checks cover bank interest, dividends, pensions, business profits, transactions through digital payment providers and cryptocurrency investments.

• 2026-06-15Greece Sets Out Spouse Visa and Family Reunification Requirements

  Greece provides a family-reunification route for spouses of Greek or EU citizens and of eligible third-country residents. Depending on the case, applicants need a national Type D visa, proof of a legally recognised marriage or partnership, lawful entry and a clean criminal record relevant to public-order or security concerns.

• 2026-06-11Greece Maintains Three-Year Residence Permits for Beneficiaries of International Protection

  Refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection in Greece receive residence permits valid for three years, renewable for another three years. They have access to employment, healthcare and social assistance; refugees can obtain travel documents valid for up to five years for adults.

• 2026-06-06Greece applies differentiated investment thresholds for the Golden Visa

  According to the source, Greece’s 2026 investment residence route covers real estate, businesses, securities, deposits and investment funds. The source lists an €800,000 real-estate threshold in certain high-demand areas, €400,000 in other areas, a €250,000 route for qualifying commercial properties converted into housing, and €400,000–€500,000 thresholds for some alternative investments.

• 2026-05-14Greece Is Operating the EES Biometric Entry System for Non-EU Travelers

  The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) began operating at Greek airports and other entry points on April 10, 2026. It replaces passport stamps with the collection of photographs and digital fingerprints, although checks may be temporarily suspended at specific entry points during periods of high passenger traffic.

• 2026-05-12Greece’s New Immigration Law Enters into Force

  Law 5275/2026 entered into force on 6 February 2026 and replaced or consolidated substantial parts of Greece’s previous Immigration Code. It changes application rules, eligibility criteria and processing procedures for digital nomads, investors and other foreign nationals.

• 2026-04-13Sanctions Do Not Apply to Some Residence-Permit Grounds for Russian and Belarusian Citizens

  According to the EY guide, sanctions do not apply to the issuance of residence permits to Russian and Belarusian citizens on certain grounds unrelated to the investment programme. The exceptions also cover extensions for employment or business and applications for a new permit after changing employers.

• 2026-04-07Short-Term Rentals Banned for Greek Golden Visa Properties

  The source reports that short-term rentals are now prohibited for properties used to obtain a Greek Golden Visa. Violations may result in a €50,000 fine and revocation of the residence permit.

• 2026-03-31Greece Provides Online Submission for Selected Residence-Permit Procedures

  Greece’s migration-service online platform allows third-country nationals and employers to submit residence-permit renewal applications and applications for residence permits on exceptional grounds. The system also supports appointments to collect ready permits and employer applications to invite seasonal agricultural workers.

• 2026-03-16Greece Introduces Tech and Talent Visas and Updates Rules for Foreign Specialists

  Since February 6, 2026, Greece has offered a Tech Visa for work at registered technology start-ups and a Talent Visa for specialists with advanced university qualifications. Both visas are valid for 12 months and can be converted to an EU Blue Card if standard requirements are met; the minimum employment-contract period was also reduced and the post-unemployment stay period extended.

• 2026-02-04Greek Government Presents a Bill on Legal Migration

  The Greek government presented a bill providing for faster issuance and renewal of residence permits with a minimum validity of two years, as well as new categories including the Talent Visa, Tech Visa and Blue Card. The bill also increases penalties for facilitating illegal entry and transporting people who do not have the right to enter Greece.

• 2026-01-27Greek Government Presents Draft for Stricter Migration Rules

  Greece’s migration minister presented a draft package aimed at tightening rules for people who entered or remain in the country irregularly. The draft also proposes simpler procedures for legally resident foreigners, potentially two-year residence permits and a closer link between lawful residence and employment.

• 2026-01-27Greek government presents draft legislation to tighten migration rules

  The draft would introduce stricter measures against irregular entry and residence, including no possibility of legalising status after an illegal entry. It would also simplify procedures for foreigners residing legally, aim for two-year residence permits and link continued legal residence to employment; the draft further increases penalties for facilitating irregular entry and transporting people without a right to enter.

• 2026-01-27Greece Proposes Tougher Penalties for Facilitating Irregular Migration

  In January 2026, the Greek government submitted a bill to parliament proposing tougher penalties for migrant smuggling, including possible life sentences. It also warned of the possible expulsion of migrants convicted of offenses and criminalization of assistance to irregular migrants by people with regular status.

• 2026-01-08Greece Launches a Golden Visa for Startup Investments Starting at €250,000

  According to the source, since November 2025, non-EU citizens have been able to obtain a five-year residence permit by investing at least €250,000 in a startup listed in the Elevate Greece registry. Conditions reportedly include limiting the investor’s ownership or voting rights to 33% and requiring the startup to create and maintain at least two jobs.

• 2026-01-03Greece Allows Late Residence Permit Renewal Within One Month After Expiry

  Applicants may submit a residence permit renewal application within one month after expiry by paying a €100 fine. After that period, the permit is cancelled and a new application, including potentially under the Golden Visa programme, is required.

• 2025-12-20Greek Fund Investments for Residence Require a Greek Bank Account

  Investments in funds under Greece’s investment-residence route must be made from a Greek bank account. Banks conduct a compliance review before opening the account.

• 2025-11-03Greece raised the Golden Visa investment threshold and banned short-term rentals of purchased properties

  Since September 2024, the minimum real-estate investment for the Golden Visa has increased to EUR 800,000 in high-demand areas. Greece also banned short-term rentals of properties purchased through the scheme.