The Financially Independent Person (FIP) permit is a Greek residence permit (type I.8) for non-EU nationals who live on their own stable resources and do not work in Greece; it lasts three years and renews for three years at a time.
Key facts for Greece retirement visa applicants
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Official route | Financially Independent Person (FIP) residency, not a formal visa named retirement visa. Migration Code art. 163(8) treats it as permit type I.8. |
| Best for | Non-EU retirees and passive-income applicants who will genuinely relocate to Greece and will not work for a Greek employer. |
| Income rule | At least EUR 3,500 a month for the main applicant (KYA 225679/2024). Bank deposits are assessed per year: EUR 42,000 a year for a single applicant. |
| Family resources | Plus 20% for a spouse and 15% per child (KYA 225679/2024). Resources can be met by each family member or by the family together (art. 163(8)). |
| Residence and tax | FIP is a residence route. Separately, AADE's 183-day test can make you Greek tax resident; do not treat 183 days as a standalone immigration rule. |
| Permit length | Migration Code art. 163(8): three years, renewable for three years at a time if conditions remain met. |
| Golden Visa alternative | Investment route with no minimum stay for renewal. Property: EUR 800,000 in Attica, the Regional Unit of Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and islands over 3,100 residents; EUR 400,000 elsewhere; EUR 250,000 only for conversions to residential use or listed buildings (Migration Code art. 100). |
| Tax note | Eligible foreign pensioners may apply for Greece's Article 5B regime, which taxes all foreign-source income at 7% for up to 15 tax years, paid each December. |
FIP vs Golden Visa vs Digital Nomad at a glance
| Route | Best fit | Income or investment basis | Work rights | Stay and tax exposure | Renewal logic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIP / sufficient-resources residence | Passive-income retiree who will live in Greece | At least EUR 3,500 a month, +20% spouse, +15% per child (KYA 225679/2024); pension, bank account or other own means | No Greek employment or independent economic activity under Law 5038/2023 | Living in Greece can trigger AADE tax residence; plan around the 183-day tax test | Three-year permit, renewable if resources, insurance, residence and documents remain valid |
| Golden Visa | Investor who wants optional residence or is already buying qualifying property | Qualifying investment; property thresholds and asset rules vary | Residence does not by itself solve Greek employment/tax planning | No minimum annual stay for renewal, but tax residence can still arise if you actually live in Greece | Five-year permit, renewable while investment conditions remain met |
| Digital Nomad | Remote worker employed by or serving clients outside Greece | EUR 3,500 a month net of tax, plus family uplifts (Migration Code art. 68; KYA 225679/2024) | Remote work for non-Greek employers/clients; not Greek-market employment | Can become tax resident if residence pattern crosses AADE thresholds | 12-month national visa, then a 2-year residence permit (art. 68(4)) |
Does Greece have a retirement visa?
Not by that name. The phrase Greece retirement visa is market shorthand for a long-stay route retirees can use, usually the Financially Independent Person permit. The official Migration Ministry category list separates economically independent persons from investor residence permits, which is why this page treats FIP and Golden Visa as different decisions rather than the same product.
That distinction matters. A pension, annuity, rental income, dividends or other passive income can fit the FIP logic. A property purchase alone does not turn into a FIP approval; if the property or investment is the basis of your case, compare the Golden Visa route instead.
For the broader map of Greek residence categories, use the Greece visa overview. For lifestyle, cities and day-to-day retirement planning, use the separate retiring in Greece guide. This page stays focused on the immigration route.
FIP eligibility and income rules
The FIP route is for people who can support themselves from resources outside Greek employment. The Ministry's FIP document checklist asks for proof of sufficient resources, private health insurance and the standard residence-card documents. It dates from 2020 and cites the previous law (art. 20A of Law 4251/2014), so read it alongside art. 163(8) of the Migration Code and KYA 225679/2024. The checklist is published under 2.4.1 Economically Independent Persons.
Verified legal basis for FIP income
How is the EUR 3,500 FIP income test assessed?
KYA 225679/2024 (item ι) sets the FIP resource test for people who enter Greece on a national visa and apply under art. 163(8) of the Migration Code: at least EUR 3,500 a month, raised by 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child (Ministry of Migration, checked 18 October 2026). For a couple that is EUR 4,200 a month; with one child, EUR 4,725.
The KYA accepts a foreign pension, a bank account or other own means of lawful origin. Periodic income such as a pension or dividends from abroad is assessed monthly; other sources such as bank deposits are assessed per year, so a single applicant relying on savings shows EUR 42,000 a year. The resources must not come from work or business activity in Greece.
| Claim | How this page treats it | Primary support |
|---|---|---|
| FIP income | At least EUR 3,500 a month (+20% spouse, +15% per child); savings assessed per year | KYA 225679/2024 item ι; Migration Code art. 163(8) |
| EUR 3,500 + 20% + 15% | Same figure and uplifts for FIP (KYA 225679/2024) and digital nomads (Migration Code art. 68) | KYA 225679/2024; Migration Code arts. 68 and 163(8) |
| Three-year FIP permit | Stated as law-backed permit duration | Migration Code art. 163(8) |
| No Greek work rights | Stated as law-backed restriction for applicant and family | Migration Code art. 163(8) |
| Private insurance | Required document evidence | Greek Migration Ministry FIP checklist |
| 183-day residence | Tax-residence trigger, not standalone FIP renewal rule | AADE tax-residence guidance |
| 7% pension tax | Potential Article 5B regime for eligible foreign pensioners | Income Tax Code art. 5B; AADE tax incentives guidance |
| Requirement | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Non-EU applicant | The route is for third-country nationals who need permission to live in Greece beyond short Schengen stays. |
| Passive or independent income | Pensions, annuities, dividends, interest, rental income, investment distributions and durable savings can support the case. Active Greek employment does not. |
| Income level | At least EUR 3,500 a month for the main applicant, plus 20% for a spouse and 15% per child (KYA 225679/2024). Savings are assessed per year: EUR 42,000 a year for one person. |
| Health insurance | Private insurance must cover the applicant in Greece for the relevant risks and benefits requested by the residence authority. |
| Place to live | Use a lease, title deed, host declaration or other accepted accommodation proof, depending on the consulate and residence office. |
| No Greek work | Migration Code art. 163(8) states this permit does not give the applicant or family members the right to dependent employment or independent economic activity in Greece. |
| Clean document file | Expect apostilles or legalization, official translations, passport copies, photos and fee receipts. Small document defects can slow the file. |
What income counts for FIP?
The safest FIP file shows income that is stable, recurring and not dependent on taking a job in Greece. Pension statements, social security letters, annuity contracts, dividend statements, rental contracts, interest statements, brokerage statements and bank statements are easier to explain than a newly created company or irregular transfers.
A remote salary can be a problem if it looks like active employment rather than independent passive means. Remote workers should compare the Greece digital nomad visa before forcing a remote-work case into the FIP route.
FIP vs Golden Visa for retirees
The practical choice is simple: use FIP when income is the basis and Greece will be your home. Use the Greece Golden Visa when investment is the basis or you want optional residence without a meaningful annual stay. Use the digital nomad route only when active remote work, not passive retirement income, is the real basis.
| Retiree scenario | FIP retirement route | Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Will live in Greece full-time | Usually better fit if income and insurance evidence are strong. | Can work, but may be overkill if you do not need an investment route. |
| Wants optional residence | Weak fit because it is a residence route and tax planning becomes central. | Usually stronger because renewal has no minimum stay requirement. |
| Has pension/passive income but no property budget | Core use case. Build a clean income, insurance and residence file. | Not suitable unless you can make and hold a qualifying investment. |
| Buying Greek property anyway | Property can support accommodation proof, but it is not the FIP basis. | Consider if the purchase meets current threshold, property-use and single-asset rules. |
| Family inclusion matters | Family can be included, but resources must be sufficient individually or in aggregate. | Often broader family planning, but depends on route and documentation. |
| Tax residence sensitivity | High. Living in Greece can trigger tax residence and Article 5B planning. | Lower if you do not spend enough time in Greece to become tax resident. |
| Citizenship later | Only realistic if you actually live in Greece and meet language/integration rules. | No-stay Golden Visa holders should not expect citizenship without real residence. |
| Main risk | Underprepared income evidence or confused tax-residence planning. | Wrong property threshold, liquidity risk, or assuming investment equals citizenship. |
| Reader path | [FIP service](/services/greece-retirement-visa) | [Golden Visa service](/services/greece-golden-visa) |
Golden Visa caveats for retirees
The Golden Visa can be the cleaner route for retirees who want Greek residency without living in Greece most of the year, but it is not automatically better. Start with the current Greece Golden Visa guide before assuming a property purchase will qualify.
- No-stay renewal is the main advantage. It helps retirees who want optional residence, not a full relocation.
- Thresholds are not one-size-fits-all. Current Greek property thresholds vary by location and asset type, and the lowest routes are limited.
- Property rules matter. Size, use, conversion, short-term letting and single-property constraints can change whether an investment works.
- Tax residence is still about facts. A no-stay permit does not make you tax resident, but actually living in Greece can.
- Liquidity matters. A property-led visa ties your residence plan to an asset that may be slower or costlier to exit than expected.
- Citizenship still requires real residence and integration. A Golden Visa with no meaningful stay should not be treated as a passport strategy.
What documents do you need for a Greece retirement visa?
The exact consulate and residence-office checklist can vary, but the Ministry's FIP files make the core categories clear. Build the file before booking travel or committing to a lease. The Ministry also publishes a separate renewal checklist for economically independent persons and pension cases.
| Document | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Application form | Starts the residence-permit request and identifies the permit category. |
| Passport or travel document | Must be valid and copied as requested, usually including relevant pages and entry visa evidence. |
| National D visa or lawful entry evidence | KYA 225679/2024 frames the FIP for people who enter Greece on a national (D) visa and then apply for the permit. |
| Four recent color photos | The Ministry checklist asks for physical photos plus a digital file in the required format. |
| EUR 16 card-printing fee receipt | Specific residence-card issuance cost listed in the Ministry checklist. |
| Residence-permit fee or e-paravolo | The residence-permit fee set by Migration Code art. 171; confirm the amount on the e-paravolo portal before filing. |
| Private health insurance | Must cover the risks and benefits required by the residence authority. |
| Proof of stable resources | Pension award, annuity, bank, investment, dividend, rental or similar evidence supporting self-sufficiency. |
| Accommodation proof | Lease, title deed, host declaration or other local proof accepted by the authority. |
| Translations and apostilles | Foreign public documents often need legalization and official translation before filing. |
Application process
The process starts outside the article, not in a lifestyle decision. Confirm your route, then use the Greek MFA national visas page and your local Greek consulate to confirm the national visa appointment and document format.
- Confirm FIP is the right route. If the case is really remote work, compare the digital nomad visa. If the case is investment-led, compare Golden Visa.
- Map your income evidence. Convert annual income into a clear monthly equivalent and separate passive income from salary, business or one-off transfers.
- Prepare civil, financial and insurance documents. Build in time for apostilles, legalization and official translations.
- Apply for the Greek national visa if required. The consulate may ask for additional proof beyond the standard central list.
- Enter Greece and file the residence-permit application. Keep copies of every receipt, appointment proof and submission certificate.
- Give biometrics and wait for the permit card. Do not let insurance, passport validity or address evidence lapse during the process.
- Renew before expiry. Renewal is where weak residence history, stale income evidence or missing insurance most often causes avoidable stress.
How much does a Greece retirement visa cost?
The FIP route is cheaper than the Golden Visa because it is income-led rather than investment-led, but it is not fee-free. Treat the following as a budgeting framework and confirm live amounts with the consulate or residence office before filing.
| Cost or timeline item | Planning range or note |
|---|---|
| Route-fit review | Do before document spend. Confirm FIP vs digital nomad vs Golden Visa, income type, family members and tax exposure. |
| Document preparation | Plan 2-6 weeks for pension letters, bank evidence, apostilles, legalization and translations, longer if documents come from several countries. |
| National visa fee | Confirm with the Greek consulate handling the file. Do not assume the digital nomad visa fee applies to FIP. |
| Consulate appointment and decision | Appointment availability varies by mission. Plan in months rather than days if you are moving on a fixed retirement date. |
| Residence-card printing | EUR 16 is listed in the Ministry checklist for the residence permit card. |
| Residence-permit fee / e-paravolo | The residence-permit fee set by Migration Code art. 171 applies in addition to card printing; confirm the amount on the e-paravolo portal before filing. |
| Private health insurance | Quote before committing. Age 60+, 70+, exclusions and dependants can materially change the budget. |
| Residence permit processing | After filing in Greece, processing can take months. Keep passport, insurance, address and income evidence valid while waiting. |
| Golden Visa comparison | If buying property for residency, compare purchase tax, notary, legal, maintenance and liquidity in the [buying property in Greece guide](/gr/buying-property-greece). |
Government fees are paid as e-paravolo electronic fees. The EUR 16 residence-card fee is listed by the Ministry of Migration; the permit fee is the one set by Migration Code art. 171 for your category, so generate it on the e-paravolo portal and confirm the amount there before filing.
Timelines vary by consulate appointment availability, document legalization, residence-office capacity and whether the file is complete. Build your calendar around months, not weeks, and do not book a hard move date until the consular stage and document requirements are clear.
183-day residence, tax residency and the 7% pension tax
For FIP applicants, the immigration and tax questions overlap, but they are not the same rule. AADE says an individual present in Greece for more than 183 days cumulatively during any 12-month period is treated as a Greek tax resident from the first day of presence, subject to the exceptions in the tax residence guidance. This page therefore treats 183 days as a tax planning trigger, not as a standalone FIP renewal rule.
Eligible pensioners can also look at Article 5B. AADE's tax incentives page explains that Article 5B lets foreign pension recipients transfer tax residence to Greece and enter a special tax regime for foreign-source income. AADE's 2025 guide states the rate is 7% on foreign-source income and the regime can apply for up to 15 tax years.
| Topic | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| 183-day presence | More than 183 days in Greece during any 12-month period is a tax-residence trigger under AADE guidance. |
| Article 5B eligibility | You must receive foreign pension income, transfer tax residence to Greece, not have been Greek tax resident in 5 of the previous 6 years, and move from a country with a tax administrative-cooperation agreement with Greece (ITC art. 5B(1)). |
| Application deadline | Set by AADE decision under ITC art. 5B(9): apply by the AADE application deadline for the tax year. (checked 18 October 2026). |
| Rate and duration | 7% on all foreign-source income for 15 tax years, paid in one instalment by the last working day of December (ITC art. 5B(2) and (4), checked 18 October 2026). |
| Treaties | AADE notes that Article 5B does not override double-tax treaties, so cross-border pension advice still matters. |
This is why the FIP route should be planned with tax advice, not only immigration advice. Start with Movingto's Greece tax guide, then confirm your own pension, investment and treaty position with a qualified adviser.
Healthcare and insurance
Private health insurance is part of the residence file. The Ministry checklist asks for insurance that covers the relevant risks and benefits in Greece. In practice, older applicants should quote insurance before committing to the route, because age, exclusions and pre-existing conditions can change the budget.
Public healthcare access depends on tax, social-security and residence facts. For the practical system overview, use the healthcare in Greece guide, but keep the visa file simple: valid private insurance must be in place when you apply and renew.
Family members
A spouse and children can join you. Each family member gets an individual permit that expires on the same day as yours, and the resources can be met by each member or by the family together (Migration Code art. 163(8)). The minimum rises by 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child (KYA 225679/2024), so a couple needs EUR 4,200 a month and a couple with one child EUR 4,725.
Family planning is one reason the FIP route needs more than a headline income number. A couple with one dependent should not present the same budget as a single applicant, and a mixed family file can require extra custody, consent or school documents.
Renewal, permanent residence and citizenship
Treat renewal as a second application, not a formality. Keep evidence of income, health insurance, residence in Greece, address history and travel history throughout the permit period. Renewal problems are usually created long before the renewal appointment.
Long-term (EU long-term resident) status can become relevant after five years of legal residence, with proof of Greek language and history knowledge (Migration Code art. 160 as amended by Law 5275/2026); see our Greece permanent residency guide. Greek citizenship is a separate, discretionary step. The 7-year route needs a qualifying title when you apply, such as long-term residence or a 10-year permit; holders of other permits, including the FIP permit alone, need 12 continuous years of legal residence (MITOS naturalisation procedure, checked 18 October 2026). You also need the PEGP knowledge certificate, a written exam held twice a year, and must pass the economic and social integration tests. Our Greek citizenship guide covers the steps.
Common mistakes
- Using the phrase retirement visa as if it were an official permit category, then preparing the wrong evidence.
- Planning around old EUR 2,000 FIP figures: the current minimum is EUR 3,500 a month under KYA 225679/2024, plus 20% for a spouse and 15% per child.
- Trying to use a remote salary or active business income as if it were passive retirement income.
- Ignoring the 183-day tax-residence effect and only asking whether the permit can be renewed.
- Buying property because it feels retirement-related, without deciding whether the case is actually FIP or Golden Visa.
- Leaving translations, apostilles or pension letters until the consulate appointment is already close.
- Assuming a residence permit automatically leads to permanent residence or citizenship without meeting residence, language and integration rules.
When to speak to an adviser
Get advice before filing if your income is mixed, your pension is taxable in more than one country, your spouse or dependants have different nationalities, you may spend less than 183 days in Greece, or you are comparing FIP with a property-led Golden Visa. Movingto's Greece retirement visa service can help you test route fit before you build the file.
If your plan is investment-led rather than income-led, compare the Greece Golden Visa service instead. The wrong route can be more expensive than a slower decision.
Sources used
This guide was re-checked on 18 October 2026 against the consolidated Migration Code art. 163(8) (text), KYA 225679/2024, Income Tax Code arts. 4 and 5B, the MITOS naturalisation procedure and the Ministry of Migration FIP checklists, plus Greek MFA national visa material and AADE guidance. The source list below keeps the live references together.