Moving to Greece on your own terms
Without an employer sponsoring the move, most people come to Greece on one of four routes: the digital nomad visa, the financially independent person permit, the Golden Visa or family reunification. The routes are different, the paperwork isn't — same legal counsel, same platform, same fixed-fee approach.
20 minutes · No charge · We'll tell you which route fits
We don't find jobs or employers. Why
The main routes
Digital Nomad Visa
Remote employees and freelancers earning from outside Greece.
- Work must be performed remotely for employers or clients outside Greece
- Income of at least €3,500 a month after tax, plus 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child (as of October 2026)
- Issued initially as a visa, with a residence permit available after arrival
Golden Visa
Investors seeking residency through qualifying investment.
- Property from €250,000 (converted or listed buildings), €400,000 in most of Greece, and €800,000 in Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and islands of over 3,100 residents — the two higher tiers for a single home of at least 120 m² (as of October 2026)
- Thresholds and eligible property rules have changed repeatedly — current law decides your case, not last year's article
- Residency, not citizenship: naturalisation has separate, much longer requirements
Financially independent person (FIP)
People with stable passive income who won't work in Greece.
- Stable income from outside Greece of at least €3,500 a month, plus 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child (as of October 2026)
- No employment in the Greek labour market is permitted under this status
- Health insurance cover required, with continued proof of means at each renewal
Family reunification & EU family members
Joining a spouse, parent or partner already living in Greece.
- Non-EU family of a permit holder can apply to join them, usually with proof of means and accommodation
- Non-EU family of an EU citizen follow a separate, generally lighter procedure
- Certificates need apostilles and certified translations, which take longer than people expect
Thresholds, eligible investments and required documents change with Greek law and ministerial decisions. Nothing on this page is legal advice — we confirm the rules that apply on your filing date before you commit money or timelines.
The routes side by side
| Route | Who it is for | Money test | Work in Greece? | Family | Permit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Nomad Visa | Remote workers for employers or clients outside Greece | €3,500 net a month, +20% spouse, +15% per child | Only for employers or clients abroad | Yes | Visa up to 12 months, then a 2-year permit |
| Financially Independent Person (FIP) | Retirees and people living on pensions, rent or savings from abroad | €3,500 a month, +20% spouse, +15% per child | No | Yes | 3 years, renewable |
| Golden Visa | Property investors | Property from €250,000, €400,000 or €800,000 depending on area | No employment | Yes | 5 years, renewable |
| EU Blue Card | Highly qualified hires with a Greek job offer | Salary at or above the annual threshold | Yes, for that employer | Yes, at the same time | Up to 3 years, renewable |
| Work permit (metaklisi) | Workers invited by a Greek employer from abroad | A contract of at least 6 months within the annual quota | Yes, for that employer | Depends on the permit type | Set by the contract and permit type |
Thresholds as of October 2026. They change, so they are confirmed again when the file is prepared.
Family reunification and other permits
Bringing your family to Greece, or your situation doesn't fit the routes above? These are the cases we see most often.
Joining family who live in Greece
If your spouse, registered partner or parent holds a Greek residence permit, you can apply to join them. They need a valid permit, stable income, health insurance and suitable housing. You get a national (D) visa at the Greek consulate, then your residence permit in Greece.
Family of a Blue Card holder or investor
The spouse and children of an EU Blue Card holder or a Golden Visa investor can come at the same time as the main applicant, not afterwards. Their permits run to the same date as the main one.
Spouse or child of a Greek or EU citizen
A separate, lighter procedure: a family-member residence card valid for five years. For family members of Greek citizens there is no government fee.
Students and graduates
A study permit for a university or college course in Greece. After graduating, you can stay one more year to look for work or start a business.
Renewals and change of status
Renew in the two months before your permit expires. Already here on a family or student permit? You can sometimes switch to a work permit without leaving Greece.
Already have your visa?
We help with what comes next: tax number (AFM), social security number (AMKA) and a bank account, with us at the appointments.
Not sure where your family fits? Ask us on WhatsApp →
Choose your level of support
Three scopes, same legal counsel behind every one. Your written fixed fee follows the intro call, once we know your route.
Permit only
Just the visa or residence permit — nothing else.
- Eligibility check and route recommendation
- Document checklist and review
- Application prepared for submission, with licensed counsel where required
- Case tracking in your Mazi portal
Permit + settling-in
The permit, plus getting properly set up once you land.
- Everything in Permit only
- Tax number (AFM), social security number (AMKA), banking and healthcare registration
- Renewal reminders, with the file prepared before your permit expires
Full move
Permit, settling-in, housing and family — handled end to end.
- Everything in Permit + settling-in
- Housing search, viewings and lease negotiation
- Family reunification prepared in parallel, if applicable
Questions we get asked
Do you work with individuals, or only companies?
Both — the same legal counsel and the same platform handle individual, family and employer-sponsored cases.
Can you find me a job in Greece?
No. Mazi is not a recruitment agency: we don't find jobs, job offers or employers, and we don't arrange work visas without one. A work permit starts with a Greek employer who has already chosen to hire you. If you already have a written job offer from a Greek company, your employer can contact us. Be careful with anyone who asks you to pay for a job in Greece.
Which route is right for me?
It depends on where your income comes from, whether you'll work in Greece, your nationality and who is coming with you. That's the first thing we establish on the intro call — and if a simpler route works, we'll say so.
How much does it cost?
We work on fixed fees, not hourly billing, and pass government charges through at cost with receipts. You'll have a written figure for your case before you engage us.
Will I become a Greek tax resident?
Generally, spending more than 183 days in Greece in a year creates tax residency, with consequences for worldwide income. Some incentives exist for new residents. This needs proper advice for your situation before you move, not after.
What is Article 5Γ — the 50% tax exemption for new residents?
If you're taking up employment or business activity in Greece and transferring your tax residence here, Article 5Γ of the Greek Income Tax Code (Ν. 4172/2013) can exempt 50% of your Greek-source income from income tax, for 7 tax years. It's cumulative on several conditions — not being a Greek tax resident for 5 of the previous 6 years, transferring residence from an EU/EEA state or a state with a tax cooperation agreement with Greece, and declaring intent to stay at least 2 years. We check eligibility and prepare the application alongside your permit case. Note: this generally applies to routes involving Greek-source employment or business income — such as the Blue Card or Metaklisi — not to Financially Independent Person or remote-income Digital Nomad status, which don't involve Greek employment.
Can my family come with me?
In most categories yes, including the Golden Visa where family members can be included in the same application. Spouses often gain labour market access depending on the sponsor's status. We prepare family cases in parallel with the main applicant rather than afterwards.
Thinking about the move?
Twenty minutes with our team to work out which route fits — and whether you need us at all.