How to Move to Greece: Full Guide (2025)


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Immigrating to Greece? Here’s what you need to know:

Greece at a Glance

  • Population: 10.4 million, with 81% urbanization and 19% rural residency.
  • Geography: A peninsular nation spanning 131,957 km², featuring over 2,000 islands (170 inhabited) and a 16,300 km coastline.
  • Climate: Predominantly Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and mild winters. Summer temperatures now average 3–4.5°C higher than pre-industrial levels, with 35–40 additional extreme heat days annually.
  • Birthplace of democracy (5th century BCE) and host of the first Olympic Games in 776 BCE.
  • Economy: Tourism accounts for ~20% of GDP, with agriculture (4.1% of workforce) and shipping (21% of global merchant fleet) as key sectors.

Living Essentials

  • Currency: Euro (€).
  • Languages: Greek (99% official language). English fluency: 51% of population.
  • Religions: Greek Orthodox (81–90%), Islam (2%), Judaism (<1%), non-religious (6%).
  • Ethnicities: Greek (90%). Minorities: Albanians (4%), Turks (1%), Roma (1%), others (4%).
  • Largest Cities: Athens (3.15 million), Thessaloniki (1.0 million), Patras (215,922).

Why Choose Greece

  • Affordable Mediterranean Lifestyle: Greece offers living costs 30–40% lower than Western Europe, with rent for a 1-bedroom apartment averaging €450/month in non-tourist areas like Patras or Larissa.
    – Groceries cost €200–€300/month for a single person, while dining out remains accessible at €10–€15 for a taverna meal.
    – The climate provides 300+ annual sunny days, with winter temperatures rarely dropping below 10°C, making outdoor living viable year-round.
  • Thriving Job Market for Multilingual Professionals: Tourism drives 20% of GDP, creating 50,000+ seasonal roles annually in hospitality (€1,200–€1,800/month).
    – Tech sectors in Athens and Thessaloniki seek software developers (€2,500–€3,500/month) and multilingual customer service agents (€1,400–€1,800/month).
    – Healthcare demand is rising, with elderly care roles paying €900–€1,500/month and nursing positions at public hospitals offering €1,600–€2,200/month.
  • Streamlined Residency Pathways: The Digital Nomad Visa permits remote workers earning €3,500+/month to reside tax-free for up to 2 years.
    – Investors benefit from the Golden Visa Program, granting Schengen residency through €250,000 real estate purchases (processed in 2–6 months) and a flat €100,000 annual tax on global income for 15 years.
    – Family reunification includes spouses, children under 21, and parents without age limits.
  • Public healthcare covers 100% of emergencies and 75% of prescriptions for legal residents contributing to social security (€150–€300/month).
    – Private insurance (€50–€200/month) guarantees English-speaking doctors and <24-hour wait times for specialists.
    – EU citizens use the EHIC card for free care, while non-EU residents access subsidized services through employer contributions.
  • Schengen membership enables visa-free travel to 26 countries, with Athens International Airport offering direct flights to 150+ global destinations.
  • High-speed ferries connect islands to mainland ports like Piraeus in <4 hours, while intercity trains link Athens to Thessaloniki in 3.5 hours (€25–€40 fare).
  • Sustainable Living: Greece’s 2050 Climate Plan mandates solar panels on 65% of hotels by 2025 and subsidies for eco-friendly home upgrades (€5,000–€15,000 grants). Urban areas like Athens now feature 150 km of bike lanes and EV charging stations every 2 km.
  • Public universities charge €1,500–€4,000/year for EU students, while international schools in Athens (€8,000–€15,000/year) follow IB or British curricula.
    – UNESCO sites like the Acropolis and Delphi offer 50% discounts for residents.

Greece Challenges

Note: these are common expat complaints, and may not apply to you.

  • Bureaucratic Inefficiencies: Greece’s administrative processes rank among the slowest in the EU, requiring 6–12 months for non-EU residency permits and 22 documents for property purchases.
  • Public offices operate with limited digitization, forcing expats to submit tax incentive requests (like the 7% flat rate for retirees) in person. Business owners report 3–6 month delays for basic permits, stifling entrepreneurial ventures.
  • Overly Competitive Job Market: Despite a skills shortage demanding 300,000 foreign workers, unemployment persists at 12.5% nationally (28% for youth).
    – Non-Greek speakers face steep barriers: only 34% of rural employers hire non-fluent candidates, and tourism roles (€1,200–€1,800/month) prioritize multilingual applicants.
    – Tech sectors in Athens offer higher wages (€2,500–€3,500/month for developers) but require certifications rarely recognized outside Greece.
  • Language Dependency: while 51% of urban Greeks speak English, rural areas drop to <15% fluency. Permanent residency mandates B1 Greek proficiency, with exams testing knowledge of Byzantine history and 19th-century literature.
    – Public services like tax offices and hospitals rarely provide English-language support, complicating tasks like filing VAT returns or accessing specialists.
  • Tourist Overcrowding: From June–August, popular islands experience 40–60% price surges: a Santorini hotel room costs €150/night (vs. €60 off-season), while ferry tickets spike by 200%.
    – Daily life disrupts in hotspots like Mykonos, where 2.1 million annual visitors clog narrow streets, delaying garbage collection and straining water supplies.
    – Even Athens’ Acropolis limits daily entries to 20,000 visitors, creating 3+ hour queues for residents.
  • Infrastructure Gaps: 15% of national roads remain unpaved, and rural areas lack reliable public transit: 60% of Peloponnese villages have <2 daily buses.
    – Power outages affect 18% of island dwellers monthly, while 5G coverage excludes 40% of Crete and the Ionian islands.
  • Healthcare deserts persist, with 70% of Cycladic islands lacking full-time doctors and relying on weekly ferry-based medical teams.
  • Labor Strikes & Protests: Greece averages 1.2 major strikes monthly, including 2024’s 24-hour transportation shutdowns that stranded 50,000 commuters. Political rallies frequently close central Athens.

Greece Visa Guide

National Visa (Type D):

  • Eligibility: Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals planning to stay >90 days. Exemptions apply for EU citizens.
  • Duration: 1 year (renewable).
  • Renewal: Apply 2 months before expiration at local immigration office. Requires proof of continued eligibility (employment, studies, etc.).
  • Quotas: Seasonal work visas (e.g., agriculture, tourism) capped at 6–9 months annually.

Standard Employment Visa:

  • Eligibility: Valid job offer from Greek employer. Employer must obtain a work permit from the Decentralized Administration, subject to annual foreign worker quotas10.
  • Duration: 1–2 years (aligns with employment contract).
  • Renewal: Requires updated contract and employer revalidation.

Seasonal Work Visa:

  • Eligibility: Temporary roles in tourism, agriculture, or hospitality.
  • Duration: 6–9 months (non-renewable; must leave Greece afterward).

Investor Visa:

  • Eligibility: €250,000+ real estate investment or €400,000+ business investment.
  • Duration: 5 years (renewable indefinitely with maintained investment).

Student Visa:

  • Eligibility: Enrolment in an accredited Greek university or vocational program.
  • Duration: Covers study period (max 5 years).
  • Renewal: Submit proof of academic progress annually.

Approximate Processing times & Fees:

  • Work Visa Fees: €75–€300, depending on visa type.
  • Processing Time: 2–4 months for approval.

Residency & Citizenship

Permanent Residency

Golden Visa Program:

  • Prerequisites: €250,000 real estate purchase or €400,000 business investment.
  • Duration: 5-year renewable residency. No minimum stay requirement.
  • Renewal: Maintain investment; no additional fees.

Family Reunification:

  • Prerequisites: Spouse/children of Greek resident. Requires proof of stable income (€7,000+ annual savings).

7-Year Pathway: Legal residency for 7+ years (including time on Golden Visa).

Citizenship by Naturalization:

  • Prerequisites: 7+ years of legal residency, Greek language proficiency (B1 level), clean criminal record.
  • Process: Pass citizenship exam (history, culture, government) and interview.

Citizenship by Descent:

  • Prerequisites: Greek parent/grandparent. Submit ancestral birth/marriage certificates and municipal records.

Dual Citizenship: Allowed (no renunciation required).

Business in Greece

Pros:

  • Strategic EU access (450M+ consumers).
  • Lowest labor costs in EU (avg. €9.50/hour).
  • Tax incentives for startups (50% income tax reduction for first 7 years).

Cons:

  • Bureaucratic delays (avg. 15 days to register a business).
  • Economic volatility (2023 GDP growth: 3.5%, but inflation at 4.2%).

Steps to Start a Business in Greece:

  1. Choose Legal Structure: Choose between SA (corporation) or EPE (LLC).
  2. Business Registration: File with GEMI (General Commercial Registry) and obtain tax ID.
  3. Bank Account: Deposit minimum €1 share capital (EPE) or €18,000 (SA).
  4. Licenses: Sector-specific permits (e.g., tourism, food services)

Helpful Resources

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