Money
The 7% flat rate on foreign pensions
For many retirees this is the reason Greece works financially. Foreign pension income taxed at a flat rate for up to fifteen years, instead of under a progressive scale that reaches much higher.
Last verified 12 September 2026 · 1 day ago · checked by spec-import Every figure on this page was checked against its source on this date.
What it does
Foreign-source pension income is taxed at a flat Flat tax rate on foreign pension income Maximum duration of the 7% pension regime7% — source and verification date
15 years — source and verification date
Pair it with the FIP residence route, which is the permit most retirees use, and you have the standard shape of a retirement move to Greece: residence through FIP, taxation through this regime.
What it does not cover
- Greek-source income. Anything you earn in Greece stays on the ordinary progressive scale.
- Non-pension foreign income. Investment income, rental income and gains follow their own rules. If those are substantial, model the non-dom lump sum alongside this.
- Certain government pensions. Double tax treaties sometimes assign taxing rights over state or government-service pensions to the paying country. If that is most of your income, have the treaty position checked before you rely on the flat rate.
The conditions
You must transfer your tax residence to Greece from a qualifying jurisdiction, which generally means a country with a tax cooperation agreement with Greece. The reported common condition across the special regimes is not having been a Greek tax resident for seven of the previous eight years — we have flagged the exact test as unverified because it differs in detail between regimes.
Transferring tax residence means actually becoming a Greek tax resident: Days in Greece that trigger tax residency 183 days or more in a calendar year makes you a Greek tax resident regardless of the other tests. Residents are taxed on worldwide income.183 days — source and verification date
A word of caution
Regimes like this are political. Portugal narrowed its equivalent and Italy has adjusted its own. Fifteen years is a long time for a tax rule to survive unchanged. Treat the flat rate as a strong reason to come, not as a guarantee you can plan three decades of retirement around.
Questions people actually ask
What income does the 7% apply to?
Foreign-source pension income, taxed at a flat 7% for up to 15 years. Greek-source income of any kind stays on the ordinary progressive scale.
Who qualifies?
Retirees transferring their tax residence to Greece from a qualifying jurisdiction. The reported common condition is not having been a Greek tax resident for seven of the previous eight years, but the detail differs between the three special regimes and we have marked the exact test as unverified. The qualifying-jurisdiction requirement matters too — it generally means a country with a tax cooperation agreement with Greece.
Does it cover my state pension as well as a private one?
It is framed around foreign-source pension income generally, but pensions paid by a foreign government are sometimes treated differently under double tax treaties, which can assign taxing rights to the paying country. If a state or government-service pension is a large part of your income, get the treaty position checked before you rely on the 7%.
What about my investment income?
The 7% regime is about pensions. Investment income, rental income and gains follow their own rules. A retiree with substantial non-pension foreign income should model the non-dom lump sum alongside this regime rather than assuming this one covers everything.
How does this compare with Portugal or Italy?
All three countries have run regimes aimed at foreign retirees and all three have changed them. What makes the Greek regime attractive is its simplicity and its length. What should make you cautious is that regimes like this are political and have been narrowed elsewhere at short notice. Do not build a plan that only works if the rule survives fifteen years.
Is there a deadline?
Yes. It is elective with a formal application window, and missing it costs a year of the benefit. Have a Greek tax adviser engaged before you move.
Do I still have to file a Greek return?
Yes. Being taxed at a flat rate is not the same as being outside the system. You remain a Greek tax resident with filing obligations.