Residence route
Family reunification
For family members of someone who already holds a Greek residence permit or is a Greek citizen.
- Permit duration
- Usually aligned to the sponsor's permit
- Headline requirement
- The sponsor must meet income and housing conditions.
- Where you apply
- Sponsor applies in Greece; the family member collects a visa at a consulate
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.
Governing authority: Ministry of Migration and Asylum
What this route is
A route for the spouse, registered partner or dependent children of someone already legally resident in Greece, or of a Greek citizen. The assessment is mostly of the sponsor, not of the applicant: their income, their housing and their permit status decide whether it can proceed.
The spouse of a Greek citizen is typically treated more favourably, with a five-year permit.
Documents, not income, are what usually goes wrong
Marriage certificates and birth certificates need an apostille and a certified Greek translation. Where the issuing country is not party to the Hague Convention, legalisation through a consulate replaces the apostille and takes considerably longer.
Start these the day you decide to apply. They routinely take longer than every other part of the process combined, and an application submitted with the wrong form of certification comes back.
At a glance
In one line: For family members of someone who already holds a Greek residence permit or is a Greek citizen. It runs for usually aligned to the sponsor's permit, and work rights are limited.
| Who it is for | Spouses, partners and dependent children of a sponsor legally resident in Greece. |
|---|---|
| Financial requirement | The sponsor must meet income and housing conditions. |
| Initial duration | Usually aligned to the sponsor's permit |
| Renewal | Renewed alongside the sponsor's permit |
| Can you work? | Limited. Work rights vary by the sponsor's status. The spouse of a Greek citizen is treated more favourably. |
| Family included? | Yes. The spouse of a Greek citizen typically receives a five-year permit. |
| Minimum days in Greece | You are expected to live with the sponsor in Greece |
| Route to permanent residence | Counts towards long-term residence |
| Where you apply | Sponsor applies in Greece; the family member collects a visa at a consulate |
Step by step
Times below are realistic rather than optimistic, and they assume your documents are already in order. The slowest part is usually waiting for a consulate appointment.
-
Sponsor gathers income and housing evidence
Where Greece Typically 2–4 weeks
Tax returns, employment evidence and a registered lease or property deed.
-
Sponsor submits the reunification application
Where Ministry of Migration and Asylum Typically Several months
With apostilled and translated marriage or birth certificates.
-
Family member collects the entry visa
Where Greek consulate in their country of residence Typically 2–6 weeks
Issued once the application is approved.
Document checklist
These are the documents the Family reunification route asks for. Two columns matter more than people expect: an apostille is a certificate that proves a foreign public document is genuine, and a certified translation must be produced by a translator Greek authorities accept. Both take weeks, and both are the usual reason an application is sent back.
| Document | Apostille | Certified Greek translation |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage certificate or proof of registered partnership | Required | Required |
| Birth certificates for children | Required | Required |
| Sponsor's tax return and proof of housing | Not required | Not required |
| Criminal record certificate for adult applicants | Required | Required |
What it costs in total
Government fees are the smallest part of the bill. Translation, apostilles, insurance and legal help usually cost more than the permit itself, and they are the costs people forget to budget for.
We do not yet have published fee figures for this route that we are willing to stand behind. Rather than estimate, we have left this table empty until we can confirm them.
Budget separately for apostilles and certified translations of every document marked in the checklist above, and for private health insurance where the route requires it.
Who this is wrong for
We are not selling this permit, so we can tell you when it is a bad fit. If any of these describes you, this route will not work and you should look elsewhere before you spend money on it.
- The sponsor cannot evidence sufficient income or adequate housing.
- The relationship is outside the defined categories. Adult children and siblings generally do not qualify.
- The sponsor's own permit is a route that excludes family reunification.
- Marriage or birth documents cannot be apostilled and translated. Document formalities defeat more of these applications than the substantive tests do.
What this does to your tax
Family members who become Greek tax residents are taxed on worldwide income in the usual way.
The trigger that catches people is time, not intention. Spending 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
Read how Greek tax residency is decided and the 2026 income tax scale.
Questions people actually ask
Which relationships qualify?
Spouse or registered partner, and dependent children. Adult children and siblings generally do not. Parents may qualify in limited circumstances depending on the sponsor’s status, but this is an area where sources differ and advice is worth paying for.
What income does the sponsor need?
Enough to support the family without recourse to public funds, assessed against their tax returns, plus adequate housing evidenced by a registered lease or property deed. The exact thresholds depend on household size and are not figures we have verified.
Can the family member work?
It varies with the sponsor’s status. The spouse of a Greek citizen is treated more favourably than the spouse of someone on a temporary permit. Do not assume work rights — confirm them before anyone resigns a job abroad.
How long does it take?
Several months from submission to approval, then a further few weeks for the family member to collect an entry visa. Document preparation before submission often takes longer than the official processing.
Does the permit expire with the sponsor’s?
Usually it is aligned to the sponsor’s permit and renewed alongside it. If the sponsor’s status lapses, the dependent permit is affected. That dependency is worth understanding before you rely on it.
We are not married but have lived together for years. Does that count?
A registered partnership is recognised; an informal cohabitation generally is not. If you are in this position, registering the partnership in a jurisdiction Greece recognises is usually the step that unlocks the route — take advice on which.