Residence route
FIP — Financially Independent Person
For people who can support themselves in Greece from passive income, without working here.
- Permit duration
- 3 years
- Headline requirement
-
€3,500 a month — source and verification date
FIP minimum monthly passive income
Or qualifying savings. Around €3,500 a month is the reported level.
- Where you apply
- Greek consulate in your country of residence, then the Ministry of Migration and Asylum in Greece
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
FIP stands for Financially Independent Person. Greece grants residence to people who
can demonstrably support themselves here without taking work from the Greek labour
market. In practice it is the route most retirees use, and the reported requirement is
passive income of FIP minimum monthly passive income Or qualifying savings. Around €3,500 a month is the reported level.€3,500 a month — source and verification date
The permit runs for FIP permit duration Renewable while the financial conditions continue to be met.3 years — source and verification date
Passive, not just foreign
The distinction that trips people up is between passive income and foreign income. A pension paid from Canada is passive. A salary paid from Canada for work you are still doing is not — it is foreign earned income, and it points towards the Digital Nomad route, which is built for exactly that case.
Evidence needs to show the income as recurring. A lump sum sitting in an account is treated differently from a monthly pension statement, and consulates read the two differently.
The tax question that usually decides it
Becoming a Greek tax resident — which 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. Flat tax rate on foreign pension income Maximum duration of the 7% pension regime183 days — source and verification date
7% — source and verification date
15 years — source and verification date
It is elective, conditional on not having been a Greek tax resident recently, and it has a filing window. Run the numbers with a Greek tax adviser before you commit to the move, not after — see the 7% pension regime in detail.
A note on the presence expectation
Sources widely report an expectation of roughly half the year in Greece to maintain FIP status, but the legal basis for it is not clearly documented and the consequence of falling short is unclear. We have flagged it as unverified rather than state it as a rule. If your plan involves long absences, confirm the position directly with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum before you rely on it.
At a glance
In one line: For people who can support themselves in Greece from passive income, without working here. It runs for 3 years, and work rights are no.
| Who it is for | Retirees and others living on pensions, investments, rental income or savings. |
|---|---|
| Financial requirement | €3,500 a month — source and verification dateFIP minimum monthly passive income Or qualifying savings. Around €3,500 a month is the reported level. |
| Initial duration | 3 years |
| Renewal | Renewable while the financial conditions continue to be met |
| Can you work? | No. No employment and no self-employment in Greece. You may hold a passive shareholding in a Greek business but cannot take a management or employment role. |
| Family included? | Yes. Family members may be included, subject to showing sufficient income for them. |
| Minimum days in Greece | Reported expectation of roughly 183 days a year to maintain status — not clearly documented |
| Route to permanent residence | Continuous legal residence can build towards long-term resident status |
| Where you apply | Greek consulate in your country of residence, then the Ministry of Migration and Asylum in Greece |
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.
-
Assemble proof of passive income
Where At home Typically 2–4 weeks
Pension statements, investment income records, rental income, or evidence of qualifying savings.
-
Obtain a criminal record certificate, health insurance and proof of accommodation
Where At home Typically 2–6 weeks
Certified translations or legalisation depending on the issuing country.
-
Apply for the entry visa at a Greek consulate
Where Greek consulate in your country of residence Typically 2–8 weeks depending on the consulate
The consulate reviews the financial evidence before the visa is issued.
-
Travel to Greece and obtain an AFM
Where DOY (tax office) Typically Same day once you have an appointment
The tax number is needed for a lease, a bank account and the permit application itself.
-
Submit the residence permit application before the visa expires
Where Ministry of Migration and Asylum one-stop office Typically 1–3 months
Complete biometric registration to receive the ADET residence card.
Document checklist
These are the documents the FIP — Financially Independent Person 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Not required | Not required |
| Proof of passive income or qualifying savings | Not required | Required |
| Criminal record certificate | Required | Required |
| Private health insurance | Not required | Not required |
| Proof of accommodation in Greece | Not required | Not 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.
- You intend to work in Greece, even part-time or freelance. Employment and self-employment are both prohibited.
- Your income is earned rather than passive. Salary from a foreign employer points towards the Digital Nomad route instead.
- You hold EU, EEA or Swiss nationality — you have free movement and do not need this.
- You want to spend most of the year outside Greece. A presence expectation is reported, and the Golden Visa is the route with no minimum stay.
- You cannot evidence the income as recurring. A lump sum in a bank account is treated differently from a monthly pension.
What this does to your tax
Becoming a Greek tax resident brings worldwide income into scope. Foreign pension income may qualify for the 7% flat regime for up to 15 years if you transfer tax residence from a qualifying jurisdiction.
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
Is this the retirement visa?
It is the route most retirees use, but it is not restricted to retirees and it is not called a retirement visa. FIP stands for Financially Independent Person. What it tests is whether you can support yourself in Greece without working here, whatever your age and whatever the source of the money.
What counts as passive income?
Pensions, investment income, dividends, rental income from property you own, and in some cases qualifying savings rather than a monthly flow. What does not count is salary you are still earning by working, even for a foreign employer — that points to the Digital Nomad route instead.
Can I do any work at all?
No. The route explicitly prohibits employment and self-employment in Greece. You may hold a passive shareholding in a Greek business, but you cannot take a management role or draw a salary from it. This is the route’s main practical limitation compared with the Golden Visa or a work permit, and it is not negotiable.
Do I really have to spend half the year in Greece?
A presence expectation of roughly 183 days a year is widely reported, but we have marked it as unverified because the legal basis and the consequence of falling short are not clearly documented in the sources we can see. If your plan depends on spending long periods outside Greece, do not rely on our reading — ask the Ministry of Migration and Asylum or a Greek immigration lawyer directly, and consider the Golden Visa, which has no minimum stay at all.
What does it do to my pension tax?
If you transfer your tax residence to Greece from a qualifying jurisdiction, foreign pension income may be taxed at a flat 7% for up to fifteen years instead of under the progressive scale. It is elective, it has conditions about not having been a Greek tax resident recently, and it has a filing deadline. It is also the single strongest financial reason many retirees choose Greece.
Will I get healthcare?
Once you hold the permit you can obtain an AMKA, register with EFKA and use the public system. Emergency treatment at public hospitals is reported as free to everyone regardless of status. Most residents use both systems: public for serious conditions, private for routine care and speed. Private cover is a requirement of the application in any case.
Can my spouse come?
Yes, subject to showing income sufficient for them as well. They are bound by the same prohibition on working in Greece that you are.
How is this different from the Golden Visa?
FIP asks you to prove income and expects you to live here. The Golden Visa asks you to buy property above a threshold and expects nothing about where you spend your time. FIP costs a few thousand euros; the Golden Visa costs hundreds of thousands. If you intend to actually live in Greece and you have a pension, FIP is almost always the cheaper answer.