🇬🇷Visa options for Greece
Greece offers 32 visa types across 7 categories — from skilled-worker and study visas to family, investment, digital-nomad, and permanent-residency pathways. 32 lead to PR; 29 don't require a job offer. Here's every Greece visa tracked by VisaMatch.
32visa types
7categories
32PR pathways
29no job needed
Check which Greece visas you qualify for →
Visa categories in Greece
All Greece visa types
Special Status (10)
Artist / Creative Worker Residence Permit Special
For non-EU nationals working as artists, performers, musicians, or creative professionals in Greece, including tour guides.
Digital Nomad Visa / Residence Permit Special
For remote workers and freelancers earning income from sources outside Greece.
Financially Independent Person (FIP) Visa Special
For retirees and passive income recipients wishing to live in Greece without working.
Golden Visa – Fixed-Term Bank Deposit Special
5-year renewable residence permit for non-EU nationals who place a fixed-term deposit of at least EUR 500,000 in a Greek bank with automatic renewal requirement.
Golden Visa – Government Bonds / Securities Special
5-year renewable residence permit for non-EU nationals purchasing Greek government bonds, corporate bonds, or listed shares worth at least EUR 500,000–800,000 with at least 3 year…
Golden Visa – Investment Fund Units Special
5-year renewable residence permit for non-EU nationals acquiring units in qualifying Greek mutual funds or alternative investment funds investing exclusively in Greece.
Golden Visa – Real Estate Investment Special
5-year renewable residence permit for non-EU nationals investing in Greek real estate.
Golden Visa – Startup Investment Special
5-year residence permit for non-EU investors who invest at least EUR 250,000 in a Greek startup registered in the Elevate Greece registry.
Religious / Cultural Purpose Residence Permit Special
For non-EU clergy, religious workers, or cultural exchange participants residing in Greece for religious ministry or cultural program participation.
Volunteer Visa / Residence Permit Special
For non-EU nationals participating in recognized volunteer programs or community service projects in Greece.
Work (9)
Employment / Work Residence Permit
For non-EU nationals with a job offer from a Greek employer.
EU Blue Card
For highly qualified non-EU professionals with at least a 3-year higher education degree or 5 years relevant experience.
Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Visa
For managers, specialists, and trainee employees transferred from a company in a third country to a Greek branch or subsidiary of the same multinational group.
Seasonal Work Visa / Residence Permit (E-6)
For non-EU nationals seeking temporary work in Greece's agriculture, tourism, or hospitality sectors.
Self-Employment / Independent Activity Residence Permit
For non-EU nationals wishing to establish or operate their own business or practice a liberal profession in Greece.
Specialized Technical Personnel Visa (Z.13)
NEW in 2026 (Law 5275/2026).
Talent Visa (Z.15)
NEW in 2026 (Law 5275/2026).
Tech Visa (Z.13A)
NEW in 2026 (Law 5275/2026).
Working Holiday Visa
For young people aged 18–31 from countries with bilateral agreements with Greece, allowing travel and work in Greece for up to 12 months.
Humanitarian & Protection (3)
Refugee Status / Asylum (International Protection) Humanitarian
For individuals with a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership of a particular social group.
Second Chance Residence Permit Humanitarian
NEW in 2026 (Law 5275/2026).
Subsidiary Protection Status Humanitarian
For individuals who do not qualify as refugees but face serious harm (death penalty, torture, or serious threat from armed conflict) if returned to their country of origin.
Study & Training (3)
Researcher / Scientific Research Residence Permit Study
For non-EU researchers admitted by a recognized Greek research institution.
Student Visa & Residence Permit (University / Higher Education) Study
For non-EU nationals accepted at a recognized Greek university, technological institute, or accredited private college.
Vocational Training / Language School Visa Study
For non-EU nationals attending recognized vocational training courses or accredited language schools in Greece for periods exceeding 90 days.
Visitor & Transit (3)
Airport Transit Visa (Type A) Visitor
Required for nationals of certain third countries when transiting through a Greek airport's international zone without entering the Schengen Area.
Schengen Business Visa (Type C) Visitor
For non-EU nationals visiting Greece for business meetings, conferences, trade fairs, or negotiations.
Schengen Tourist / Visitor Visa (Type C) Visitor
Allows non-EU nationals to visit Greece and the wider Schengen Area for tourism, family visits, or leisure.
Family (2)
Family Reunification Residence Permit
For spouses and children (under 18) of non-EU nationals who have held a valid Greek residence permit for at least 2 years.
Residence Permit – Spouse / Partner of Greek Citizen
For non-EU spouses or registered partners of Greek citizens.
Permanent Residence (2)
Long-Term Residence Permit (EC) Permanent
For non-EU nationals who have legally resided in Greece for at least 5 consecutive years.
Permanent Residence Permit Permanent
For non-EU nationals who have held a temporary permit for at least 5 years (or 6 months for some categories).
Frequently Asked Questions about moving to Greece
How many visa types does Greece offer?
Greece offers 32 visa types across 7 categories — covering work, study, family, investment, and permanent-residency pathways.
Can I move to Greece without a job offer?
Yes — 29 of Greece's 32 visa types don't require a pre-arranged job offer. These include points-based skilled visas, investor and entrepreneur visas, digital-nomad and remote-worker visas, study visas, and family-sponsored pathways.
Does Greece offer a pathway to permanent residency?
Yes. 32 of Greece's visa types lead — directly or indirectly — to permanent residency. PR typically requires meeting time-in-country, income, language, and eligibility thresholds specific to each visa.
Which Greece visa is right for me?
It depends on your goal. Employment-based visas suit skilled workers with qualifications and experience; family visas fit those with a spouse or close relative in Greece; investor and golden visas target entrepreneurs with capital; study visas cover education; digital-nomad and retirement visas suit remote workers and retirees. VisaMatch checks your profile against every Greece visa in seconds.
How do I check my eligibility for Greece?
Use VisaMatch's free eligibility checker. Enter your nationality, age, occupation, income, and education, then select Greece. You'll see every Greece visa you qualify for, with links to the official government source for each.
Greece in depth
Air qualityGoodAQI 22
ClimateMediterraneanHot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters.
Infrastructure6.5/10Improved since the debt crisis but still developing outside Athens.
Cost of living55Index, NYC = 100
SafetySafeLow violent crime, safe for residents.
Internet55 MbpsGood
Political stabilityStableStable EU member with a recovering economy.
Inflation3.3%Purchasing power index 55
Immigrant friendliness3.2/5The Golden Visa is popular with investors; standard work visas involve more bureaucracy.
Income tax44%Top marginal rate on income above EUR 40,000 (2025 bracket structure, before the 2026 reform raised this threshold to EUR 60,000)
Median salaryEUR 18,000/yr
Healthcare accessUniversal (National Health System / EOPYY)Conditional — EU citizens and employed workers contributing via social insurance can register for an AMKA number and access EOPYY on the same basis as citizens after 3 months' residence; non-EU visa holders generally need private insurance to qualify for their visa in the first place
Best-performing job sectors
Tourism — +7% YoY, the dominant sector
Shipping — +3% YoY, traditional strength
Tech — +5% YoY, growing Athens scene
Curated research pass, sourced per field (tax, salary, healthcare and legal figures cite an official or named source) — not live data. Refreshed periodically, not real-time.
See full Greece insights →
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