Greek Retirement Visa (Ultimate Guide 2025)

If you qualify, you’ll only pay 7% tax on your foreign income—no matter how high it is.

The best part?

This tax rate is locked in for 15 years.

To apply, you must:

• Be a new tax resident in Greece (you can’t have been a tax resident there for at least five of the last six years).
• Receive pension income from abroad.
• Move your tax residency to Greece and commit to staying for at least 183 days per year.

For most retirees, this is a huge tax advantage compared to the higher tax rates in countries like the US, UK, or Germany.

What Happens if You Keep Your Tax Residency in Your Home Country?

If you don’t become a Greek tax resident (meaning you spend less than 183 days per year in Greece), then you’ll continue paying taxes in your home country as usual.

Some retirees choose to keep their tax residency in their home country while living in Greece part-time.

However, this means they won’t qualify for Greece’s 7% tax benefit.

It’s worth consulting a tax professional before making a final decision, as tax treaties between Greece and other countries can affect how much you owe.

What If You Have Rental Income or Investments?

If you earn money from renting out a property, dividends, or other investments, Greece will still tax that income at the 7% rate—as long as you qualify for the flat tax regime.

However, if you buy property in Greece and decide to rent it out, that income is taxed under the Greek tax system, which has different rates depending on the amount you earn.

Do You Need to File a Greek Tax Return?

If you’re a Greek tax resident, yes—you’ll need to file a tax return every year, even if all your income comes from abroad.

The Greek tax year runs from January to December, and tax returns are usually due in June of the following year.

Most retirees hire a local accountant to handle tax filings, as the system can be complex for newcomers.

Is Greece a Tax-Friendly Country for Retirees?

For many retirees, yes—especially if you take advantage of the 7% tax regime.

• If you qualify, you’ll only pay 7% tax on your foreign income, which is lower than in most Western countries.
• If you keep your tax residency elsewhere, you might avoid Greek taxes completely—but you won’t get the benefits of the low tax rate.

With careful planning, retiring in Greece can be just as financially smart as it is enjoyable.

Taxes are just one piece of the puzzle.

Next, we’ll go over how to maintain and renew your visa, so you can stay in Greece legally for the long term.

How to Maintain & Renew the Greek Retirement Visa

Getting the Greek Retirement Visa is one thing—keeping it active is another.

Like most residency permits, this visa isn’t permanent at first.

To continue living in Greece, you’ll need to renew it every three years and meet certain requirements.

For some retirees, this process is simple.

For others, a small mistake—like spending too much time outside Greece—can cause problems when it’s time to renew.

Let’s go over exactly what you need to do to keep your visa valid and avoid issues.

How Long Is the Greek Retirement Visa Valid?

The initial residence permit is valid for three years.

After that, you must renew it every three years as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.

This means you must:

• Continue meeting the financial income or savings threshold.
• Maintain valid private health insurance.
• Spend at least 183 days per year in Greece.

What Happens If You Don’t Spend Enough Time in Greece?

The 183-day rule is one of the most common reasons for visa issues.

If you fail to meet this requirement, the Greek authorities can reject your renewal application—meaning you’d have to start over from scratch.

This rule exists to ensure that the visa is used by actual residents, not just people looking for an EU travel loophole.

If you plan to travel frequently, it’s important to track your days in Greece to avoid falling short.

How to Renew Your Residence Permit

The renewal process is similar to the initial application, but there’s one key difference: you apply from inside Greece rather than at a Greek consulate abroad.

Here’s how it works:

1️⃣ Start the renewal process at least 60 days before your permit expires.
2️⃣ Submit your renewal application to the Aliens and Immigration Department in the region where you live.
3️⃣ Provide updated documents, including:

• Proof of continued financial stability (bank statements or pension statements).
• A valid private health insurance policy.
• Proof that you’ve spent at least 183 days per year in Greece.

4️⃣ Once approved, your permit is extended for another three years.

What If You Miss the Renewal Deadline?

If you fail to renew your permit on time, you could lose your residency status.

This would mean having to restart the visa process from the beginning, which could include leaving Greece and applying for a new Type D visa from your home country.

Greek authorities may allow a grace period in some cases, but it’s best not to risk it.

Keeping track of your renewal dates is crucial if you want to stay in Greece long-term.

Can You Lose Your Visa for Other Reasons?

Besides missing the 183-day residency rule, there are a few other ways you could lose your visa status:

• Failing to maintain your financial requirements—If your income drops below €3,500 per month, or you no longer have enough savings to qualify, your renewal could be denied.
• Losing health insurance coverage—Your permit renewal requires proof of a valid private health insurance plan.
• Criminal activity—If you commit a crime in Greece or another country, Greek authorities can revoke your residency permit.

What If You Want to Upgrade to Permanent Residency?

After five continuous years of living in Greece, you may qualify for a permanent residence permit, which comes with fewer renewal requirements.

To qualify for permanent residency, you must:

• Have legally resided in Greece for five consecutive years without leaving for extended periods.
• Show proof of financial stability and a valid health insurance plan.

Permanent residency means you no longer have to renew every three years and can stay in Greece indefinitely—though you’ll still need to follow Greek residency laws.

Does the Greek Retirement Visa Lead to Citizenship?

Yes, but it takes time.

If you’ve lived in Greece for seven years, you can apply for Greek citizenship.

However, this process requires more than just living in the country—you’ll also need to:

• Pass a Greek language and culture test.
• Prove that you have integrated into Greek society.

For some retirees, citizenship isn’t necessary since the retirement visa and permanent residency already provide long-term stability.

But for those who want a Greek passport and full EU rights, it’s an option to consider.

Final Thoughts on Maintaining Your Residency

The Greek Retirement Visa is one of the best options in Europe for non-EU retirees, but keeping it active requires careful planning.

The biggest thing to remember?

Stay on top of your renewals and make sure you meet the 183-day rule.

As long as you follow the guidelines, you can enjoy stress-free retirement in Greece without worrying about visa complications.

Now that we’ve covered visa maintenance, next we’ll look at common mistakes retirees make when applying—and how to avoid them.

Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Applying for the Greek Retirement Visa isn’t complicated, but it’s easy to make small mistakes that can lead to delays—or worse, a rejected application.

For some retirees, these mistakes happen because they don’t fully understand the financial requirements.

Others run into trouble with missing paperwork, insurance issues, or misunderstandings about tax residency.

The good news? Most of these mistakes are avoidable if you plan ahead.

Let’s go over the biggest ones so you don’t fall into the same traps.

Mistake #1: Miscalculating Your Financial Requirements

One of the most common reasons for visa rejections is failing to meet the income or savings requirements.

Some retirees assume that a pension or small rental income will be enough, only to find out that their total monthly amount is too low.

Remember, you need to show at least €3,500 per month in passive income.

If applying with a spouse, this increases by 20%, and if you have dependent children, another 15% per child.

If your income doesn’t meet this threshold, the alternative is proving you have at least €126,000 in savings, plus additional amounts for family members.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Before applying, double-check your financial documents to ensure you meet the requirements.
• If your income is slightly below the threshold, consider increasing it through additional investment dividends or rental income.
• If relying on savings, make sure the amount is held in a Greek bank account as required by the authorities.

Mistake #2: Assuming You Can Use Public Healthcare

Some retirees move to Greece expecting to use the country’s public healthcare system, only to find out that it’s not available to them.

The Greek government requires all non-EU retirees to have private health insurance, and this is a mandatory condition for the visa.

Without it, your application won’t be approved.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Purchase a comprehensive private health insurance plan that covers you in Greece.
• Make sure your policy meets the visa requirements, especially if using an international provider.
• Don’t assume that a travel insurance policy will work—it won’t. You need full medical coverage.

Mistake #3: Not Spending Enough Time in Greece

This is one of the easiest ways to lose your visa status.

The Greek Retirement Visa requires you to spend at least 183 days per year in the country.

Some retirees treat it like a part-time residency, spending more time traveling or living elsewhere, and then run into problems at renewal.

When the Greek authorities check your renewal application, they will look at your time spent in Greece. If you haven’t met the requirement, your visa may not be renewed.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Keep track of your time in Greece each year to ensure you stay at least 183 days.
• If you travel frequently, make sure your Greek residence remains your primary home.
• Don’t assume the rule isn’t enforced—Greek immigration takes this seriously.

Mistake #4: Waiting Too Long to Renew Your Visa

Your first residence permit is valid for three years, but renewals aren’t automatic.

You must apply for renewal before your permit expires, and waiting until the last minute can lead to unnecessary stress—or even loss of residency.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Start the renewal process at least 60 days before your permit expires.
• Make sure all your financial documents, insurance, and tax filings are up to date.
• Don’t assume the renewal is just a formality—you still need to prove that you qualify.

Mistake #5: Not Understanding Greek Tax Residency

Becoming a Greek tax resident means you may have to pay taxes in Greece.

Some retirees move without considering whether they should transfer their tax residency, leading to unexpected tax obligations later on.

If you spend more than 183 days per year in Greece, you automatically become a tax resident.

But if you don’t plan correctly, you could miss out on Greece’s 7% flat tax benefit and end up paying higher taxes than necessary.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Before moving, consult with a tax expert who understands Greek and international tax laws.
• If you want to qualify for Greece’s 7% flat tax on foreign income, make sure you apply for it properly.
• Understand the tax treaties between Greece and your home country to avoid double taxation.

Mistake #6: Underestimating Greek Bureaucracy

Greece is a beautiful country, but its bureaucracy is not for the impatient.