Why a national visa

As a visitor you may spend at most 90 days in any 180-day period in the whole Schengen area. Days spent under a national long-stay visa or residence permit are not counted (Schengen Borders Code, Article 6(2)). So if you want to spend more of the year in Greece, the way to do it is one of the routes below, applied for before you travel.

Residence permit for financially independent persons (FIP)

Who it is for
People with pensions, savings or other own income who want to live in Greece without working there.
Money
At least €3,500 a month, plus 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child (Joint Ministerial Decision 225679/2024).
Work
No employment or self-employed activity in Greece.
  • Income can be shown from a foreign pension, a bank account or other legal own means.

Digital nomad visa

Who it is for
Remote workers employed by, or providing services to, companies outside Greece.
Money
The same threshold: at least €3,500 a month, plus 20% for a spouse and 15% per child.
Work
Remote work for your foreign employer or clients only.
  • Apply at the Greek consulate responsible for where you live, which also confirms the current documents list.

Second-home owners

There is no special arrangement for second-home owners: the general visa routes apply.

Amounts change every year with minimum wages and reference indicators, and consulates add their own document lists. Treat the figures here as a planning guide and confirm with the consulate responsible for where you live before applying.

Until your visa is granted

While you apply, you are still a visitor: every day in Greece or any other Schengen country counts towards the 90. Keep your trips in the 90/180 calculator so a visa delay never turns into an overstay.

Frequently asked questions

Is the old €2,000 a month figure still valid?

No. Some official regional pages still show the old figure, but the 2024 ministerial decision raised the threshold to €3,500 a month.

Can I just stay 90 days in Greece, leave, and come back?

Yes, but only within the 90/180 rule: after a continuous 90-day stay you have to stay out of the whole Schengen area for 90 days. The calculator shows exactly when your days come back.

Official sources