Apply for a Retirement Visa in Greece
Immigration advice for Non-EU nationals who want to retire in Greece
The Retirement Visa is also called the Financially Independent Person Permit in Greece.
You can live in Greece and embrace retirement with this visa. The main requirement is proving that you have enough wealth to support yourself and your family if they join you. The easiest way to do this is through a pension. If your state or private pension meets the criteria, you can move to Greece. Successful applicants also get visa-free access to enjoy tourism throughout Europe. They visit countries in the European Union’s Schengen zone without needing a visa.
How can a lawyer help with the Greek Retirement Visa?
We can assist in completing forms, reviewing documents and getting you set up when moving to a different country.
Our lawyers will speed the process for appointments and offer support if any setbacks come up in meeting with Greece’s immigration offices. We will track and monitor the progress of your application to ensure any delays are minimized.
Our team will prepare you for any interviews with the Greek officials and join you on the filing date to help with language barriers and unforeseen issues.
We provide full assistance through our English-speaking team as well as Spanish, French, Portuguese, Greek or Italian.
We can also put you in touch with partners such as insurance companies or sworn translators.
¨We will be with you each step of the journey.¨
What is a Retirement Visa?
This visa, which is technically a Financially Independent Person permit, gives non-EU citizens permission to reside in Greece. They just need to show that they can support their lifestyle without working. The majority of people do this by using their pension and savings.
The main applicant’s family is able to join them if they also can support themselves. They can do this with their own pension or savings, or rely on the main applicant’s wealth. Anyone with a retirement visa in Greece can travel visa-free in the EU’s Schengen zone.
This is a Greek residency visa and is valid for two years. It can be renewed indefinitely just as long as the holder can continue to support themselves. The visa holder cannot work under a retirement visa.
How to Get a Greek Retirement Visa?
The application process starts with visiting the Greek Consulate in your home country or country of residence. You must first apply for a long-term visa called “Visa D” and is valid for a year. This is usually issued within 10 days of applying and will include an interview with the officials.
After receiving Visa D, you can enter Greece and apply for a Residence Permit with the Immigration office. You will be asked to provide biometric information during this step.
You will then receive confirmation of your submission, which is known as the “blue certificate” and gives you the right to travel to and from Greece.
The residence permit card is typically issued one to two months after filing the application.
You can’t work but you can draw upon a pension or another source of passive income like real estate.
What are the requirements?
- You must receive a fixed monthly amount from a permanent source of income, which is usually a pension or trust fund. It cannot be a salary because this would suggest you need to work while in Greece. The amount must be at least €2,000 a month for the main applicant. This increases by 20% if you are joined by a spouse and by 15% for each child. You can show proof of sufficient wealth individually or collectively.
- You need to have full coverage with a private health insurance plan.
- You may also need to show paperwork like a clean police record and a medical certificate. If you’re moving with your spouse, you may need paperwork from the civil registry where you were married. Children will require a birth certificate.
Let us do the work!
The Process to Get a Retirement Visa in Greece
What do I need to do?
1. Collect the documents
You will need to collect the paperwork to support the application. This includes marriage and birth certificates if your family is joining you, as well as proof that you can support your lifestyle. These documents may need to be certified and officially translated.
2. Apply at the Greek Embassy or Consulate
The applicant must apply for Visa D by appearing in person at their Greek Consulate in their home country or where they legally reside. Visa D is a long-term visa and is the first permit needed to get a retirement visa. You will be interviewed by the immigration officials during this step.
3. Move to Greece
Once the application is approved, you will be granted a visa that allows you to travel to Greece. It usually takes 10 days to get a Greek visa. The entry visa is valid for one year.
4. Apply for Residence Permit Card
Once you have the entry visa and have entered Greece, you must apply for a Residence Permit with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum. To get the Residence Permit, you will need to provide some biometric data. Your submission will be confirmed with a “blue certificate”, which allows you to travel to and from Greece. The residence permit is usually approved within two months.
Some clients struggle with the language barrier, so Lexidy’s immigration attorneys can accompany you to the appointment.
Renewing the Greek Retirement Visa
The process to renew the visa is relatively simple. The main requirements are:
- continuing to be able to support your lifestyle
- maintaining private healthcare insurance
- and residing in Greece for at least six months annually
The permit is renewed for two-year periods and you can work with our immigration attorneys to maintain your status.
OUR WORK
We are a department formed by qualified legal experts who have been trained in the field of immigration law. We work on these requests every day and it’s our passion. For us, Lexidy is a way of life and what excites us the most is to be able to deliver the happiness and satisfaction of a successful immigration process. We want to help you achieve your goals and dreams.
Eleftheria Charalambous
Lawyer, Head of Athens Office
Eleni Maderaki
Head of Corporate Department Athens
Maria Balaoura
Paralegal
Iliana Arvaniti
Legal TraineeIS TO MAKE CLIENTS HAPPY
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