How do you get permanent or long-term residence in Greece in 2026?

Third-country nationals typically need a continuous multi-year history of lawful temporary residence under categories the Migration Code recognises for long-term or permanent routes. Exact year counts, absence limits and integration proofs (sometimes including Greek language) are category-specific. Read the live Migration Ministry checklist rather than treating a blog’s “five years for everyone” line as law.

You build that history by first applying for a residence permit and then renewing on time. Permanent residence is not the same click path as a routine renewal reprint: Get a residence card.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens on free movement use police EU residence certificates and later permanent-residence certificates under EU rules, not the third-country long-term permit articles. Language expectations for citizenship or some integration routes are separate: Greek language requirements.

Keep AFM, address and apostilled civil documents organised: Get an AFM and Apostille documents.