Greece — Financially Independent Person (FIP) Residence

Key requirements

We anchor the monthly filter at roughly €3,500 equivalent for a single applicant and add a savings buffer because many files blend recurring income with contingency balances — your consulate may still ask for more.

• Minimum income (model)~$3,800 / month (model)
• SavingsOften ~$14,000+
• Accepted income typesPassive income, Pension, Savings only
• Remote work allowedNo
• Local employment allowedNo
• Health insuranceUsually required
• Criminal record checkUsually required
• Accommodation proofUsually required
• Bank accountUsually required
• Processing (rough)Several weeks to a few months (consulate Type D + in-country permit)

Citizenship & nationality

FIP is aimed at non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who already have predictable resources outside Greece. EU citizens use free movement instead. Greek authorities still assess security, source-of-funds plausibility, and whether your income story is truly non-labour in Greece.

• •Published ministerial guidance in recent years models monthly “sufficient resources” in euros for the main applicant and adds percentage uplifts for a spouse and each child — always pull the current joint ministerial decision text, not blog round numbers alone.
• •Typical consulate packs combine legalised criminal records, insurance meeting Greek standards, lease or title aligned with your municipality, and 6–12 months of traceable bank history supporting recurring passive flows.
• •If your cash flow looks like remote payroll for a foreign employer, officers may steer you toward the digital-nomad or employment route rather than FIP — keep categories clean.
• •Renewals depend on still meeting means tests and ordinary residence compliance; long-term EU residence and naturalisation sit on separate timelines and language rules.

Confirm the current Law 5038/2023 / joint ministerial decision text for “financially independent persons” with the Greek consulate for your jurisdiction and the Ministry of Migration & Asylum portal before you translate or apostille documents.

Best for

• •Passive or stable recurring income from pensions, rent, or dividends
• •People planning longer stays and clearer residency footprints
• •EU-focused settlement planning (always confirm Schengen vs national rules)

Long-term path

• Permanent residence: Yes
• Citizenship: Limited / case-by-case

Initial residence is issued for a multi-year horizon in many cases, then renewed on proof of continuing means; tax residency and social-security alignment are separate from the immigration label.

Practical difficulty

medium

Indicative only — depends on documents, timing, and policy updates.

Medium reflects structured documentation and category discipline more than exotic investment hurdles.