Greece Independent means permit

Third-country nationals entering on a national visa can obtain a 3-year renewable permit if they have stable annual income or resources and do not work in Greece. ^{1 2 3}

What you must show and pay

• Income of at least EUR 3,500 a month (≈ $3,910) · Minimum for the main applicant, shown by a pension from abroad, bank account or proof of lawfully sourced own means; assessed monthly for periodic income and annually for other income. ^{1 2}
• Income of at least EUR 700 a month (≈ $780) · Addition for a spouse or partner (20% of EUR 3,500 (≈ $3,910)). ²
• Income of at least EUR 525 a month (≈ $590) · Addition for each child (15% of EUR 3,500 (≈ $3,910)). ²
• A fee of EUR 1,000 (≈ $1,120) · Residence permit fee for type I.8; EUR 150 (≈ $170) for holders of a pension from a Greek public insurer. ¹

Requirements

• The applicant is a third-country national. ^{1 2}
• The applicant enters on a national visa. ^{1 2}
• The applicant has stable resources covering living costs without dependent work or independent economic activity in Greece. ^{1 2}
• Net resources of at least EUR 3,500 (≈ $3,910) per month for the main applicant. ^{1 2}
• An addition of EUR 700 (≈ $780) per month for a spouse or partner (20%). ^{1 2}
• An addition of EUR 525 (≈ $590) per month for each child (15%). ^{1 2}
• Resources are assessed monthly for periodic income and annually for other income. ^{1 2}
• A foreign pension, bank account or proof of own means shows the resources. ^{1 2}
• The means must be lawfully sourced. ^{1 2}
• The decision is made by the Secretary General of the Decentralised Administration. ^{1 2}

Stay

• Permit valid 3 years and renewable for equal periods while the conditions are met.
• Initial permitted stay: 36 months.
• Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Nationality

Third-country nationals (citizens of non-EU states). Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

Work

No dependent employment or independent economic activity in Greece for the holder, spouse or family members.

Family

Family members can obtain individual permits that expire with the sponsor's permit; the resources test can be met by each member or jointly for the household. Your spouse or partner may not work in Greece on this visa.

Checked 2026-10-11

Official sources

1. Law 5038/2023, Migration Code (Government Gazette A 81/01.04.2023) · Ethniko Typografeio (Government Gazette) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2023-04-01
2. Joint Ministerial Decision 225679/2024 on sufficient resources (Government Gazette B 5223/17.09.2024) · Hellenic Republic Government Gazette (copy hosted by University of Athens) · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2024-09-17
3. Migration Code, art. 163 (other permits: I.5 Canada youth mobility, I.8 sufficient resources), consolidated text · Taxheaven legal text repository (consolidated Migration Code, Law 5038/2023) · checked 2026-10-11
4. Migration Code, art. 144 (long-term resident status: conditions), consolidated text · TaxHeaven (consolidated Law 5038/2023) · checked 2026-10-11
5. Migration Code, art. 143 (long-term resident status: scope), consolidated text · TaxHeaven (consolidated Law 5038/2023) · checked 2026-10-11
6. Naturalisation of non-ethnic-Greek aliens (Politografisi Allogenon Allodapon) · Ministry of Interior, National Registry of Administrative Public Services (mitos.gov.gr) · checked 2026-10-11