Greece · Work
Greece Researcher permit
Researcher residence permit (type H.3)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Researcher permit is a work route for Greece. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Government fees
- €150 ≈ $170
Cost, time and long term
Government fees€150 ≈ $170
- EUR 150 (≈ $170)Residence permit fee for type H.3 permits.
Shown, not spent€900+/mo ≈ $1,010
- EUR 900 a month (≈ $1,010)Minimum monthly means to cover living costs and the return journey, assessed individually and shown by grant, scholarship or work contract.
RenewalRenewable
Valid for the length of the hosting agreement, or 1 year if shorter than 12 months; renewed when the agreement is extended.
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence
Long-term resident status needs 5 years of continuous legal residence and income at least the annual minimum wage (plus 10% for dependants); absences under 6 consecutive months and 10 months in total are allowed.
CitizenshipAfter 12 years of residence
Naturalisation needs 12 continuous years of legal residence on a permit like this one, but only 7 years once you hold a long-term resident permit or another listed title, plus Greek language and history tests.
Ministry of Interior, National Registry of Administrative Public Services
Where to applyFrom abroad
Apply for a national entry visa for research first.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Applications are made from outside Greece, not after arriving
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Greece
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- The applicant is a third-country national.
- The applicant is a researcher admitted by an approved research organisation.
What you must show3
- Means of at least EUR 900 (≈ $1,010) per month to cover living costs and the return journey, assessed individually.
- Means are shown by a grant, scholarship or work contract.
- Permit fee: EUR 150 (≈ $170).
Documents3
- A hosting agreement signed by the approved research organisation.
- Full health insurance.
- A valid travel document.
Steps1
- A national entry visa for research.
What happens at day 183
How Greece decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- More than 183 days in any 12-month periodPresence in Greece for more than 183 days in total makes a person tax resident from the first day of presence.
- Foreign-source income
Greek tax residents are taxed on worldwide income, including foreign-source income, at progressive rates from 9% to 44% (scale applied from tax year 2026); residence follows the main home, habitual abode or centre of vital interests, or presence over 183 days.
All tax rules for Greece Tax records checked
What you need to arrange
- Health insurance
Full health insurance
- Money to show
This route asks for savings of €900+ a month ≈ $1,010.
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Permit for researchers admitted by an approved research organisation under a hosting agreement. 1 2
What you must show and pay
- Savings of at least EUR 900 a month (≈ $1,010) · Minimum monthly means to cover living costs and the return journey, assessed individually and shown by grant, scholarship or work contract. 1
- A fee of EUR 150 (≈ $170) · Residence permit fee for type H.3 permits. 1
Requirements
- The applicant is a third-country national. 1
- The applicant is a researcher admitted by an approved research organisation. 1
- Means of at least EUR 900 (≈ $1,010) per month to cover living costs and the return journey, assessed individually. 1
- Means are shown by a grant, scholarship or work contract. 1
- Permit fee: EUR 150 (≈ $170). 1
- A hosting agreement signed by the approved research organisation. 1
- Full health insurance. 1
- A valid travel document. 1
- A national entry visa for research. 1
Stay
- Permit valid for the length of the hosting agreement, or 1 year if the agreement is shorter than 12 months; renewed when the agreement is extended.
- First stay: up to 12 months, decided case by case.
- 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
Research activity at the hosting organisation and teaching as the Code allows.
Family
Family members can obtain family permits under art. 112. Your spouse or partner may work in Greece without a separate permit.
Official sources
- Law 5038/2023, Migration Code (Government Gazette A 81/01.04.2023) · Ethniko Typografeio (Government Gazette) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2023-04-01
- Migration Code, art. 112 (family members of researchers), consolidated text · Taxheaven (Law 5038/2023 consolidated text) · checked 2026-10-12
- Migration Code, art. 144 (long-term resident status: conditions), consolidated text · TaxHeaven (consolidated Law 5038/2023) · checked 2026-10-11
- Migration Code, art. 143 (long-term resident status: scope), consolidated text · TaxHeaven (consolidated Law 5038/2023) · checked 2026-10-11
- 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
Researcher permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Researcher permit | – | – | – |
| Blue Card | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Intra-company transfer | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Work permit | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Large-company director permit | Needs assets of €4M+ ≈ $4.5M | 5 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Researcher permit?
Savings of at least EUR 900 a month (≈ $1,010). Minimum monthly means to cover living costs and the return journey, assessed individually and shown by grant, scholarship or work contract. A fee of EUR 150 (≈ $170). Residence permit fee for type H.3 permits.
How long can I stay on the Researcher permit?
Permit valid for the length of the hosting agreement, or 1 year if the agreement is shorter than 12 months; renewed when the agreement is extended.
Can I work on the Researcher permit?
Research activity at the hosting organisation and teaching as the Code allows.
Can I bring my family on the Researcher permit?
Family members can obtain family permits under art.
Who can apply for the Researcher permit?
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.
Does the Researcher permit lead to permanent residence in Greece?
Time on the Researcher permit counts toward permanent residence in Greece, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the Researcher permit counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 12 years of residence.
How are Researcher permit holders taxed in Greece?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Researcher permit. The standard rules apply: Greek tax residents are taxed on worldwide income, including foreign-source income, at progressive rates from 9% to 44% (scale applied from tax year 2026); residence follows the main home, habitual abode or centre of vital interests, or presence over 183 days.
More in Greece
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 5 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Law 5038/2023, Migration Code (Government Gazette A 81/01.04.2023) · Ethniko Typografeio (Government Gazette) · checked 2026-10-11
- Migration Code, art. 112 (family members of researchers), consolidated text · Taxheaven (Law 5038/2023 consolidated text) · checked 2026-10-12
- Migration Code, art. 144 (long-term resident status: conditions), consolidated text · TaxHeaven (consolidated Law 5038/2023) · checked 2026-10-11
- Migration Code, art. 143 (long-term resident status: scope), consolidated text · TaxHeaven (consolidated Law 5038/2023) · checked 2026-10-11
- 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
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.