Greece
Hellenic Republic · Capital: Athens
A sunny EU member with a relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle, a 7% flat-tax regime for foreign pensioners, a non-dom option, Golden Visa residency and growing digital-nomad appeal.
Migration statistics
Who is arriving
Top source countries and the make-up of recent arrivals into Greece.
Policy overview
3 visa routes into Greece
Eligibility, fees, processing times and whether each route leads to permanent residence.
GR-GV
Residence permit via real-estate or other investment, renewable and family-inclusive.
Eligibility
- EUR 800k property in Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and islands over 3,100 residents (single property of 120 sq m or more)
- EUR 400k property in the rest of Greece
- EUR 250k only for converting commercial buildings to residential or restoring listed buildings
- Clean record
Document checklist (10 items)
Core
Professional
Financial
Background
Digital Nomad Visa
TalentGR-DNV
Residence for non-EU remote workers earning from abroad, with a 50% income-tax break available.
Eligibility
- Remote income ~€3.5k/mo
- Work for non-Greek employer/clients
- Health cover
Document checklist (8 items)
Core
Professional
Financial
Background
GR-FIP
Residence for those with stable passive income, popular with retirees.
Eligibility
- Stable income ~€3.5k/mo
- Greek accommodation
- Health cover
Document checklist (8 items)
Core
Professional
Financial
Background
Economic context
The numbers behind the move
Pay reflects the local market in Greece, what you'd typically earn there, not your current salary.
Skill shortages
Sectors actively recruiting from abroad
Where Greece needs foreign talent most, and what those roles pay.
Tourism & hospitality
Tourism is the backbone of the economy with strong seasonal demand.
Shipping & maritime
Greece controls one of the world's largest merchant fleets.
Technology
A growing outsourcing and startup tech sector centred on Athens.
Recent changes
What's changed lately
Recent policy changes that affect migrants, newest first.
No policy changes recorded in the last 90 days. The intelligence agent is monitoring.
Quality of life
What living there feels like
Athens
Historic capitalThe sprawling, affordable capital, deep history alongside a rising tech and startup scene.
- Cost index
- 70
- 1-bed rent
- $700
- Quality
- 78
Thessaloniki
Student & culture cityA vibrant university city on the Aegean with great food and lower costs.
- Cost index
- 62
- 1-bed rent
- $550
- Quality
- 80
Heraklion (Crete)
Island livingCrete's main city and a gateway to island life popular with retirees and remote workers.
- Cost index
- 60
- 1-bed rent
- $600
- Quality
- 82
Safety & climate
The reception you can expect
How welcoming the public and political mood is, how safe it is, and how geopolitically stable the country is right now.
Anti-migrant sentiment
trendA frontline EU migration state; welcoming to investors, retirees and remote workers via dedicated regimes.
Higher = more hostile public/political climate.
Geopolitical stability
A composite of governance, security and regional-risk signals. Higher means a more predictable environment for settling long term.
Higher = more stable.
Safety
Generally safe; watch for pickpocketing in central Athens tourist areas.
Higher = safer (crime index 38/100).
Where to live
Which Greece city fits you?
Cities matched to who you are, career, family, retirement, study or remote work. We flag the ones to consider and the ones to approach with care.
Athens
Ancient meets modern
The sprawling, affordable capital, deep history alongside a rising tech and startup scene.
Heraklion (Crete)
Cretan coast
Crete's main city and a gateway to island life popular with retirees and remote workers.
Thessaloniki
Relaxed northern port
A vibrant university city on the Aegean with great food and lower costs.
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