Greece Financially Independent Person

The Greece Financially Independent Person visa, often referred to as the FIP, is a residence route for individuals who can support themselves from stable foreign income without working in Greece. It offers a measured, lower-cost path to living in the European Union for those whose wealth produces reliable passive returns.

In substance the FIP mirrors the passive-income residence permits found across southern Europe: you demonstrate sufficient means, commit to making Greece a genuine base, and refrain from local economic activity. In return you gain residence in a Schengen country with a low cost of living and a strong lifestyle proposition.

We position the FIP honestly against Greece's other routes, including the Golden Visa and the digital nomad permit, so that clients choose the option that genuinely matches how they earn and intend to live.

Who it suits

The FIP is aimed at people with dependable, ongoing income from outside Greece who do not need to work locally. Typical applicants include:

• Retirees and pensioners
• Investors living on dividends, interest, or rents
• Individuals with royalty or licensing income
• Families seeking an affordable EU base

It is not designed for active earners or for those intending to take up Greek employment. Where income depends on remote work, the digital nomad visa is usually the more appropriate and lower-friction route, and we will say so.

Cost and what is really involved

The central condition is proof of a minimum monthly income, with the threshold rising for a spouse and for each dependent child by a set percentage. As at 2026 these figures are fixed by the Greek authorities and revised periodically, so we verify the current amounts before filing rather than quoting numbers that may have shifted.

Supporting requirements typically include:

• Evidence of stable income, often over the preceding period
• Private health insurance valid in Greece
• A clean criminal record certificate, apostilled
• Proof of accommodation, such as a lease or property title

The application is usually lodged at the Greek consulate in your country, followed by biometrics and issuance of the residence permit in Greece. As with most passive-income routes, the difficulty lies in documentary consistency rather than the threshold itself, and authorities expect your stated income, bank records, and supporting evidence to align cleanly across the whole file.

Tax and lifestyle

Residence under the FIP, combined with significant time in the country, will generally make you Greek tax resident, bringing worldwide income into scope subject to treaties. Greece does, however, offer specific incentive regimes for new residents in certain circumstances, including arrangements aimed at pensioners and high-net-worth individuals.

We model your position case by case rather than assuming any regime applies automatically, because eligibility for these incentives is conditional and time-limited, and the rules around them have been adjusted in recent years. The lifestyle case is compelling: a mild Mediterranean climate, low living costs by Western European standards, good island and mainland choice, and easy Schengen travel for both leisure and business.

The process and timeline

After consular approval the permit is issued in Greece, typically for an initial term that is then renewable, building toward long-term residence over the qualifying period. The full process commonly takes several months, with consular scheduling the main variable.

Renewals require continued proof of means and genuine residence, so the FIP suits those who intend to spend real time in the country.

Pitfalls and how we avoid them

The frequent missteps are underestimating the income requirement for families, assuming a tax incentive applies without confirming eligibility, and treating the FIP as a flexible part-time permit when renewal depends on presence.

We address these by confirming current thresholds, assessing incentive eligibility honestly, and aligning your presence plan with both renewal and tax-residence considerations. Regulated legal questions are handled with Greek counsel.

How HPT helps

We coordinate eligibility review, document assembly and legalisation, insurance and accommodation guidance, consular submission, and renewal planning. We also help clients sequence the move sensibly, from securing accommodation to opening local accounts, so that the residence is practical to maintain and not just to obtain. Our contribution is clarity and execution, ensuring the application is sound and that you understand the tax and lifestyle reality of basing yourself in Greece before any commitment is made.