Relocating to Greece in 2026: a step-by-step plan - visa, residence permit, AFM, housing, schools, taxes

Step 1. Choose the basis: exactly what you'll live on in Greece

Most people's main mistake is thinking you should “relocate” first and figure it out later. In reality everything starts with choosing the basis: the legal reason the Greek state will allow you to live in the country longer than the tourist 90 days. This choice determines the visa, the residence permit type, timelines, and budget. There are several working routes for citizens of Russia and other non-EU countries.

• The Golden Visa (a residence permit for investment).You buy property from the set threshold - you get a residence permit for 5 years for the whole family, with no mandatory residence. The most direct path to “staying long-term”, we break it down in detail below and in a separatethe guide to Greece's Golden Visa.
• Digital Nomad.For those working remotely for companies or clients outside Greece. Income from 3,500 EUR a month is needed.
• FIP - a financially independent person.For those living on passive income (pension, dividends, rent, interest): the threshold is also about 3,500 EUR a month, the visa is issued for 3 years right away since 2026.
• Work- on invitation from a Greek employer,study- upon university enrollment,family reunification- to a resident relative.

What you need first to relocate to Greece is to answer the question: where does the money for living come from and which status fits this. For a remote worker - the nomad visa, for a rentier or retiree - FIP, for an investor with capital - the Golden Visa. Everything else in the chain builds off this.

Step 1 (continued). How the bases differ in money, timelines and freedom

To make the choice a conscious one, let's break down the bases by key parameters - how much the entry costs, what income is needed, and how freely you can then live and work. This will help avoid a mistake at the start, since changing the basis after relocating is harder than choosing the right one right away.

For a family with capital and a wish to calmly own a home by the sea, the Golden Visa is the most logical: no need to confirm income every year and no presence limit. For a remote worker or rentier without a million euros - the nomad or FIP visa. If you're unsure between routes, also assess the costs: our article gives the real picture onthe cost of living in Greece.

Step 2. The national D visa: how it differs from Schengen and why it's needed

Here's the key point most often confused. The Schengen visa (type C) is a tourist visa, giving the right to stay in Greece and Schengen for up to 90 days per six months, but does NOT give the right to relocate and get a residence permit. Relocating requires the national D visa - a long-term entry visa specifically for residence.

How this works in practice:

• The D visa is arranged in advance, in the country of residence- at the Greek consulate. Since 2026 the rule has tightened: the nomad visa and a number of others can no longer be arranged “on the spot” while in Greece on a tourist visa. First the D visa at the consulate, then entry.
• Each basis has its own document package:proof of income or investment, a lease or property purchase agreement, medical insurance, a police clearance certificate, a valid international passport.
• Processing time- roughly 2 to 8 weeks depending on the consulate and season.

For Russian citizens there's an important nuance: Schengen visas have been issued more strictly since 2022, multiple-entry visas are limited, but a national D visa for a legal basis (investment, remote work, passive income) remains a working tool. Relocating to Greece from Russia is possible strictly within the legal field - we write more about visa nuances for Russians in a separatethe breakdown of Greece's residence permit for Russian citizens.

Steps 3-4. Entering Greece and arranging the residence permit

With the D visa in hand you enter the country - and the countdown begins for arranging the full residence permit. The D visa is an “entry ticket”, and the right to live for years is given by the residence permit card.

What happens after entry:

• Filing for the residence permit.Within the set period (usually during the D visa's validity) you file an application for the residence card through the migration service - the online portal and/or the region's decentralized administration.
• Biometrics and the “blue receipt”.You submit fingerprints and a photo; before the plastic card is issued, a receipt (the so-called blue receipt) is given, which legalizes your stay and allows you to travel across Schengen.
• Getting the card.The plastic residence card comes later; its validity depends on the basis (from 1 year to 5 years for the Golden Visa).

Greek bureaucracy loves order and paperwork, so a residence permit isn't a single trip, but a process of several visits and waiting. To understand the whole route specifically for the residence permit in advance, keep ourthe guide to Greece's residence permitwith card types and timelines. In parallel with filing for the residence permit, it's worth tackling right away the two numbers without which almost no operation is possible in Greece - the next step covers them.

Step 5. Get AFM (tax number) and AMKA (social security)

These are the two most important numbers in the life of anyone relocating to Greece. Without them you can't open a bank account, sign a lease, set up utilities, get a job, or see a doctor. They're obtained almost immediately after entry.

AFM - the tax number.This is the first administrative priority after relocating.

• Obtained at the local tax office (DOY) at the place of residence.
• Needed: international passport, visa or residence card, proof of address, and a completed M1 form.
• AFM is needed before anything else - without it you can't open a bank account.

AMKA - the social security number.Gives access to healthcare and the social system.

• Arranged at the citizen service center KEP, the migrant integration center KEM, or an EFKA fund office.
• For citizens of non-EU countries, AMKA can only be obtained after arranging a temporary residence permit. EU citizens don't need a residence card for this.
• First you need the AFM and proof of a Greek address (a lease agreement, the host's declaration, or an E9 document).

The order is strict and logical: first a local SIM card and address, then AFM, then a bank account, then AMKA and healthcare. Official forms and tax-number services are available on the government portalgov.gr. Trying to do everything at once is a sure way to get stuck; treat the first weeks as a structured “setup phase”.

Step 6. Open a bank account in Greece

A Greek bank account is needed for everything: paying rent, utilities, receiving a salary or pension, paying taxes. It's impossible to open one without an AFM, so the account strictly follows the tax number.

What you'll need at the bank (the package may vary by bank):

• International passport and visa/residence card or “blue receipt”.
• AFM - the tax number is mandatory.
• Proof of address in Greece (lease agreement, utility bill).
• Proof of the source of income - statements, an income certificate, a pension ID.

For Russian citizens this is the most sensitive stage: banks apply enhanced compliance checks on the source of funds. This is a normal procedure, not discrimination - you need to transparently show where the money came from. The cleaner and clearer the documents on the capital's origin, the more smoothly the account opening goes. No sanctions-circumvention schemes - only clean, provable sources. Greek banks work with non-residents and new residents regularly, but it's worth preparing for the money conversation in advance by gathering a documentary “history” of your capital.

Step 7. Housing: rent or buy, and how much it costs

Housing is both a practical necessity and often the very basis for the residence permit (a lease agreement is needed for AMKA, and a purchase from the threshold - for the Golden Visa). Most people relocating start with renting to look around, and consider buying later.

Rental (approximate 2026 prices):

• A one-bedroom apartment in central Athens - 700-1,200 EUR a month.
• The same apartment outside the center - 500-900 EUR; in smaller towns and the periphery - noticeably cheaper, from ~400 EUR.
• A deposit (1-2 months) is usually required, plus a contract you need yourself for arranging the numbers and the residence permit.

Purchase.Foreigners buy property in Greece freely (in border zones - with special permission). The national average price is roughly from 1,200 EUR per m², more in Athens, the islands and resorts. The deal needs AFM, a notary, and a transfer tax of about 3.09%.

An important warning for investors: if you're buying property for the Golden Visa, short-term rental of it (e.g. through Airbnb) is prohibited - it risks residence permit revocation and a fine. Before buying “for the visa”, study the rules in ourthe guide to Greece's Golden Visa, so as not to lose status due to the wrong rental scenario.

Step 8. Schools for children: public, private and international

For families with children this step is often decisive. Greece offers three formats of education, and the choice depends on budget, language, and the family's plans.

• Public schools- free, taught in Greek. Suits families set on full integration and younger children who pick up the language quickly. Downside - a language barrier at the start for teenagers.
• Private Greek schools- paid, a stronger program and infrastructure, teaching mostly in Greek with intensive languages.
• International schools- under the British, American or IB program, taught in English. Cost roughly 8,000-15,000 EUR per school year depending on age and school. The choice of families who want to keep the child's English-language education and mobility.

Enrollment usually needs: the child's AMKA, medical certificates and a vaccination certificate, academic records from the previous school (often with translation). The main expat hubs with developed school and medical infrastructure are Athens, Thessaloniki, and Crete (Heraklion, Chania). Budget time for finding a school in advance: spots at popular international schools are limited, and the school year starts in September.

After relocating: the path from a residence permit to permanent residence and citizenship

Relocating is a beginning, not an end. Many plan to settle in Greece for good, and it's important to understand the long-term perspective from day one, so the years of residence aren't wasted.

• Residence permit.The first status under the chosen basis. The Golden Visa gives 5 years right away, the others from 1 to 3 years, renewable.
• Permanent residence (EU long-term resident).Available after 5 years of legal, continuous residence. Gives almost full resident rights and a more stable status.
• Citizenship (naturalization).Roughly after 7 years of legal residence, with a Greek language exam and a test on the country's history, culture and structure (Panhellenic), with actual residence of 183+ days a year. Also possible by origin (Greek roots) or by marriage. A Greek passport is an EU passport, dual citizenship is allowed.

A key nuance: for permanent residence and citizenship, what counts is actual residence, not just holding the card. The Golden Visa is convenient in that it doesn't require presence to keep the status, but if the goal is a passport, you'll have to actually live in the country. So the choice of basis at step 1 should be made with the final goal in mind: “living a couple of years” and “getting EU citizenship” are different strategies.

Relocating to Greece from Russia: what's important to consider separately

For Russian citizens relocating has its own particulars, and turning a blind eye to them means risking a refusal or a frozen account. Let's break it down .

• Visas.Tourist Schengen visas have been issued more strictly since 2022, multiple-entry visas are limited. But a national D visa for a specific legal basis (investment, remote work, passive income) remains available - it's exactly this one that's needed for relocating, not the tourist visa.
• The Golden Visa is available to Russians.The program is open to Russian citizens, but with enhanced verification of the source of funds. The money must be clean and provable, with no sanctions circumvention of any kind.
• Banks.Opening an account is the most sensitive moment: be ready to show the origin of your capital and income in detail.
• Documents.Russian documents (certificates, records, diplomas) need to be translated and legalized (apostille) in advance.

The conclusion is simple: relocating to Greece from Russia is entirely realistic if you go strictly within the legal field and prepare the documentary base for income and capital in advance. We've gathered all the status nuances for Russian citizens - renewal, risks, practice - in a separatethe breakdown of Greece's residence permit for Russians.

Taxes after relocating and an expert's view on typical mistakes

As soon as you become a Greek tax resident (generally by residing 183+ days a year), you fall under the local tax system - and it's better to think about this before relocating, not after the first letter from the tax office.

• Income tax- progressive, up to 44% on high incomes.
• The non-dom special regime- a flat tax of 100,000 EUR a year on all worldwide income (with an investment from 500,000 EUR), for up to 15 years, plus 20,000 EUR per family member. Advantageous for the very wealthy.
• The pensioner regime- a rate of just 7% on foreign income and pension, for 15 years. Makes Greece extremely attractive for well-off retirees.
• The ENFIA property tax- annual; on purchase, a transfer tax of about 3.09%.

The most common and costly mistake is not thinking through tax status in advance. We cover this topic in more depth in the article ontaxes in Greece. Current rates and forms should always be checked on the official portalgov.gr, since regimes are periodically revised.

Bottom line: what to really start relocating to Greece with

Relocating to Greece isn't a leap, but a sequence of clear steps: choose a basis, get a D visa, enter, arrange the residence permit, get AFM and AMKA, open an account, sort out housing, school and healthcare. Greece gives a lot in return: EU and Schengen membership, a mild climate, a calm pace, an inexpensive quality life, and a clear path to EU permanent residence and citizenship.

The main practical advice is to start not with the suitcases, but with choosing the basis and aiming at the final goal. If you want to stay in Greece long-term without confirming income every year, the most direct and stable path isThe Golden Visa for real estate investment: a residence permit for 5 years right away for the whole family, with no mandatory residence, with the right to live and travel across Schengen. Remote workers and rentiers will suit the nomad and FIP visas. To plan the budget, check the breakdownthe cost of living in Greeceand think in advance abouttax status. The right order of actions saves months - and that's exactly where to start.

Step 9. Healthcare: the public system and private insurance

Health is something thought about right after housing and school. Greece has a public healthcare system available to residents, plus a developed private sector.

• Public healthcare.After getting AMKA and paying social contributions (for example, with official employment), a resident gets access to public healthcare. Basic care for residents is accessible, but quality and timelines in the public system vary a lot by region.
• Private insurance.Medical insurance is mandatory for the D visa and residence permit, and many expats deliberately keep private insurance - it gives fast access to doctors and clinics with no queues.
• Service costs.Even out of pocket, healthcare in Greece is inexpensive by Western standards: a GP visit is roughly 35-40 EUR, a specialist about 50-55 EUR.

A practical scenario for a family at the start is to arrange private insurance (also needed for the visa and residence permit), and as you integrate and pay contributions, connect to the public system through AMKA. Combining the two systems gives both the status-required insurance and access to inexpensive quality private healthcare.

Budget for relocating and living: what figures to prepare for

Relocating to Greece for permanent residence requires two different budgets: one-off relocation costs and monthly living costs. Let's break it down, with no embellishment.

One-off relocation costs (approximate):

• The D visa and document legalization, translations, apostilles - a few hundred euros.
• Deposit and first rent payment - 2-3 monthly payments.
• Flight tickets, moving belongings, settling in - individual.
• Medical insurance for the first period - from a couple hundred euros.

Monthly living budget (2026, approximate):

Greece is noticeably cheaper than the US and UK in cost of living, while the climate and quality of life are high. The main variable for a family is international school: it can double the budget. We keep a detailed breakdown of expense items in the article onthe cost of living in Greece.

Summary relocation plan: a “step - action - timeline” table

Let's bring the whole path together into one table, so the sequence and real timelines are visible. This is exactly the step-by-step answer to how to relocate to Greece - from choosing the basis to full adaptation. Timelines are approximate and depend on the basis, region, and how busy the services are.

Realistically a few months pass from the first decision to a fully settled life. Those who chose the Golden Visa go through this path more calmly: a residence permit for 5 years right away, with no presence limit and no annual income confirmations.