Greece
Living, work, immigration, education & business — official links and practical guides
Key Facts
Basics
Currency
EUR
Region
Southern Europe
Local time
UTC+3
Europe/Athens
Economy
Population
10.41M
GDP (current US$)
$256.24B
GDP per capita
$24,626
Source: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0) · 2024 · Last checked: 2026-07-06
Tax snapshot
Corporate tax
22%
VAT
24%
Top individual income tax
44%
Capital-gains tax
15%
Source: National tax authority · Cross-check: OECD · PwC · KPMG · Last checked: 2026-07-16
Headline statutory rates. The income-tax figure includes national surtaxes; any regional or municipal layer is shown beside it. Social contributions and reliefs are excluded. Verify the current rate with the authority before relying on it.
At a glance
EU residence at a lower cost than western Europe, with an explicit digital-nomad visa and an investment-residence route — offset by slow administration and a thin local salary market.
Best for
Remote earners paid from abroad, investors seeking EU residence, and retirees drawing a foreign pension.
Who this may not suit
People planning to live on a Greek salary — local wages are among the lowest in Western Europe, and the visa routes assume income earned elsewhere.
Main routes in
Digital-nomad visa For income earned outside the country; it does not permit local employment. Investment residence permit Residence granted on qualifying investment; thresholds differ sharply by area. Study route EU-recognised degrees, with post-study options into the wider EU labour market.
Key trade-offs
- Administration is slow and appointment-driven; permit cards routinely arrive long after the application is accepted.
- Local salaries are low relative to western Europe, so the route works best on foreign income.
- Investment thresholds were raised and now vary by region, so older guides understate the amount required.
First steps
- 1 Get an AFM (tax number) early — it gates banking, tenancy and almost every application.
- 2 Apply at the consulate for your category before travelling; entering first rarely helps.
- 3 Arrange qualifying health insurance before the appointment, not after.
- 4 Register for an AMKA social-security number once resident, for healthcare access.
What changes often
- · Golden Visa investment thresholds by area
- · Digital-nomad and financially-independent visa rules
- · Non-dom tax regimes for new residents and retirees
Investment thresholds, eligible regions and nomad-visa income requirements have changed recently — confirm current figures with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum and the consulate you will apply to. Ministry of Migration and Asylum ↗
Major cities
All cities (5) →Living
Housing
Renting and buying property in Greece — typical rents, deposits, contracts, and official tenancy rules.
Healthcare
How the Greece healthcare system works — public vs private care, eligibility, and costs for residents and visitors.
Insurance
Insurance in Greece — health, travel, and digital-nomad cover, what is mandatory, and how to choose a plan.
Work
Jobs
Where to find jobs in Greece — major job boards, in-demand sectors, and how to apply.
Employers
Major employers hiring in Greece, with links to their official careers pages.
Government Jobs
Public-sector and civil-service hiring in Greece — the official government job portal.
Salaries
Typical salaries by role in Greece — pay ranges, taxes, and cost-of-living context.
Immigration & Mobility
Work Visa
Work permit categories, eligibility, sponsorship, application steps, and processing times.
Startup Visa
Entrepreneur and startup visa programs, investment thresholds, and application criteria.
Student Visa
Student visa categories, eligibility, required documents, work rights, and application steps.
Tourist Visa
Tourist and visitor visa requirements, visa-free entry, duration, and application steps.
Permanent Residency
Permanent-residence routes: eligibility, required years of residence, and the official application steps — including any investment routes where a country offers them.
Citizenship
Naturalization rules: required residence years, language and civics requirements, and each country's dual-citizenship policy.
Employment & Labor
Hiring rules, employment contracts, payroll, social insurance, and EOR options.
Digital Nomad Visa
Remote-work visa programs, income requirements, duration, taxes, and application steps.
Education
Universities
Top universities in Greece, admissions, tuition, and international-student support.
Online Courses
Online learning relevant to Greece — accredited platforms, local MOOCs, and language courses.
Scholarships
Scholarships and financial aid for studying in Greece — government, university, and international programs.
Study Abroad
How to study in Greece as an international student — application steps, student visas, and living costs.
Business
Company Registration
Entity types, registration process, required documents, costs, and official registries.
Business Banking
Opening business and personal bank accounts, remote options, required documents, and fees.
Investment
Foreign investment rules, incentives, investment promotion agencies, and restricted sectors.
Tax System
Corporate tax, VAT/GST, personal income tax, capital gains, and filing obligations.
Import & Export
Customs procedures, duties, de minimis thresholds, EORI/registration, and restricted goods.
Trademark & IP
Trademark registration, patents, copyright, official IP offices, and filing costs.
Compliance
Corporate, tax, employment, data-protection, AML/KYC, trade and AI compliance — official regulators and registries.
Corporate Compliance
Annual filings, registered-agent and beneficial-ownership obligations, and the official company registry.
Tax Compliance
Filing calendars, registration thresholds and the official tax authority.
Employment Compliance
Mandatory contracts, payroll and social-insurance registration, and the official labor authority.
Privacy & Data Protection
The country's own data-protection regime, registration duties, and its official supervisory authority.
AML & KYC
Anti-money-laundering and customer-due-diligence obligations, regulated activities, and the official financial regulator.
Import & Export Compliance
Customs registration, controlled/restricted goods, sanctions screening, and the official customs authority.
AI Regulations
The country's own AI governance approach, risk tiers, transparency duties, and its official authority.