Skip to content
Expat Blueprint / Europe / Greece
🇬🇷

Greece

7% flat tax for retirees. Mediterranean island lifestyle. EU passport pathway.

Couple budget / month
$2,000-$3,000
Visa type
Financially Independent Person (FIP)
Visa minimum income
$2,400/month
US tax treaty
Yes
Healthcare quality
★★★★☆
English widely spoken
Yes

Why Greece works

Greece offers a 7% flat tax for retirees on foreign-sourced income for 15 years.

Mediterranean climate, islands, ancient culture, affordable cost of living.

EU passport pathway in 10 years.

Where to live

Athens: capital, urban, affordable. $1,800-$2,500/month.

Crete (Heraklion, Chania): largest island, mild climate, expat-friendly. $2,000-$2,800/month.

Corfu / Rhodes / Santorini: smaller islands, vacation feel. $2,000-$3,000/month.

Visa pathway

FIP visa: $2,400/month passive income. Apply at Greek consulate.

Issued for 2 years, renewable. Permanent residency after 5 years.

Taxes

7% flat tax regime for retirees who relocate from outside Greece. 15-year duration.

Tax treaty offsets double taxation.

Healthcare

Public system: lower quality than Western EU.

Private hospitals in Athens are excellent. $50-150/month for private insurance.

Pitfalls — what catches people
  • ·Greek bureaucracy is challenging. Use a local lawyer.
  • ·Banking restrictions for non-residents in some cases.
  • ·Healthcare outside Athens varies.
Good for
  • · 7% flat tax seekers
  • · Mediterranean lovers
  • · EU passport pathway seekers
Not for
  • · Those needing top-tier healthcare outside Athens
  • · Modern-banking maximizers