Greece FIP Visa Lawyer

FIP visa and residence: the legal framework

FIP is the financially independent person route for non-EU nationals with sufficient independent resources. It is not a work permit or a property-investment programme. Article 163(8) of Law 5038/2023 provides a three-year residence permit, renewable for an equivalent period if the conditions continue to be met. A national entry visa and a residence card are different documents. Greek Migration Code, Law 5038/2023 (Articles 68, 100 and 163).

The firm can help distinguish the consular entry stage from the Greek residence application, identify the correct authority and plan any required personal attendance. The exact sequence depends on nationality, lawful residence, existing status and the applicable rules.

Income and family resources

The 2024 resources decision sets a minimum benchmark of EUR 3,500 per month for the principal applicant, increased by 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child. These are arithmetic examples, not approval decisions. The authority assesses the amount, lawful origin, availability and evidence of the resources. Pension records, account statements and other evidence must be considered as a complete file. Joint Ministerial Decision 225679/2024, Government Gazette B 5223: sufficient resources.

A useful resources file explains who owns the funds, where they come from, whether they are recurring or capital, and how they remain available. Do not assume a short-lived transfer or a projected rental yield is equivalent to a documented income history.

What the legal engagement can cover

Documents to discuss before an application

• Passport and current lawful residence or visa information.
• Evidence explaining the resources: for example pension statements, rental arrangements, investment distributions or bank records.
• Family civil-status documents where accompanying relatives are applying.
• Health-insurance evidence and any housing or consular documents required for the case.
• Prior Greek applications, decisions or refusals, if relevant.

The list is not an exhaustive filing checklist. Record type, legalisation and translation requirements should be confirmed before documents are ordered. Ministry of Migration: supporting-document decision, Government Gazette B 1807/2024.

FIP or digital nomad?

If you will actively perform work while in Greece, describe it accurately. FIP is not a general remote-work permission. The digital nomad route addresses qualifying remote work for employers or clients outside Greece, with its own conditions. The family and renewal rules should be compared too, not only the income figures.

Compare FIP and digital nomad planning.

Plan travel and tax separately

A valid Greek residence permit or long-stay visa generally permits short visits to other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, subject to the applicable entry conditions. It does not give a general right to live or work in another EU country. Do not treat an application receipt as interchangeable with a residence card: departure, transit and re-entry need a document-specific check. European Commission: travel to another EU country with a residence permit.

Immigration permission, an AFM tax number and tax residence are separate questions. Greek tax residence can depend on a permanent or principal home, habitual abode or centre of vital interests, as well as the statutory presence test. Do not rely on a simple "less than 183 days per calendar year" rule. Check the relevant period, exceptions and any treaty with a tax adviser before moving. AADE: tax residence of natural persons.

Start with a clear brief

Tell us your nationality, country of residence, intended move date, family members and the nature of your resources. Include any imminent deadline. Do not send passports, bank details or full case records through the initial form.

The discovery call is an initial discussion, not a grant of a visa or a complete legal assessment. The firm confirms the scope and fee for subsequent work. Processing times depend on the authority and file; no approval or completion date is guaranteed.