Registration of residence permit in Greece

A residence permit in Greece is issued under the Migration Code (Law 5038/2023) for a specific ground: employment, management of a company, investment, financial independence, studies, family reunification. Ukrainians with temporary protection have a separate option: until 4 March 2027 they may apply for any residence permit under the Migration Code without an entry visa, through the portal portal.immigration.gov.gr.

Why it is better to hand this to a team. Online summaries of Greek rules are often based on the old Law 4251/2014: the amounts, deadlines and document lists in such articles are outdated. We check the requirements against the current lists of the Ministry of Migration and file the package in the form the portal accepts.

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How to obtain a residence permit in Greece: stages

Residence permit in Greece for Ukrainians with temporary protection

The Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum extended temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine by one year — from 4 March 2026 to 4 March 2027. Until that date, under Article 194 of Law 5078/2023, holders of a temporary protection card may apply for any residence permit under the Migration Code (Law 5038/2023) through portal.immigration.gov.gr without an entry visa. A copy of the temporary protection card is attached to the package.

The issue of a new residence permit means giving up temporary protection. Before filing, we compare the rights under both statuses: access to work, social benefits, the ability to leave and return.

Grounds for a residence permit in Greece

• Salaried employment and employment of highly qualified specialists under the EU Blue Card.
• Management of a company in Greece: members of the board of directors, shareholders, managers, legal representatives of companies operating in the country.
• Investment activity, including investments in securities or a bank deposit.
• Golden Visa — a residence permit for an investor in real estate.
• Financially independent persons, including pensioners with income from abroad.
• Studies, research, volunteering.
• Family reunification.

All these categories are listed in the "Residence Permit Categories" section on the website of the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum.

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Residence permit in Greece through real estate (Golden Visa)

The Golden Visa is issued as a residence permit for an investor. The minimum investment depends on where the property is located and what type of property it is, and the legislator has revised it. That is why, before the purchase, we check the current threshold for the specific address against the text of the law and the notary's requirements.

To renew the permit, the property must remain owned and held by the investor. If the property is sold, the ground for the residence permit disappears.

Residence permit in Crete and on the islands

A residence permit in Crete is obtained on the same grounds as in the rest of Greece. The regional difference arises in the Golden Visa: the investment threshold depends on the location of the property, so we check a purchase on an island separately.

Documents for a residence permit in Greece

• an application in the prescribed form;
• a valid passport, and for those entering from abroad, with a national visa;
• digital photographs meeting the passport standard;
• health insurance from a private insurance company that covers health risks;
• documents for the ground: contract, company documents, proof of income, real estate purchase agreement;
• payment of fees, including production of the residence permit card.

Related services

Sources: migration.gov.gr: Information for Displaced Persons from Ukraine — Extension of Temporary Protection Status and Residence Permits; migration.gov.gr: Residence Permit Categories for Third Country Citizens & Documents to be Submitted; migration.gov.gr: Golden Visa (documents for an investor residence permit).

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