How do I choose the right visa or residence route for Greece?

The clearest way to choose is to start from your purpose and income. If you want EU residence through investment and do not need to work in Greece, the Golden Visa fits — it covers your family and has no minimum stay, but bars employment. If you live on stable passive income such as a foreign pension, dividends or rent, the Financially Independent Person (FIP) permit is the natural retirement-style route. If you earn active income working remotely for employers or clients outside Greece, the digital nomad permit is designed for you.

If you are coming to work in Greece, your profile points the way: highly qualified employees with a qualifying salary should look at the EU Blue Card, which is employer-driven and faster, while other roles use the standard employed-worker permit, which depends on the national admission quota. Entrepreneurs running an active business use the self-employed permit, intra-group transferees use the ICT permit, and students use the student permit — bearing in mind Greece has no post-study work route.

For longer-term plans, five years of actual continuous residence opens the EU long-term resident permit. Because thresholds and rules change — and the official Golden Visa page has sometimes lagged the law — confirm current details on migration.gov.gr and gov.gr. A short ACME consultation can help you settle on the route that best matches your purpose and income.