The main difference is whether you want flexible Greek residence or intend to make Greece your main home. The Golden Visa can be maintained without a minimum annual stay, while the Financially Independent Person (FIP) route is intended for people actually residing in Greece.

For property-based Golden Visa applications, the standard minimum is €800,000 in Attica, the Thessaloniki Regional Unit, Mykonos, Santorini and islands with a population above 3,100. Elsewhere, the threshold is generally €400,000. In those tiers, the investment must normally concern one property of at least 120 sq m.

The two routes side by side

Feature	Golden Visa	FIP route
Main requirement	Qualifying investment, including property from €400,000 or €800,000 depending on location	Sufficient resources, normally at least €3,500 per month
Minimum stay	None for maintaining the permit	Applicants should live in Greece for more than half the year
Permit length	Five years, renewable	Three years, renewable
Family	Spouse/partner, eligible children and qualifying parents	Spouse/partner and dependent children
Work	No ordinary employment rights	No employment in Greece
Tax residence	Not created simply by holding the permit	More than 183 days generally creates Greek tax residence

Compare the Greece golden visa requirements with the features of the FIP visa before choosing.

Where the Golden Visa makes sense

The Golden Visa suits investors who want a Greek base without relocating full-time. The €250,000 tier still exists for specific categories, including qualifying conversions from non-residential to residential use and certain listed buildings. It is not a general €250,000 property route.

The Greece golden visa cost guide explains additional costs, while the Greece golden visa renewals guide covers continuing ownership requirements.

Golden Visa properties acquired under the current rules cannot be used for short-term rentals. Review renting out your Greek golden visa property before purchase. Eligibility also depends on location and legal classification, making property search in Greece important before committing.

Where the FIP route makes sense

The FIP route does not require a property investment. The sufficient-resources threshold is €3,500 per month for the main applicant, increased by 20% for a spouse or partner and 15% for each child. The permit is issued for three years and can be renewed while the requirements continue to be met.

The route is aimed at people supported by pensions, investments, rents or other lawful resources rather than employment in Greece. Savings can support an application, but €126,000 should not be treated as an automatic statutory substitute without confirming the evidential requirements.

Greek tax rules generally treat someone present for more than 183 days in a twelve-month period as tax resident. Eligible foreign pensioners who transfer tax residence may apply for Greece’s 7% regime on foreign-source income for up to 15 tax years. See Greek tax residency and the golden visa and buying Greek property as a UK resident.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Golden Visa require me to live in Greece?

No. There is no minimum annual stay to maintain the investor permit, provided the qualifying investment and other conditions continue to be met.

Can the FIP route include parents?

Not in the same way as the Golden Visa. The FIP family route generally covers a spouse or partner and dependent children, whereas the investor route can also cover qualifying ascendants.

Do either routes automatically lead to citizenship?

No. Greek citizenship is separate from residence. Naturalisation generally requires actual residence and other statutory conditions, so holding a Golden Visa without living in Greece does not itself create a seven-year citizenship path.

If neither route fits

Alternatives include the Italy investor visa, the Hungary golden visa and, for those seeking citizenship rather than European residence, St Lucia citizenship by investment. Our residence and investment options in Greece page sets out the wider Greek framework, while Enterprise Greece publishes official investment information.

Talk to our residency by investment solicitors before committing capital or changing tax residence.