Moving to Greece from the US: A Complete guide for expats

With around 30,000 US expats now living in Greece, many choose it for its history, climate, and lifestyle. Thousands more live in the United States yet trace Greek ancestry – about 3 million by some counts – bringing a lasting emotional bond. This guide walks you through moving to Greece – from immigration pathways and residence permits, to managing taxes, securing family members’ status, and more.

This article is brought to you by Taxes for Expats – an award-winning team that supports Americans abroad in meeting US filing obligations. Understanding the cost of living in Greece can influence how much disposable income you report to the IRS. As your path unfolds, our team is ready to assist you with treaty claims, FBAR, and other tax planning needs.

American visa rules for moving to Greece

Before you think about taxes or insurance, start by understanding which visa you need. Most US travelers can visit without a visa for short stays, but moving is different and requires formal steps. If you plan to move to Greece, the process depends on your intended length of stay and your route to long-term status.

1. Short visits for tourism or business: US citizens may enter visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180 days under Schengen rules. ETIAS is not yet required and is scheduled to start in the last quarter of 2026. Always verify current visa requirements with the Greek Embassy or Consulate before departure.
2. Longer stays and the route to legal residence: Moving for work, study, family, remote work, or investment requires a National D visa from a Greek consulate, followed by an in-country application for a residence permit. Digital nomad applicants typically show at least €3,500 in monthly income under Law 4825/2021.
3. From long-term stay to permanent status and citizenship: After five years of continuous lawful residence, many third-country nationals can qualify for EU long-term resident status. Naturalization is generally possible after seven years of legal residence, subject to statutory checks. Investor residents should note that the Greece golden visa now uses tiered real-estate thresholds of €800,000 in specified high-demand areas and €400,000 elsewhere, with limited €250,000 cases under Law 5100/2024. These tracks sit within Greece’s immigration framework under national and EU law.

Prep your move; you have gotten your Greek visa, what's next?

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US citizens' residency options in Greece

Once you know which visa fits your purpose, it’s time to choose the residence route. American applicants are treated as third-country nationals under Greek immigration rules and must follow the national D visa plus residence process. Short visits are visa-free for 90 days, but to move to Greece, you choose a long-stay route and apply for a residence card after arrival.

Greece golden visa program

The Greece golden visa grants a five-year residence card to qualifying investors and their families with no minimum stay. Current law sets tiered real-estate minimums of up to €800,000 in designated high-demand areas, €400,000 in others, and specific €250,000 cases for defined conversions.

• Eligibility: Third-country investors, clean record, qualifying property, private health insurance; family members included.
• Investment: €800,000 in prime zones; €400,000 elsewhere; €250,000 only for narrowly defined projects under the law. Verify the zone before purchase.
• Fees: €2,000 state application fee for the main investor, €150 per family member, plus €16 card printing via e-Paravolo.
• Documents: Passport with D visa, proof of investment, insurance, biometrics, photos, and payment receipts.

Financially independent person visa

This option suits retirees or asset-based applicants who will not work in Greece. A D visa is required first, then a three-year residence permit in Greece, renewable if eligibility continues. As of the current ministerial decision, sufficient resources must be at least €3,500 per month, increased by 20 percent for a spouse and 15 percent per child; private health insurance and a clean record are required. Choose this if you plan to relocate to Greece on passive income.

Work and student visas

These cover employer-sponsored jobs, the EU Blue Card for highly qualified roles, and study at recognized institutions. After a D visa from a Greek consulate in the US, you apply in-country for your residence card.

• Work: Standard permits require a Greek employer; the EU Blue Card carries higher qualification and salary thresholds. Government fees include €150 for the Blue Card plus €16 for the residence card.
• Student: Proof of admission, funds, insurance, and a clean record are core visa requirements; a residence card is issued after arrival with a €16 card fee via e-Paravolo.

Digital nomad visa

This digital nomad route is for remote employees, contractors, or business owners with income from outside Greece. The consulate issues a D visa for up to 12 months; after entry, you apply in Greece for a residence permit that can be granted for two years and renewed if conditions continue. Applicants must show at least €3,500 net monthly income, valid private health insurance, proof of remote work, accommodation, and a clean criminal record. Local employment in Greece is not permitted under this status.

NOTE! All routes require biometrics and payment of the €16 card printing fee at issuance; always keep payment codes and receipts.

Cost of living in Greece vs the United States

With your residence path mapped out, the next question is practical: what will life in Greece actually cost compared with home in the US? Every move to Greece should start with a clear cost-of-living budget; hence, we used Numbeo item prices so you can plug figures straight into your daily life without the rigmaroles.

Smart money habits tie directly to the table above: fix housing at or below the Greek line for your city, and lock in cheaper Greek internet while watching utilities seasonality. If you are a US citizen, keep a small Euro buffer for rent and bills and a separate Dollar reserve for US travel to smooth exchange swings.

Taxes in Greece for a US citizen

If you notice, everything we have covered in this guide also shapes your tax life – because where your income comes from, and how you manage it, determines what you owe in both countries, and that’s why we will show you how your move to Greece from the US affects both tax systems, starting with the residency rules that drive where income is taxed.

You are generally a Greek tax resident after 183 days in any 12-month period, and residents are taxed on worldwide income. Holding a residence permit does not by itself make you a tax resident; nonresidents are taxed only on Greek source income, and Greek returns are filed online through myAADE, with 2024 returns due by July 21, 2025, as an example.

What are US tax obligations abroad?

Even if you become a Greek tax resident, your American obligations don’t disappear – the IRS still expects a yearly return, and these are the rules that usually apply.

1. Filing dates and extensions. If you live abroad on April 15, you get an automatic 2-month filing extension to June 15, and you can request an additional extension to October 15 with Form 4868. Interest still accrues from April 15.
2. Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. For tax year 2025, you may exclude up to $130,000 of foreign earned income using Form 2555 if you meet the physical presence or bona fide residence test.
3. Foreign Tax Credit. You can claim a credit for Greek income taxes on your US return by filing Form 1116 when eligible.
4. FBAR. File FinCEN Form 114 if the total value of your foreign accounts exceeded 10,000 dollars at any time in the year.
5. FATCA Form 8938. If you live abroad, filing starts at more than 200,000 dollars of specified foreign assets at year's end for single filers, with higher thresholds for others.

Double taxation treaty between the United States and Greece

To keep your income from being taxed twice, Americans in Greece can rely on a long-standing income tax treaty signed in 1950 that remains listed by the IRS, and it allocates taxing rights and can reduce withholding on certain income types. To claim treaty benefits in Greece, local tax offices commonly ask for an IRS Form 6166 residency certificate with the treaty claim form.

The treaty does not replace US filing, and Social Security coverage is coordinated separately under the US-Greece totalization agreement. Americans moving to Greece from the US should use the treaty together with the FTC or the FEIE to keep the same income from being taxed twice.

Worldwide income? Learn how Greece and the US tax it.

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Healthcare system in Greece

With your visa and tax bases covered, the next key part of settling in is peace of mind, which, for many, can be derived from good healthcare coverage. In Greece, public healthcare is organized through EOPYY, which acts as the national purchaser of services and contracts both state and private providers. For a US expat settling in Greece, understanding insurance eligibility, required IDs, and how to enter the system is one of the first steps to ensuring peace of mind.

EOPYY functions as the main gateway to the public system, with care accessed once an AMKA number is issued and contributions are made through e-EFKA or as a dependent. People planning to move to Greece on a long-stay visa must show proof of private health insurance, and Schengen rules require at least €30,000 of coverage for medical care, hospitalization, and repatriation. This overlap of public and private access means expats can rely on the state network while still maintaining supplemental protection.

Quality of care is generally strong in large cities, though the State Department notes that emergency response is more limited in rural regions, making evacuation coverage a smart safeguard. Dialing 112 ensures immediate contact with emergency services, but the US government does not cover medical costs abroad or provide insurance. For those who move to Greece from the US, budgeting for private insurance at the start is essential until eligibility for EOPYY benefits is established through employment or other contributions.

Popular Greek cities where expats relocate to

Once you’ve figured out your residency, living costs, and healthcare access, you can focus on where you’ll actually live – and Greece offers distinct choices from big-city culture to island calm.

Athens: welcome to urban life

Home to about 643,000 residents within the municipality, Athens centers daily life around the Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Services for US citizens are concentrated at the US Embassy in central Athens, a major plus for paperwork and emergencies. Numbeo’s 2025 Crime Index places Athens in the moderate range at roughly 55, reflecting big-city realities paired with lively, walkable neighborhoods. Choose Athens if you want a capital-city pace and culture density comparable to New York State’s busiest corridors.

Thessaloniki: blend of cultural values & affordability

Greece’s second city counts roughly 319,000 residents in the municipality and blends a café-rich waterfront with thick layers of history. For moving to Greece on a budget without sacrificing culture, this is a standout.

• Landmark: the White Tower anchors the skyline and city story.
• Openness: US Consulate services are here, and the upgraded SKG airport improves connectivity.
• Safety: 2025 Crime Index sits in the low-to-mid-50s, a moderate level for a large urban hub.
• Think of Massachusetts energy with universities and a compact harbor city feel? Come to Thessaloniki.

Rhodes / Santorini: where you enjoy your tourist life

Rhodes couples a medieval Old Town with resort beaches, while Santorini offers dramatic caldera views and wine country above the sea. Santorini’s municipality (Thira) holds about fifteen thousand residents, and Rhodes city sits in the mid-five-figure range, but both islands host far more people in season. Airports on each island make arrivals and departures straightforward, especially in high season.

• 2025 data shows low overall crime levels on Santorini and low readings in Rhodes comparisons.
• Rhodes’ UNESCO-listed medieval city walls and harborside allure; Santorini’s caldera and Akrotiri’s Bronze Age frescoes.
• Both islands rely heavily on tourism, with Fraport-managed airports and services geared toward international visitors.
• Fans of endless sun and a service-led economy may prefer these hubs, similar in feel to Florida’s resort coasts.

Considering a move to Greece with frequent summer visitors in mind? These islands make hosting easy and keep travel flexible.

Crete: an escape to a relaxed island lifestyle

Crete, Greece’s largest island, has about 624,000 residents and daily life stretches from vineyards to mountain villages to long beaches. The Minoan Palace of Knossos near Heraklion anchors the island’s ancient identity and remains one of the country’s signature archaeological sites. Heraklion and Chania airports keep travel simple – both offer year-round links to Athens and seasonal international routes, which help an American expat settle without logistics friction.

Heraklion, the island’s main city, shows very low crime in 2025, with scores around the high-teens, reinforcing the easygoing pace many newcomers seek. Crete feels closest to Hawaii for the US audience – warm climate, strong local food culture, and genuine small-city hospitality.

Smaller towns for a quieter life

Prefer a slower cadence and quick access to nature and regional hospitals? Look at well-connected provincial centers and historic towns within a few hours of Athens.

• Nafplio for a Venetian old town, with coastal walks, and easy bus links to Athens.
• Kalamata for a mid-sized seaside base and Peloponnese day trips.
• Rethymno or Chania’s outskirts for old-harbor charm with more year-round services.
• Syros or Chios towns for compact island living with ferries and an airport.

Advantages of moving to Greece for US expats

Greece offers a rewarding blend of daily comfort and continental mobility. The benefits frame the quality of life and travel reach, so wherever you choose to live, the same underlying draw remains. For those who move to Greece, the Mediterranean lifestyle pairs with a warm climate, with Athens averaging about 2,773 sunshine hours each year.

Vibrant culture and cuisine meet a cost profile that Eurostat shows to be roughly 17 percent below the EU average for overall consumer prices. Beyond daily life, moving to Greece places you inside the Schengen Area of 29 countries, with short stay travel allowed for up to 90 days in any 180 days across member states.

Key challenges to sort out before relocating to Greece

Moving to Greece is exciting, but before the dream becomes a reality, it’s worth preparing for the practical realities that occur at a different pace. Which is why we highlighted the most common struggles that often define the early months.

• Administrative procedures and documentation: Before you move to Greece, budget for residence costs such as a government fee of 2,000 euros per main applicant and 16 euros for the biometric card, expect biometrics appointments to be scheduled in many areas about 2 to 4 months after submission, and set up an AFM and myAADE access for taxes.
• Communication hurdles and official terminology: English is widely spoken in cities, with Greece ranked 8th globally for proficiency, yet tax and residency processes still rely on technical terms and forms such as E1, E2, and E3 on AADE portals.
• Labor market constraints and volatility: The unemployment rate was 8.0 percent in July 2025, and youth unemployment was about 18.9 percent, while nationwide strikes over labor rules can disrupt transport and public services.
• Adapting to a gentler daily tempo: Quiet hours are legally observed, typically 15:00 to 17:30 and 23:00 to 07:00 in summer and 15:30 to 17:30 and 22:00 to 07:30 in winter, so plan renovations, music, and gatherings accordingly.

And while you adapt to that new rhythm, your finances need to stay just as steady. That’s where expert cross-border tax support can save both stress and money.

Get professional tax help for your move to Greece

Moving to Greece involves more than securing a residence permit – staying compliant with both the IRS and Greek tax authorities is just as crucial. From reporting worldwide income to handling foreign tax credits, even small errors can create costly setbacks.

Our team makes sure every filing requirement is met accurately while you enjoy the cultural and lifestyle benefits of your new home. At Taxes for Expats, our specialists guide you through compliance so you can focus on living well in Greece.

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