Greece visa options for Germany passport holders
Tourist / short stay
Visa-free
Enter without a visa, usually for a set number of days.
Visa types & longer-stay routes for Greece
Freedom of movement
No visa or residence permit needed
As a Germany (EU/EEA/Swiss) citizen you have full free-movement rights in Greece: you can live, work, study and retire there indefinitely — no visa, no residence permit. You only register with the local authorities after about three months. The visa routes below are for non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals; you don’t need them.
For reference, the routes Greece offers non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals:
- Tourist
Schengen Short Stay (Type C)
90 days in 180
- Insurance
- Required(Schengen travel insurance min 30,000 EUR / ~33,000 USD with repatriation)
- Good for
- Non-EU tourists and short-term visitors
- Requirement
- Valid passport, proof of funds, accommodation, return ticket
- Digital nomad
Digital Nomad Visa (Type D)
12 months, convertible to 2-year residence permit, renewable
- Insurance
- Required(Greek private cover for full duration; travel insurance not accepted)
- Good for
- Non-EU remote workers and freelancers earning from outside Greece
- Requirement
- Income min 3,500 EUR (~3,800 USD)/month net, remote-work proof, clean record. 50% tax break up to 7 years via AADE
- Residence
Financially Independent Persons (FIP) Visa
Type D entry up to 12 months, then 3-year residence permit, renewable
- Insurance
- Required(Greek long-term residency cover; travel insurance not accepted)
- Good for
- Retirees, passive-income earners, FIRE expats
- Requirement
- Passive income min 3,500 EUR (~3,800 USD)/month or savings 126,000 EUR (~137,000 USD), +20% spouse +15% per child; no work in Greece
- Residence
Golden Visa
5-year renewable, no minimum stay
- Insurance
- Required(private Greek cover)
- Good for
- Non-EU investors and families
- Requirement
- Real estate 800,000 EUR Athens/Thessaloniki/Mykonos/Santorini and islands 3,100+; 400,000 EUR elsewhere; 250,000 EUR for commercial-to-residential or heritage. 120 m2 min, no short-term rentals
- Residence
National Residence Permit (general)
1 to 3 years initially, renewable
- Insurance
- Required(private or public IKA/EFKA for full permit period)
- Good for
- Non-EU on work, study, family, etc.
- Requirement
- Category-specific (contract, university enrolment, family ties), Greek tax number
Visa rules change often and depend on your nationality. Last checked: 2026-06. Always confirm with the official immigration service or your nearest consulate before you apply.
Last verified June 2026
Visa-free isn’t insurance-free
Whatever route you take into Greece, your entry stamp never includes health cover. Many longer-stay visas also require proof of insurance before they’re granted. That part is on you — and it’s what we actually do.
Germany → Greece: frequently asked
- Do Germany passport holders need a visa to visit Greece?
- No. As a Germany (EU/EEA/Swiss) citizen you have freedom of movement in Greece and need no visa for any length of stay.
- Can a Germany passport holder live or work long-term in Greece?
- Yes — under EU/EEA/Swiss free movement you can live, work and study in Greece indefinitely with no visa or residence permit.
- Do I need travel insurance for Greece?
- Entry to Greece never includes health cover, so travel medical insurance is strongly recommended. Several Greece visas also require proof of insurance before they're granted.
Last updated
Visa rules can change at short notice and depend on your purpose of travel, length of stay and onward tickets. Always confirm with the destination’s embassy or the IATA Travel Centre before you book. Visa-free entry never includes travel health insurance. That’s still on you.