Once moving to Crete became a real goal, we had to figure out absolutely everything. A VISA for me (Jeff is a citizen because of his mother) and how to budget what it would cost us to live on Crete were the first things to consider.

Luckily, Jeff’s sister had gotten her husband a VISA the previous year so we had a lawyer that we know could help. It’s a lot of paperwork and back and forth and I won’t bore you with the details as I know not everyone has this ability. But for those who dream of moving to Greece, there are ways to make it happen without marrying a Greek Citizen. Greece currently has 3 options that I think are relevant: The Digital Nomad Visa, the Financially Independant VISA, and the Golden VISA. I highly recommend using a lawyer to assist in these processes, more information can be found at Greek Visas and Residency Permits for U.S. Citizens – U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Greece (usembassy.gov)

The Digital Nomad VISA– Greece launched its Digital Nomad Visa in 2021 and has since been welcoming digital nomads and their family members to relocate and work remotely there. The validity period of the visa is 12 months and can be renewed into a Digital Nomad Residence Permit. Any non-EU foreign citizen can apply for a Digital Nomad Visa in Greece, provided they meet a minimum net income requirement of €3,500 per month. Applicants must submit proof of employment, confirming that they work for a non-Greek company.

The Financially Independent VISA (FIP)– The Financially Independent Person Visa in Greece is a renewable residence visa specifically designed to attract non-EU nationals who are financially independent and can demonstrate sufficient funds to cover their living expenses in Greece. To qualify for the FIP, applicants must satisfy the condition for sufficient income which is set at €2,000 per month for the main applicant. This is increased by 20% for the spouse and 15% for each child.

The Golden VISA– The Greek Residency Golden Visa Program, introduced in 2013, offers permanent residency permits in Greece to individuals from non-EU countries and their family members, with a validity of 5 years that can be renewed indefinitely by maintaining ownership of the designated property. As of 2024 Greece had already doubled the amount needed in popular areas like Athens to access the so-called ‘Golden Visa’ program that gives residency rights, raising the sum to €500,000 in August. In the rest of the country, the threshold will now increase to €400,000 from €250,000. Even though the minimum investment for real estate has recently increased in some areas, Greece’s Golden Visa still requires a lower financial investment compared to many other countries. Additional benefits of Greece’s Golden Visa include: The right to live and work in Greece for five years.

So, as you can see, there are options if you work remote or are ready to retire and think Greece is the place for you. Another tool we used to see calculate monthly expense expectations is a Cost of Living Calculator – Cost of Living Comparison. You can put in your current city and the city you want to move too. It does a side-by-side comparison of rent, food, gas and just about everything you want to consider down to the cost of jeans and dry cleaning.

Hope some of this helps- or send it to a friend who is considering a move. Next entry, I will describe the crazy 10-day adventure planned in order to get a sweet and senior dog over to Crete without putting her in cargo. Planes, Trains and Automobiles has nothing on us:) Who needs a drink?