Moving from United States to Greece
Moving from United States to Greece: United States passport holders get visa-free (90 days) for short stays and need a residence permit to settle. Greece is about 50% cheaper than United States, around $1,500/month for one person. Citizenship takes about 7 years of residence.
Last updated August 2026 · How we calculate this
Visa & entry
Visa-free (90 days) for short visits. To settle you'll need a residence route:
- Financially Independent Person (FIP) visa — Prove ~€3,500/month of stable passive income.
- Golden Visa — Buy property (from €250k–€800k depending on area) for residence.
Digital-nomad visa: available, from $4,050/mo income. Digital-nomad visa needs ~€3,500/mo income; 50% tax break for new movers.
See all visa routes →Documents & apostille
Single apostille each end. Both countries are in the Hague Apostille Convention — one apostille from United States makes your documents valid in Greece.
Where in United States: Secretary of State of the issuing state (state-level documents) plus the US Department of State, Office of Authentications, for federal documents — official source
↳ Greece: Competent authority differs by document type; e-Apostille for gov.gr documents via e-apostille.gov.gr
Check each document →Cost, tax & salary
Greece is 50% cheaper than United States — around $1,500/mo vs $3,000/mo for one person.
Citizenship & residency
Mandatory written exam (Greek language + history/geography/culture/politics); 7 yrs legal residence for naturalisation.
Your path to a passport →Arrival checklist
- Register your address: None (no Anmeldung-style registry; address proven via lease/E9 for AMKA & permit)
- Get a tax number: AFM (Arithmos Forologikou Mitroou / ΑΦΜ), issued by DOY tax office
- Residence permit: Adeia diamonis (Άδεια διαμονής) for non-EU; EU get Vevaiosi engrafis (registration certificate)
- Healthcare: AMKA social-security number → EFKA public health system
AFM comes first (obtainable even before arrival via tax rep, no permit needed). Non-EU need a residence permit before AMKA; AMKA + bank account both require the AFM.
Your move, step by step →Driving
All EU/EEA exchange directly with no test. Reciprocal non-EU list: Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa, South Korea, USA, UK. Origins not on the list must take the full Greek driving test.
Non-reciprocal origins get NO exchange credit — full theory+practical retest. EU exchange fee ~30 euro; residence proof (185 days, or 95 for EU/EEA nationals) required.
Exchange your licence →Pets
- Microchip: Required; ISO 11784/11785 (or bring your own reader)
- Rabies: Required; chip first, then vaccinate, then wait 21+ days before entry
- Quarantine: None if fully compliant
Greece — quick facts
Start your move from United States to Greece
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