Before you start

A nationality check: EU/EEA/Swiss = free movement (easy path); everyone else = visa + residence permit
A valid passport (6+ months validity beyond intended stay) and, for non-EU routes, a clean criminal-record certificate apostilled and officially translated into Greek
Proof of income or investment matching your route (e.g. ~€3,500/month net for Digital Nomad / FIP; the relevant property sum for Golden Visa)
Private health insurance valid in Greece (until you are enrolled in the public EFKA/AMKA system)
A Greek tax number (AFM) and social-security number (AMKA) — foundational for renting, banking, working and healthcare

Step-by-step

1
Confirm your route and (non-EU) apply for the entry visa abroad
EU/EEA/Swiss citizens skip this entirely — just travel and start the registration clock. Non-EU nationals apply at the Greek consulate / VFS in their country of residence for the matching national (type-D) entry visa: Digital Nomad, FIP, or work. The Golden Visa is investment-led and often handled in-country via a lawyer with power of attorney.
In personWho: You (non-EU); consulate / VFSConsulate appointment + ~10–30 working days to decide (varies widely by post)Digital Nomad visa ~€75 state fee + ~€150 admin; FIP similar; varies by route
2
Enter Greece and get your AFM (tax number) and AMKA (social security number)
Do this in week one — it gates everything. The AFM is issued by the local tax office (ΔΟΥ / AADE); the AMKA via a KEP citizen-service centre or EFKA once you have an employer or insurance. You cannot sign a lease, open a bank account, get a phone contract, start work, or access healthcare without them. Many newcomers use a tax representative (λογιστής) for the AFM if they have no Greek address yet.
In personWho: You (or an accountant / tax representative)AFM often same day; AMKA same day to a few daysFree if done yourself; €50–€150 if an accountant handles the AFM
3
Lodge the residence-permit application and collect the blue receipt
Non-EU nationals convert the entry visa into a residence permit at the Ministry of Migration & Asylum (Directorate for Aliens & Immigration in Attica). On submission with biometrics you receive the βεβαίωση κατάθεσης (“blue receipt”) — keep it; it legalises your stay and lets you travel while the physical card is produced. EU/EEA citizens instead apply for a registration certificate after 90 days at the same Aliens directorate / police.
In personWho: You (often with an immigration lawyer)Card typically issued in 2–6 months; blue receipt covers the gapDigital Nomad residence permit ~€1,000 + ~€150/family member; EU registration certificate is nominal/free
4
Receive the residence-permit card and set up renewals / dependents
Collect the biometric residence card; note its validity (Digital Nomad permit runs 2 years, FIP 3 years, Golden Visa 5 years). Add family members under the same route (Digital Nomad/FIP require +20% income for a spouse and +15% per child). Track the renewal window — you generally must apply before expiry, and minimum-stay rules apply to some routes (notably FIP).
In personWho: You / your lawyerSame-route renewals filed before expiry; processing weeks to monthsRenewal fees broadly mirror the original permit fee

Documents you’ll need

Valid passport with 6+ months validity (and copies of all pages)
Passport photos meeting Greek/Schengen biometric spec
Apostilled, Greek-translated criminal-record certificate from your home country (non-EU routes)
Proof of income / funds: 6–12 months bank statements, employment or client contracts (Digital Nomad), or pension/dividend/rental proof (FIP)
Private health-insurance policy valid in Greece
Greek AFM (tax number) and AMKA (social-security number)
Proof of Greek address / lease, or notarised property deed (Golden Visa)
Completed application forms + paid e-paravolo (state-fee receipt)

Things most newcomers don’t know

Get your AFM and AMKA in the first week — before flat-hunting, not after.

They are the master keys: no AFM/AMKA means no lease, no bank account, no postpaid SIM, no public healthcare, and you cannot even complete the residence-permit file. Newcomers who delay them stall every other step.

Source: Greek tax authority (AADE) / Ministry of Migration practice

The Golden Visa real-estate bar in Athens is now €800,000, not the old €250k.

Thresholds rose from 1 September 2024 to €800k in high-demand zones (all of Attica/Athens, Thessaloniki, popular islands) and €400k elsewhere; the €250k figure now only survives for commercial-to-residential conversions or restoration of listed buildings. Budgeting on stale €250k advice is the classic 2025 mistake.

Source: Enterprise Greece / Golden Visa rules (effective Sept 2024)

The Digital Nomad income test is ~€3,500/month *net* and must come from outside Greece.

It is post-tax, not gross, and rises +20% for a spouse and +15% per child — and your work must be for non-Greek employers or clients. Applicants routinely under-document by showing gross pay or local Greek income and get refused.

Source: Greek consular Digital Nomad Visa rules

Common mistakes to avoid

Treating the 90/180 Schengen tourist allowance as a way to 'live' in Greece — overstaying triggers fines and entry bans; the clock counts all Schengen days, not just Greek ones
Assuming the €250k Golden Visa still buys Athens property — it is €800k in Attica since Sept 2024 except for conversions/restorations
Letting the residence-card backlog panic you: the blue receipt (βεβαίωση κατάθεσης) keeps you legal and allows travel — don't let it lapse or leave without it
Bringing a criminal-record certificate that isn't apostilled and officially translated into Greek — it will be rejected and reset your file
Confusing the Digital Nomad and FIP routes: Digital Nomad allows active remote work; FIP forbids any employment and needs purely passive income