According to article 20 of Law 4251/2014 (Immigration Code), non- European Union citizens who prove that they have the necessary International income in order to be qualified as financially independent, may apply for a 2-year residence permit in Greece.
The residence Permit for Financial Independent Individuals:
- Allows the beneficiary to reside legally in Greece,
- Travel within the Schengen area, for periods not exceeding 3 months per 6-month periods.
- Is valid for 2 years, and which may be renewed (provided that the requirements are still met at the time of renewal).
- The financially independent person benefitting from this residence permit, may be accompanied by his family, which are: the spouse and the children under the age of 18 years old
- The family members may apply for a residence permit as dependents of the financially independent person, provided that the financial criteria are met.
- There is no minimum amount of time that the holder of a residence permit for financially independent persons is required to stay in Greece per year, and long absences from Greece do not obstruct the renewal of such residence permit.
- He is not allowed to exercise any professional or business activity in Greece, either as an employee or an independent professional.