Moving to Greece with your family: a guide for Israelis (2026)
Which visa fits you, how much income you need, how healthcare and schools work, and what it costs to live in Athens compared with Tel Aviv.
- As a tourist you can stay up to 90 days in any 180. To live in Greece you need a residence permit.
- Common routes for Israelis: the Financially Independent Person or Digital Nomad visa (€3,500 a month per person), or the Golden Visa.
- Rent in Athens is about 66% cheaper than in Tel Aviv, and other prices about 44% lower.
Before deciding, check which visa route fits your situation (remote work, retirement, investment), and plan housing and school in advance. Most processes start at the Greek consulate in Israel.
The basics: 90 days without a visa
As Israelis you can be in Greece up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. To live in Greece long-term you need a residence permit.
Which visa fits you?
| Route | Suits | Main condition | Work in Greece |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financially Independent Person (FIP) | Retirees, passive income | Income of €3,500 a month per person | Not allowed |
| Digital Nomad visa | Remote workers for companies or clients outside Greece | Net income of €3,500 a month | Not for a Greek employer |
| Golden Visa | Investors | Buying property (€400,000–800,000) | No right to work |
| Work permit | Those with a job offer in Greece | A Greek employer | Allowed |
Family members: for the first two visas the income required rises by about 20% for a spouse and about 15% per child. Every route requires private health insurance and a place to live.
Digital Nomad visa: first a one-year visa, then a renewable two-year residence permit. Those who move their centre of life to Greece can get a 50% income-tax reduction for up to 7 years.
ΑΜΚΑ, healthcare and insurance
- ΑΜΚΑ is the Greek social security number. You get it once you have a residence permit, with passport, tax number (ΑΦΜ) and proof of address, at a ΚΕΠ or ΕΦΚΑ office.
- ΑΜΚΑ alone does not give health coverage. For public healthcare you need to be insured (for example through work).
- Every visa application requires private health insurance, and it is wise to keep it until public cover is in place.
Schools
- Public school: free, in Greek.
- International schools in Athens include ACS Athens (American programme and IB, in Halandri), Campion School, St Catherine's British School, Byron College and St Lawrence College (near Glyfada).
- International school fees in 2026: about €7,000–13,000 for pre-school, €10,500–18,000 primary, €12,500–20,500 middle school, and €15,000–24,500 for high school and IB, per year.
What does it cost to live in Athens?
| Monthly cost | Athens | Tel Aviv |
|---|---|---|
| 3-bedroom flat, city centre | about €1,170 | about €3,200 |
| Utilities (85 m²) | about €190 | about €394 |
| Monthly transport pass | €27 | about €90 |
Full comparison · Property prices by area.
Where to live?
Many Israeli families choose the northern suburbs (Halandri, Marousi, Kifisia, Psychiko) for the international schools, or the southern seaside suburbs (Glyfada, Alimos, Palaio Faliro). The city centre is cheaper but less suited to young children.
Checklist
- Choose a visa route and prepare documents (proof of income, insurance, housing).
- Tax number (ΑΦΜ) and bank account. Guide.
- Rent a flat long-term.
- File the visa application at the consulate.
- After arrival: residence permit, ΑΜΚΑ, school registration.
This is general information, not legal advice. Conditions change; check with the Greek consulate before applying.
Want personal guidance?
S.F. Properties helps Israelis buy, rent out and manage property in Greece: from the search, through the lawyer and notary, to the keys and day-to-day management.
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