Family reunification visa in Greece: Requirements for Americans

If you're an American living in Greece or planning to move there, you might want your family to join you. Similarly, if you're already settled in Greece and have American relatives, the family reunification visa gives you a path to bring them over legally.

But how exactly does it work?

Here's everything you need to know to successfully reunite your family.

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Understanding family reunification visa in Greece: what is it and why is it useful?

The family reunification visa lets certain family members of people living in Greece join them in the country. It's a Type D national visa that allows your spouse, children, and sometimes other dependent relatives to enter Greece and stay there long-term.

Both Greek citizens and legal residents can sponsor family members for reunification, but the process may look a little different depending on your status.

Greek citizens generally face fewer administrative hurdles. Residents (including those holding a Greek Golden Visa) sometimes need to meet additional requirements like proving adequate income, housing, and health insurance coverage for their family members.

Once approved, your family members receive a residence permit that typically matches the validity period of your own permit. This means they can live, and in many cases work or study, in Greece.

What are the most common reasons people apply for a family reunification visa in Greece?

People go through the family reunification procedure in Greece for a few different reasons. Here are the most common scenarios:

• Spouse or partner reunification: You're living in Greece and want your husband, wife, or legally recognized partner to join you
• Bringing minor children: Parents who have settled in Greece bring their children to live with them full-time
• Golden Visa holders: Investors who obtained a Greek Golden Visa can petition for their immediate family members to join them
• Dependent adult children or elderly parents: In certain cases, adult children who rely financially on their parents in Greece, or aging parents who depend on their child, may qualify for reunification
• Asylum seekers or refugees: People granted protection status in Greece can apply to bring immediate family members who remain in their home country or elsewhere

Even though all of these situations are different, the core principle is that you need to prove the family relationship and demonstrate that the sponsor can support the arriving family member.

Family reunification visa requirements for Americans

To bring family members to Greece or join a relative already living there, you'll need to submit a formal application through the Greek consulate in the US. Here are the key requirements you'll need to meet:

Legal residence or citizenship in Greece

The sponsor (the person already in Greece) must either be a Greek citizen or hold a valid residence permit. If the sponsor is a resident, they must have lived legally in Greece for at least 2 years before applying for family reunification.¹

Eligible family members

Not all relatives qualify for family reunification. Greece recognizes the following family members as eligible:¹

• Spouse or legally recognized partner who is over 18 years old
• Minor children (under 18) of the sponsor or their spouse, including adopted children, as long as the sponsor has legal custody

Sometimes, dependent adult children and elderly parents can request family reunification, too. However, you'll need to prove financial dependency, and the authorities will need to approve the petition.

Greece doesn't recognize polygamous marriages, so you can only sponsor one spouse.

Proof of accommodation

The sponsor must show that they have suitable housing in Greece with enough space for all family members. This typically means providing a rental agreement or proof of property ownership.

Sufficient income

The sponsor needs to demonstrate a stable and adequate income to support the family.

The minimum requirement is based on the annual income calculated from Greece's minimum wage, increased by 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child.²

For example, if you're sponsoring a spouse and one child, your income must be at least the minimum wage plus at least 35%.

Health insurance coverage

All arriving family members must have comprehensive health insurance that covers them in Greece until they can access the local healthcare system. The insurance must provide full medical care for everyone included in the application.

Clean criminal record

Family members applying from the US must provide a police clearance certificate showing no criminal history. You'll need to translate this document into Greek and get it apostilled.

Benefits of getting a family reunification visa in Greece

Getting approved for a family reunification visa gives you or your relatives a legal status in Greece and access to many of the same rights that residents enjoy there. This includes:

• Long-term residence: Family members receive a residence permit that usually matches the sponsor's permit validity
• Access to education: Minor children can enroll in Greek schools, and after completing high school in Greece, they can apply to Greek universities
• Work authorization: Most of the time, family members can work legally in Greece or provide services independently
• Freedom of movement: Family members can travel and settle anywhere in Greece
• Social security and healthcare: Access to Greece's social security system and public healthcare services becomes available in most cases
• Path to long-term residency: Eventually, family members may apply for long-term resident status on their own, independent of the sponsor

How to apply for a family reunification visa as an American: step-by-step guide

The process has two main stages: first at the Greek consulate in the US, and then in Greece after arrival. Here's how it works:

1. Gather and prepare your documents

Before you apply, collect all required documents proving your family relationship and the sponsor's ability to support you. You'll need:

• Marriage certificate or birth certificates (depending on your relationship to the sponsor)
• Proof of the sponsor's citizenship or legal residence in Greece
• Evidence of housing in Greece
• Proof of the sponsor's financial stability
• Health insurance documentation
• Police clearance certificate from the US

You'll need to get all of your documents translated into Greek and apostilled, which can take a fair amount of time. Make sure to start gathering your documents early!

2. Submit your application to the Greek consulate

File your family reunification visa application in person at the Greek consulate.

You'll need to complete the application form, provide all supporting documents, and usually attend an interview. The consulate will verify your family ties and may contact Greek authorities for approval.

3. Get your Type D visa and enter Greece

Once approved, the consulate issues a national Type D visa in your passport. This visa allows you to enter Greece and stay while you apply for your residence permit.

4. Apply for your residence permit in Greece

After arriving in Greece, you must apply for a residence permit before your Type D visa expires. Visit the regional immigration authority to submit your application.

5. Get your residence permit card

Once issued, your residency permit becomes your official form of ID in Greece. You'll use it to access healthcare, open bank accounts, and prove your legal status when necessary.

Costs for a family reunification visa in Greece

You'll pay fees and associated costs for each person who is getting the family reunification visa in Greece. In other words, the more people you're sponsoring, the higher the costs.

Here are the approximate expenses you can expect:

You should also budget for additional spending, like travel to the Greek consulate, especially if you live far away from it and need to take a multi-day trip.

Some families also decide to use legal or consulting services to help them with their family reunification application. This can be very convenient and help smooth out the process, but you'll have to cover professional fees that these firms charge.

FAQs

How long does it take to get a family reunification visa in Greece?

The full process usually takes 3 to 9 months.¹

The initial preparation stage can take quite a while, since you have to get all of your documents translated and apostilled. Once you submit your application to the Greek consulate, processing typically takes from 4 to 12 weeks.

After you enter Greece with your Type D visa, applying for and receiving your residence permit card can take a few more weeks or even months.

Can I bring my brother or sister to Greece?

Generally, no. The family reunification visa in Greece is limited to immediate family members. This means spouses, minor children, and, in some rare cases, dependent adult children or elderly parents.

If your brother or sister wants to move to Greece, they would need to apply for a different type of visa based on work, study, investment, or another qualifying reason.

Can digital nomads reunify their families in Greece?

Yes, if you hold a Greek digital nomad visa or residence permit and meet the standard family reunification requirements.

You'll need to prove you've lived legally in Greece for at least 2 years, have enough income to support your family members and suitable accommodation, as well as arrange health insurance for everyone.¹

But also, the digital nomad visa itself allows remote workers to bring immediate family members (spouse and children) as dependents without having to wait for the 2-year requirement.

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The family reunification visa in Greece is a solid option if you're settled in the country and want your spouse and dependent children to join you legally.

As long as you can prove your relationship and pass other basic requirements, such as having appropriate accommodations and enough income, getting approved is a pretty straightforward process.

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Sources

1. Astons - Moving to Greece from USA
2. European Commission - Family member in Greece

Sources checked 03/30/2026