France Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur) vs Greece Financial Independence Visa (Type D)
A factual side-by-side comparison of two residency programmes. All figures are drawn from the canonical program pages — follow either link in the table header for sources and the full profile.
Key Differences at a Glance
- ›Faster to citizenship: France Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur) at ~5 years, vs 7 for Greece Financial Independence Visa (Type D).
- ›Lower income bar: France Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur) requires $1,640/mo; Greece Financial Independence Visa (Type D) requires $2,200/mo.
France Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur) France · passive income | Greece Financial Independence Visa (Type D) Greece · retirement | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | France | Greece |
| Category | Passive Income | Retirement |
| Application Fee | $99 | $165 |
| Minimum Income | $1,640 /mo | $2,200 /mo |
| Minimum Investment | — | — |
| Processing Time | 3 months | 3 months |
| Family Included | Accompanying family members must each apply for their own VLS-TS Visiteur permit and demonstrate sufficient resources | An additional 20% of the base income requirement applies per dependent spouse or child |
| Path to PR | Yes — 5 years | Yes — 5 years |
| Path to Citizenship | Yes — 5 years | Yes — 7 years |
| Physical Presence | Holder must reside primarily in France; the visa is a long-stay visa (visa long séjour valant titre de séjour) valid for 1 year, renewable annually. Must validate the visa within 3 months of arrival via ANEF portal. | Must reside primarily in Greece; the permit is initially issued for 2 years and renewable in 3-year increments. Must not be absent from Greece for more than 6 consecutive months, or 10 months cumulatively, in any permit period. |
| Dual Citizenship | Allowed | Allowed |
| Tax Impact | Holders residing in France become French tax residents subject to income tax on worldwide income. Work of any kind — including remote work for foreign employers — is strictly prohibited under this visa category. | Retirees who transfer their tax residency to Greece may benefit from Greece's flat 7% tax rate on all foreign-sourced pension income for up to 15 years, available to those who were not Greek tax residents in 5 of the preceding 6 years. No work is permitted on this visa. |
| Tax Residency Trigger | 183 days/yr | 183 days/yr |
| Worldwide Taxation | Yes | Yes |
| Renewal Cost | $245 | $165 |
About France Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur)
France's Long-Stay Visitor visa (VLS-TS Visiteur) is a one-year, annually renewable permit for financially independent people, often retirees, who want to live in France without working. Applicants demonstrate stable passive income of roughly EUR 1,500/month (~USD 1,640) from pensions, investments or rent (assessed case-by-case by consular officers, not a fixed statutory figure; couples show proportionally more), plus health insurance and accommodation. Crucially, no professional activity of any kind is permitted, including remote work for foreign clients, a grey zone occasionally enforced against digital nomads. The visa doubles as a residence permit and must be validated within 3 months of arrival via the ANEF portal; holders must reside primarily in France and become French tax residents on worldwide income (typically after 183 days). Each accompanying family member files their own permit. First-year costs run about USD 5,500-12,000. After 5 years of continuous residence, holders can pursue a long-term card and, with B1 French and a civics test, citizenship; dual nationality is allowed.
Full France Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur) profile →About Greece Financial Independence Visa (Type D)
Greece's Financial Independence Visa (Type D) is a retirement/passive-income residence permit for non-EU nationals who can support themselves without working in Greece. It requires proof of at least EUR 2,000/month (~USD 2,200) in passive income (pensions, dividends, rent, or investments) from sources outside Greece, plus 20% more per dependent family member, private health insurance, and Greek accommodation. Work and business activity are strictly prohibited. Costs are low (~USD 165 fee; USD 5,000-9,000 first year) and processing is efficient at about 3 months. The permit is issued for 2 years then renewed in 3-year blocks; holders must reside primarily in Greece (no absence over 6 consecutive or 10 cumulative months) and, as tax residents, may elect the 7% flat regime on foreign-source income for 15 years if not Greek-resident in 5 of the prior 6 years. Permanent residency is available after 5 years' legal residence; citizenship after 7 years, requiring B1 Greek and a civic test. Dual nationality is permitted.
Full Greece Financial Independence Visa (Type D) profile →Gotchas to Watch For
France Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur)
- ⚠Explicitly prohibits professional activity — remote-work-for-foreign-clients grey zone occasionally enforced against "digital nomads"
- ⚠Must pay French income tax on worldwide income once tax-resident (usually after 183 days)
- ⚠Does NOT qualify for PUMA healthcare until 3 months of stable residence
Greece Financial Independence Visa (Type D)
- ⚠Greek citizenship requires 7 years residence + B1 Greek + civic test — significant barrier vs Portugal A2 requirement
- ⚠Pensioner tax regime only applies to foreign pension income
- ⚠Schengen 90/180 rule does not apply to Greek residents — Greek permit grants full residency rights
Neutral reference — we don't recommend one programme over another. Programmes change: always verify each detail against the official source linked on the individual program pages.