Your Guide to the Flat Tax
7 Percent Flat Tax Scheme for Retirees
Your Guide to the Flat Tax
The 7 Percent Flat Tax Regime for Pensioners is one of the most attractive options for European retirees who wish to relocate their tax residence to sunny Greece. Since 2020, the Greek state has offered foreign pensioners the opportunity to tax their worldwide income at a flat rate of just 7% for 15 years. This applies to pensions, but often also to dividends or foreign rental income. To receive your pension locally you will also need a Greek bank account. Read how the scheme works in our article Only 7% tax for German pensioners in Greece.
For an overview of all steps – from planning to everyday life in Greece – read the guide Moving to Greece.
A Greek tax number (AFM) is required for the flat tax scheme.
7% Flat Tax Regime – Requirements
The 7% regime at a glance
If you receive a foreign pension and move your tax residence to Greece, you can pay a flat 7% tax on all your foreign income for 15 years. The legal basis is Article 5B of the Greek Income Tax Code. New deadlines have applied since September 2026 (AADE decision Α.1192/2026). This page reflects the situation as of October 2026.
Who can use the 7% regime
- You receive a pension from abroad, for example from the German state pension insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung).
- You were not tax resident in Greece in 5 of the 6 years before your move.
- You move from a country that cooperates with Greece on tax matters. Germany meets this condition.
- You actually move the centre of your life to Greece. A move on paper only is not enough.
Which income is covered – and which is not
The 7% applies to all your foreign income, not only your pension. Tax paid abroad is credited up to the amount of the Greek tax. Income from Greece, for example from renting out a flat in Greece, is taxed normally.
Important for former civil servants: under the double taxation agreement, German civil-service pensions (Beamtenpensionen) remain taxable in Germany. They are therefore not covered by the 7% in Greece. Inheritance and gift tax are not affected by the regime either.
New deadlines since September 2026
- Apply by 31 October of the year for which the regime is to apply. Previously the deadline was 31 March.
- Move by 2 July: you can apply for the year of your move.
- Move after 2 July: the regime applies from the following year at the earliest.
- Submit missing documents by 30 November.
- Payment of the 7% in one sum by the last working day of December. Previously it was July. If you do not pay in full, you lose the regime from that year.
- Decision by the authority usually within 60 days.
Documents you need
- Proof of pension from your pension provider, for example the Deutsche Rentenversicherung.
- Certificate of tax residence from your previous tax office for the years before the move. Alternatively, tax assessments or a certificate of residence.
- A Greek tax number.
- Foreign documents with apostille and Greek translation.
Where to apply
The application is made through myAADE, the online portal of the Greek tax authority. The responsible office is the Centre for Taxpayers with Special Status (ΚΕ.ΦΟ.Δ.Ε.): in Athens for Attica, in Thessaloniki for the rest of Greece. You can also apply by post or in person by appointment.
Is the 7% regime worth it for everyone?
Not always. The 7% is due from the first euro. With a small pension, the tax without the special regime can be lower. If you have other income besides your pension, you often benefit more. Calculate your case before applying. You can withdraw from the regime, but you cannot rejoin it later.
Health insurance with form S1
If you only receive a German pension, you usually stay insured through your German health insurer. With form S1 from your insurer, you register in Greece and use the public health system. For this you need an active AMKA.
Common mistakes
- Planning with the old 31 March deadline or the old July payment.
- Missing the December payment.
- Assuming that only the pension is covered.
- Assuming that a civil-service pension is settled with the 7%.
- Submitting documents without apostille or translation.
How we support you
We explain the requirements, review the necessary documents with you and prepare the process so that you meet all deadlines. For individual tax questions we work with German-speaking tax advisers.
Frequently asked questions about the 7% regime
For the 7% rule, you need basic supporting documents, such as your foreign pension statement and proof of residence. To make it as easy as possible for you: As soon as we start working together, we will immediately send you an exact, easy-to-understand checklist of all required documents from your home country. We will then go through them together with you and check them for completeness, so nothing is missing.
No, you do not need to be in Greece constantly for this. We prepare everything together with you, explain every step, and guide you through the entire process—even remotely, via telephone, email, and video call. We will discuss what is required in person clearly and in good time beforehand, so there are no surprises.
Since September 2026 a new deadline applies: the application must be submitted by 31 October of the year for which the regime is to apply (AADE decision Α.1192/2026). If you move your tax residence to Greece by 2 July, you can apply for the year of your move. If you move after 2 July, the regime can apply from the following year at the earliest. Missing documents can be submitted until 30 November. Since gathering the documents (such as the certificate of residence and pension proofs) takes time, we recommend starting early.
Once the scheme has been confirmed by the competent Greek tax office for foreigners, the 7% tax rate is valid for a total of 15 consecutive years. This long-term planning security makes Greece one of the most attractive retirement destinations in Europe.
The 7% tax for retirees in Greece applies as a flat tax on your entire income earned abroad. This means that not only your state or private pension is taxed at this low rate, but usually also foreign dividends, interest income, or rental income. This offers huge savings compared to the progressive tax rates of many other EU countries
The regulation is aimed at individuals who receive a foreign pension and move their tax residence to Greece. A key condition is that you were not a tax resident in Greece for five of the last six years prior to that. Additionally, your country of origin must have a tax cooperation agreement with Greece, which applies to all EU member states.
