Greece taxes a resident on worldwide income (before any article 5B election), while Spain taxes a resident on worldwide income. Greece's lowest cited income floor is $3,997 a month (plus 20% for a partner and 15% per child), against $2,741 in Spain on a route that bars paid work. Greece's citizenship period is not in its dossier yet, and Spain naturalises after 10 years of residence.
Greece sources verified 2026-08-07. Spain sources verified 2026-07-12.
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| GreeceSources verified 2026-08-07 | SpainSources verified 2026-07-12 |
|---|---|
| Personal income tax | |
| Worldwidebefore any article 5B electionTaxation of non-Greek sourced income, article 3 ITC (AADE) | WorldwideLey 35/2006 (LIRPF), Articulos 1 y 2 (BOE consolidated text) |
| Lowest cited income floor, a month | |
$3,997 Economic self-sufficiencyplus 20% for a partner and 15% per childJoint Ministerial Decision 225679, article 163(8) (Gazette B 5223/17.09.2024) | $2,741 Passive income (rentista)Bars paid work, remote includedNon-working Residency Visa, Embassy of Spain in Washington (exteriores.gob.es) |
| Lowest cited investment route | |
$456,720 Real estate investmentdouble it in Attica, Thessaloniki and the larger islandsMinimum property investment for a golden visa (Housing Policy Portal) | Not in this dossier yet |
| Citizenship | |
| Not in this dossier yet | Residence first10 yrs |
| Your current passport | |
| Not in this dossier yet | Given up on naturalisationCodigo Civil, Articulo 23 (BOE consolidated text) |
| EU access and English | |
| EU accessEnglish widely spoken | EU accessEnglish not widespread |
* OmniFlag's own assessment, not a figure from a statute.
The full comparison, in words
Greece and Spain differ on the three things a mover weighs first: what each taxes, the cheapest cited way in, and how long citizenship takes. On tax, Greece taxes a resident on worldwide income (before any article 5B election), while Spain taxes a resident on worldwide income. On entry, Greece's lowest cited income floor is $3,997 a month on its economic self-sufficiency route (plus 20% for a partner and 15% per child). Spain's lowest cited income floor is $2,741 a month on its passive income (rentista) route, and the route bars paid work, remote work included. On citizenship, Greece's citizenship period is not in its dossier yet, and Spain naturalises after 10 years of residence. The table below sets every cited figure side by side, and each dossier carries the full detail.
Common questions
Does Greece or Spain tax foreign income?
Greece: Worldwide income, with the foreign tax credit capped at the Greek tax attributable to that income. Spain: Worldwide income, including a pension from another country, subject to the applicable treaty.
When do Greece and Spain treat you as tax resident?
Greece: Home, habitual abode, or vital interests, A permanent or principal residence, a habitual abode, or the centre of your personal and economic relations in Greece. Day count, more than 183 days cumulatively in any twelve-month period, which makes you resident from the first day of your presence. Spain: Day count, More than 183 days in Spain during a calendar year. Economic interests, The main base of your economic interests in Spain, whatever the day count. A tax residency test runs separately from the permit that lets you live there, so holding one does not settle the other.
What is the cheapest cited way to live in Greece or Spain?
Greece's lowest cited income floor is $3,997 a month on its economic self-sufficiency route (plus 20% for a partner and 15% per child). Spain's lowest cited income floor is $2,741 a month on its passive income (rentista) route, and the route bars paid work, remote work included.
Which grants citizenship sooner, Greece or Spain?
Greece's citizenship period is not in its dossier yet. Spain naturalises after 10 years of residence. Spain asks you to give your current passport up.
Read each dossier in full
Southern Europe
Greece
Seven percent on all foreign income, for fifteen years.
- Foreign income tax
- 7%
- Private means
- EUR 3,500/mo
Southern Europe
Spain
Residence for income earned abroad, a flat-rate tax window for new arrivals, and a defined route to a passport.
- Beckham rate
- 24%
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