Greece Golden Visa family reunification: your safe haven and strategic Plan B abroad

The Greece Golden Visa is a popular residency by investment program that offers a 5-year, renewable residence permit to non-EU nationals. 

The Golden Visa allows visa-free travel within the Schengen Area, has no minimum stay requirement, and lets investors include their entire family. For many, it provides a secure “backup home” in Europe and a reliable safety net in times of political or economic uncertainty.

Introduced in 2013, the program grants residency through multiple options, including the purchase of real estate, investment fund units, or opening a bank deposit. The minimum investment required is €250,000. The application process is straightforward, and residency can be obtained in at least 4 months.

Investors may include the following family members in the Golden Visa application:

• spouse or registered partner;

• children under 18;

• children aged 18—21 if students;

• parents of both the investor and the spouse.

A spouse or partner must have a cohabitation agreement with the main applicant that is signed and officially registered in Greece.

When obtaining the Greece Golden Visa, families can either apply together with the main investor or join later through a family reunification process.

Applying together with the investor. The most streamlined approach is to apply as a family from the outset. Eligible dependents can be included in the same application file. In this case, all required documents are collected and submitted together at the Greek consulate. 

The application is processed as a single batch. All family members receive certificates that allow them to remain in Greece for up to 1 year while their residence permits are being reviewed. Submitting the application together also simplifies the process of providing biometric data, which must be submitted in person in Greece within six months of filing the application.

This method reduces costs, as consular, translation, and legal fees are paid once for the entire group.

Applying later. If some family members are not ready to apply with the investor, they can be added to the Golden Visa later. In this case, the investor submits the initial application alone and receives their 5-year residence permit. 

Afterward, dependents can apply through a family reunification process. Each family member submits their own documentation in person at the local Aliens’ Police office within 60 days of arriving in Greece on a 90-day visa.

A potential drawback of this approach is that if a child is under 18, most Greek consulates require a signed parental consent letter confirming that the non-accompanying parent agrees to the minor’s travel. Airlines may also ask for this documentation at the time of boarding.

This route generally takes 4 to 6 weeks from submission to permit issuance for each dependent.

Anna Semenyuk,

Citizenship by Investment Programs Advisor

If a dependent child turns 21 before the Greece Golden Visa residence permit is issued, they can still be included in the application. The key requirement is that the child remains enrolled as a student.

The required investment amount remains the same regardless of how many family members are included in the Greece Golden Visa application. The only additional costs are for mandatory health insurance and application fees, which are:

• €2,000 for the main applicant;

• €150 for a family member aged 18 and over;

• €0 for children under 18.

If purchasing real estate, about 5.5% of the property value adds up as taxes and associating fees.

1. Real estate purchase: €250,000. Applicants can invest €400,000 or €800,000 in property, depending on the location. However, a lower threshold of €250,000 applies to properties purchased for renovation. 

Real estate may be rented out long-term, offering returns of up to 10% annually.

2. Purchase of investment fund units: €350,000. Golden Visa applicants may invest in licensed mutual or alternative investment funds that contribute to the Greek economy. These funds typically offer average annual returns of 4—5%.

3. Opening bank deposit: €500,000. Investors can place a fixed-term deposit with a Greek bank for a minimum of 1 year, with automatic renewal. The account may also include the investor’s spouse, registered partner, or close family members.

Required documents for the Greece Golden Visa applicants include:

• valid international passports;

• 4 recent printed digital passport photos for each applicant;

• residence permits, if any;

• health insurance;

• criminal record certificates for applicants aged over 14;

• proof of investment, such as a real estate purchase agreement for the investor;

• proof of residential address for the investor;

• documents confirming the source of funds for the investor;

• marriage certificate, if the spouse is included;

• birth certificates of children, if they are included;

• birth certificates of the main applicant and a spouse, if their parents are included.

All documents not originally issued in Greek must be translated into Greek by a certified translator and bear an apostille.

Greece is a perfect match for families and investors seeking a Mediterranean lifestyle with European access.

1. Plan B for the entire family. By securing a Greece Golden Visa, investors immediately establish a legal foothold in an EU country for them and their families. Should political unrest, an economic downturn, or sudden regulatory changes threaten their home country’s stability, they can relocate to Greece without waiting months for Schengen visas to be issued.

At the same time, there is no requirement for the family to reside in Greece in order to maintain their residency status.

The family may become eligible for citizenship after 7 years of living in Greece. The Greek passport grants visa-free access to 175 countries worldwide. Besides, Greece permits dual citizenship, so applicants can keep their original passports. 

2. Access to quality European education. Children can attend free public schools and universities in Greece, including the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and the University of Crete. These institutions offer education in Greek.

Families seeking education in English have access to international schools and universities, where annual tuition ranges from €7,000 to 12,000. 

Notable institutions offering English-language programs include the American College of Greece, the American College of Thessaloniki, and Mediterranean College.

3. Healthcare coverage in a stable EU country. Once the Greece Golden Visa is issued, each family member can register with the national public health system. This provides access to doctors and medical professionals for about €5 per doctor’s visit and €15 per hospital day.

For faster appointments and English-speaking healthcare providers, families may purchase private insurance at approximately €400—600 per adult and €300—400 per child annually, expanding access to private clinics and specialists without high co-payments.

4. Preserving and diversifying family assets. Purchasing real estate is the most popular route to obtaining a Greece Golden Visa. It offers a tangible asset that preserves value against inflation, whether through properties in Athens, Crete, or Thessaloniki.

Rental income is another advantage, with returns of up to 10% annually for direct investments and 4—5% for real estate funds. Greece’s property market is growing, with prices up 7.8% year-on-year.

5. Tax optimisation. Newly built properties in Greece are exempt from the standard 24% VAT, with only a 3% transfer tax applied.

For tax residents, there’s an option to pay a flat €100,000 annual tax on global income, instead of being subject to progressive rates of up to 45%.

6. Creating a family business. One of the key advantages of holding a Greece Golden Visa is the ability to own and operate a business in the country. The standard corporate income tax rate is 22%, below the EU average.

Greece offers fertile ground for family-run ventures. With over 40 million tourists in 2024, opportunities abound in hospitality, such as opening a boutique hotel, guesthouse, or café. Families may also consider launching tourism-related services like guided cultural tours, sailing charters or wellness retreats. In popular destinations like Crete, Santorini, or Thessaloniki, combining real estate investment with a small business can create both income and long-term value.

The country also controls one of the world’s largest merchant fleets. Its shipping sector is supported by specialised maritime clusters, shipyards, and top-tier maritime law firms, reinforcing Greece’s role as a global hub for logistics. A reduced 5% tax rate for shipping companies enhances Greece’s appeal for capital investment in the maritime sector.

7. Widespread English. Greece ranks 8th globally in the English Proficiency Index. In major cities and tourist hubs, many working in shops, restaurants, and public services speak English comfortably. Most university-educated Greeks under 40 have strong English skills. Only in rural areas, however, English is less commonly spoken.

8. Easy to settle. Greece ranks among the top 10 easiest countries to settle in, according to the Expat Insider Survey 2024. 

Expats highlight the ease of building an active social life and forming a strong support network. They also report feeling genuinely welcome and adapting to the local culture more easily than the global average. Many newcomers say they quickly feel at home in Greece.

9. Visa-free travel. Greek residents can spend up to 90 days out of 180 in any Schengen country without a visa. Greece is well-connected internationally, with over 15 airports offering regular flights to major European cities. Direct flights from Athens to destinations like Rome, Paris, Vienna, or Berlin take 2—3 hours.

In addition to air travel, Greece’s extensive ferry network allows for convenient travel to Italy, with routes from ports like Patras and Igoumenitsa to cities including Bari, Ancona, and Venice.

10. Cultural immersion. Greece is home to 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, offering families endless opportunities to explore ancient ruins, historic monasteries, and well-preserved medieval towns.

Children can engage with history in a hands-on way — walking through the ruins of the Acropolis in Athens, exploring the Palace of Knossos in Crete, or climbing the stone pathways of Delphi. Fairy-tale settings like the clifftop monasteries of Meteora, the castles of Rhodes, and the storybook alleys of Nafplio make cultural outings both fun and unforgettable for all ages.

11. Year-round outdoor activities. Greece’s mild Mediterranean climate allows for year-round outdoor activities. Locals hike the trails of Mount Olympus, sail around the Cyclades, swim in the turquoise waters of Elafonisi Beach in Crete, or explore the Vikos Gorge in Epirus. Even in winter, residents can ski at Parnassos or enjoy thermal springs in Loutraki.

No immediate right to work. The Greece Golden Visa holders and their family members are not granted automatic access to the Greek labor market. While they can live and study in Greece, they need a separate work permit to be employed.

Age limits for children. Dependent children are only eligible for the Golden Visa if they are under 21 at the time of application.

Mandatory residence for Greek citizenship. The main applicant must spend 183 days per year in Greece for at least 7 years to qualify for Greek citizenship.

Maintaining the investment. To retain the residence permit, the €250,000 real estate or qualifying investment must be maintained throughout the visa’s validity. Selling or transferring the asset without reinvesting in an eligible property or fund results in loss of residency rights.

Several other EU countries also allow wealthy families to obtain residency by investment. These include Portugal, Hungary, Cyprus, and Italy. Each country sets its own requirements for including family members:

• Greece stands out for allowing both the investor’s and the spouse’s parents to be included without proving financial dependency;

• Hungary is one of the few countries that accepts grandparents;

• Italy provides maximum flexibility for adult children by imposing no age limit as long as the requirements are met;

• Portugal uniquely permits adult children up to age 26 to qualify if they live with the applicant or study at a university, even if they are not financially dependent on the investor;

• Cyprus allows children of any age with disabilities to be included, regardless of their financial situation, but does not extend to parents.

1. The Greece Golden Visa is a 5-year renewable residence permit available to non-EU nationals who invest at least €250,000 in the country. The most common route is the purchase of real estate.

2. Eligible family members include a spouse or a partner, children under 21, and parents.

3. Families can apply together with the main applicant or join later through a family reunification process.

4. One of the key advantages for families is having a Plan B, a secure alternative residence in the EU, offering stability in times of political or economic uncertainty.

5. Additional benefits include tax optimisation opportunities, the ability to establish a family business, asset diversification, and visa-free travel across the Schengen Area. Greece is considered one of the easiest EU countries to settle in and offers a high quality of life, with year-round outdoor activities and a welcoming atmosphere.

6. The Greece Golden Visa does not grant the right to work in Greece; a separate work permit is required.

7. There is no obligation for families to reside in the country to maintain their residency status. However, for those aiming for Greek citizenship in seven years, a physical presence of at least 183 days per year is required.