Elena Kozyreva

To get a Golden Visa to Spain, a US citizen needs to invest at least €500,000 in the country’s economy — purchase real estate, securities, or start a business. The Spain residence permit allows its holder to reside in the country, take advantage of universal healthcare, study at local universities, and obtain a work permit. Explore the benefits of Spain residence by investment and the details of obtaining it as a US citizen.

The Spain Golden Visa program, or the Spain residence permit by investment, is a unique opportunity for non-EU nationals. By making investments of at least €500,000, individuals can secure residency rights with potential pathways to citizenship. The most popular route to getting the Spain Golden Visa is real estate investment. Discover the benefits and disadvantages of the program to understand why it has become globally attractive for investors.

Buying real estate is one of the ways to legally obtain residency or citizenship in another country. All it takes is purchasing an apartment, house, or commercial property that meets the country’s requirements. In Greece, for example, buying a property for renovation worth at least €250,000 qualifies an investor for residency. In Türkiye, investing at least $400,000 in real estate makes one eligible for citizenship. Here is where investors buy property, whether they can rent it out, and how to keep residency when selling property.

In 2024, foreign nationals accounted for 80—85% of all real estate transactions in Greece, purchasing property worth €2.75 billion. This is not driven by chance or casual tourism, but by sound financial reasoning.  Greece’s appeal lies in its relatively low property prices, robust rental returns, persistent demand throughout the year, and a steady climb in asset value. In this guide, we dissect what makes Greece’s real estate market tick — and where savvy buyers should look to benefit from its momentum.

Annual property price growth in Greece slowed to 7.3% in the second quarter of 2025. This is the lowest figure in the past 3 years. After a period of rapid price increases, the market has entered a more stable phase. Immigrant Invest’s legal experts have analysed the latest data and outlined what investors can expect.