Greece Golden Visa

Living by the sea and travelling
across Europe visa-free

€250,000+

Investment amount

6 months

Obtaining period

5 years

Return of investment

Real estate investments will rise to €800,000

The new threshold will probably apply starting May 1st, 2024. Therefore, you still have a chance to get a Greece Golden Visa without overpaying €550,000.

The Greece Golden Visa program was launched in 2014. Applicants can get 5-year residence permits by investment with a minimum amount of at least €250,000. The most popular investment option is purchasing residential or commercial real estate.

Investors may include family members in their applications: spouses or partners, children under 21, and parents of any age. Greece residence permit holders are allowed to live in the country and travel the rest of the Schengen Area for 90 days in 180.

Greece requires the least amount of investments in real estate among EU countries granting residence permits by investment. Moreover, the property can be rented out. The investor can get permanent residence and sell the property in five years.

Benefits of the Greece Golden Visa

  • 1

    Visa-free travel to the Schengen countries

    Greek residents can spend up to 90 days out of 180 in any Schengen country without a visa.

  • 2

    Moving to Greece and creating a “safe haven”

    A residence permit allows the holder to visit Greece at any time, even when the borders are closed to tourists. At the same time, moving to the country is the investor’s right, not an obligation: the program doesn’t require living in Greece permanently.

  • 3

    Tax optimisation

    If foreign investors become Greek tax residents, they can use benefits. The investor pays a flat tax on their global income — €100,000 per annum. The investor’s close relatives can also take advantage of the benefit and pay €20,000 per annum.

    Without the exemptions, the global income tax is levied on a progressive scale of up to 45%.

  • 4

    Access to quality healthcare and education

    Residents of Greece can get medical treatment or education in this country. Also, they can use their right to visit other Schengen countries visa-free to take short courses or visit clinics.

  • 5

    An easy path to Greek residency for the whole family

    Investors and their family members don’t have to take Greek language proficiency tests or other exams. They are also not required to live in Greece to renew their residence permit.

  • 6

    Returnable investment

    Investors are allowed to rent their properties out. Also, they may sell real estate after getting permanent residency and return the spent money.

  • 7

    EU citizenship in seven years

    If the investor lives in Greece for five years, they can get permanent residence. After another two years, such a permanent resident can apply for citizenship.

    The applicant qualifies for citizenship if over 18 years old, has no criminal record or deportation history, and has integrated into Greek society. From 2021, all citizenship applicants hold a written exam in the language, culture, history, geography and governmental system.

    Greece allows its citizens to hold several passports. Investors don’t have to give up their first citizenship if their country of origin doesn’t require it.

price

Get maximum information about the process

  • Step by step procedure

  • Requirements for applicants

  • Required documents

  • Answers to frequently asked questions

Who can get a Greece Golden Visa

  • Investor

    • Over 18 years old

    • No criminal record

    • Capable of confirming the legality of the income

  • Spouse or partner

    Partners must have a domestic partnership agreement registered and signed in Greece

  • Children under 21

    Unmarried

  • Spouse's children under 21

    • Unmarried

    • Under investor’s custody

  • Parents

    No age limit

Investment options for the Greece Golden Visa

Greece offers investors seven options for getting a residence permit by investment. Six of them are related to the purchase or rental of real estate.

1 option

Real estate purchase €250,000+

The investor can buy residential or commercial real estate in Greece. The property can then be rented out. Five years later, the investor can sell it and return the money.

The investor can own the property. Another option is to register real estate to an EU-based company of the investor owns 100% of its shares. A couple can own one property together only if each of them invests at least €250,000. For example, if a couple buys property for €500,000.

If the property was purchased before 2014, it could qualify for the program. The property price must have been at least €250,000 when the investor purchased it or applied for the Golden Visa.

Purchase of real estate

€250,000

Fees, taxes, translation of documents, and legal and notary services when buying real estate

About 10% of the property value

State fee

€2,000 for the investor, 

+€150 per adult family member

Medical insurance

€300+ per applicant

2 option

Renting a hotel or tourist residence for 10 years €250,000+

3 option

Purchase of land plot for construction or agriculture €250,000+

4 option

Timeshare for 10 years €250,000+

5 option

Inheriting real estate or receiving it as a gift €250,000+

6 option

Purchase of securities or opening a bank deposit €400,000+

Individual  cost calculation  for the Greece Golden Visa

Individual cost calculation for the Greece Golden Visa

Get an individual calculation for your family with all associated costs and government fees

Differences between the Golden Visa and a residence permit for financially independent people

Greece offers residence permits to financially independent persons. The path doesn’t require investments. The applicant only needs to receive an income of at least €2,000 per month and place €24,000 in a Greek bank account.

Residence permit by investment

Residence permit for a financially independent person

Obtaining a national D visa to enter the country

Not required if buying real estate

Required

Mandatory residing

Not required

At least 183 days a year

Residence permit validity period

5 years

2 years

Schedule a meeting

Individual selection of investment properties

  • Discuss your tasks and goals

  • Choose between properties from reliable developers

  • Get fully prepared and verified documents for a purchase

Elena Kozyreva
Elena Kozyreva

Managing Director for Real Estate projects

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Step-by-step procedure for obtaining the Greece Golden Visa by purchasing real estate

1

1 day

Preliminary Due Diligence

A certified Anti Money Laundering Officer conducts a preliminary Due Diligence check. It allows spotting possible issues and reduce the rejection risk to 1%.

We sign an agreement with the investor only after the preliminary Due Diligence check. If there are risks, we offer an alternative solution: clarify the situation in an affidavit or choose another program.

Evaluate your chances of passing Due Diligence

Take a short anonymous test and learn more about the nuances of Due Diligence checks

2

At least 2 months

Buying real estate

Immigrant Invest real estate experts help the investor find a suitable property. Then we proceed to the conclusion of the sales contract.

A lawyer acts on the investor’s behalf in Greece. Thus, the first step is to sign a power of attorney at a Greek bank or remotely. In the last case, a power of attorney is apostilled and sent to Greece. The investor’s lawyer uses a power of attorney to obtain an individual taxpayer number, then checks the legality of the transaction and prepares documents together with a notary.

The investor or the lawyer can sign a purchase and sale agreement. The lawyer submits the agreement to the Land Register and receives a certificate. The buyer gets the complete package of documents for the property with an officially certified translation.

3

2 months

Preparation of documents and application

The documents are prepared simultaneously with the selection and purchase of the real estate. The investor receives medical insurance and then provides the lawyers with documents and photographs. Immigrant Invest lawyers fill out government forms, translate documents, certify copies, and help pay fees and duties.

The documents are submitted to a specialized department of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum. The investor, spouse, an adult relative, or a lawyer applies in person. The investor gets a certificate after applying. The certificate allows its holder to stay in Greece for a year.

Fingerprinting takes place on the application day. If the investor could not come to Greece and the lawyer submitted the documents, the fingerprinting is scheduled for another day. The residence permit card is not issued without biometric data.

If investors have bought real estate, they need a tourist visa to enter Greece. In the case of other investment options, a national D visa is obtained.

4

1—2 months

Getting a residence permit card

An application for a Greece residence permit is processed within 1—2 months.

The family members can receive residence permit cards by themselves or entrust a lawyer to collect them. The investor’s international passport is required to get the residence permit. The certificate obtained during the application is returned.

5

Every 5 years

Renewal of the residence permit

The Greece residence permit is valid for five years, after which it can be renewed. The application and the documents are submitted within two months before the expiration date. If the investor plans to renew the residence permit, they cannot sell the investment property.

Investors can apply for permanent residence five years later. However, they need to live in the country for five years. They cannot leave Greece for more than six months in a row or ten months during the five years.

Golden Visa and Immigrant Invest stay with you

After obtaining a Greece residence permit, the investor may decide to become a tax resident, buy another property, extend their residence permit card or obtain permanent residence. See how we continue to help our clients.

  • Residence permit renewal

    We help investors renew their residence permit cards after five years.

  • Obtaining permanent residence

    We inform investors the conditions and help to prepare documents and apply.

  • Residence permits for family members

    We help obtain residence permits for spouses, children and parents.

  • Registration of tax residency

    We help our clients become Greek tax residents and take advantage of benefits, provided that they spend at least 183 days a year in Greece.

  • Replacing a lost residence permit card

    We prepare an application and accompany the investor until a new residence permit card is received.

  • Opening a bank account

    We prepare the required documents and fill out the forms.

  • Selecting real estate

    We help investors choose an apartment or villa or buy a property under construction. We follow the sale from start to finish.

Schedule a meeting

Let's discuss the details

Schedule a meeting at one of the offices or online. A lawyer will analyze the situation, calculate the cost and help you find a solution based on your goals.

Vladlena Baranova
Vladlena Baranova

Lawyer, AML Compliance officer, certified CAMS specialist

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Frequently asked questions

  • Who is eligible for a Greek residency permit by investment?

    An adult investor with legal income and no criminal record. Only non-EU citizens can participate in the program.

    A spouse, children under 21 and parents can get residence permits with the investor. The investor’s partner can participate in the program if the couple has signed a domestic partnership agreement and registered it in Greece.

  • How much to invest in the Greece Golden Visa?

    The minimum investment sum is €250,000. The applicant can buy residential or commercial real estate, a land plot, rent a hotel or conclude a timeshare agreement.

    Investors can choose to invest €400,000 in economic activities, for example, purchasing stocks or bonds. But it is more challenging to get a residence permit this way because the applicant has to obtain a national D visa to come to Greece. Real estate investors get tourist visas to enter the country.

  • Do I have to buy real estate to participate in the Greece Golden Visa program?

    No, you don’t. The investor can rent a hotel or sign a timeshare agreement for 10 years. There is a capital transfer option with opening a deposit account at a Greek bank. Applicants also can invest in stocks, bonds or investment fund units.

  • Is it possible to return the investment?

    Yes, it is possible. The investor can return the money in 5—7 years under all investment options. However, the expenses of renting real estate are non-refundable.

    The program rules allow the investor to rent out real estate and earn income during property ownership.

  • Do I need to go to Greece to get a residence permit?

    The investor visits the country to open a bank account and submit fingerprints to get a Greece residence permit. As for the rest of the procedure, an investor’s lawyer can fulfil it by a power of attorney. The lawyer signs a purchase and sale agreement, submits documents for participation in the program and receives residence permit cards.

  • How can an investor obtain Greece citizenship?

    Investors need to live in the country for seven years to become Greek citizens. After five years, they can obtain permanent residence and apply for citizenship two more years later.

    All applicants for citizenship take a written exam to confirm their knowledge of the Greek language, culture, history, geography and governmental system. They must also have no criminal records and deportations from Greece.

  • Does the Greek permanent residency give the holder the right to apply for citizenship?

    Yes, but not immediately. First, the PR holder must fulfil some conditions: for example, live in the country for another 2+ years.

  • Can UK citizens apply for the Greece Golden Visa after Brexit?

    Yes, UK citizens may apply for a residence permit by investment in Greece. The UK is no longer an EU member state, so Britons are allowed to participate in the Golden Visa program.

  • Can Americans apply for Golden Visa in Greece?

    Yes, US citizens may apply for a Greek residence permit by investment if they fit other requirements, such as being able to confirm the legality of income and having no criminal records.

  • How long does the Greek Golden Visa residence permit last?

    A Greek residence permit for investors is valid for five years. It is renewable. Also, investors who live in Greece may apply for permanent residency after these five years.

  • Is the Greek Golden Visa investment worth it?

    An investor who buys real estate in Greece gets a personal residence in this country or a profitable asset that may bring profit. Also, a Greek residence permit allows one to live in the country, travel the Schengen Area visa-free and access quality healthcare and education.

    If your goals include moving to a warm Mediterranean country, living by the sea or travelling to European countries, the Greek Golden Visa may be a good choice.

Schedule a meeting

Let's discuss the details

We will develop an individual solution, select a country and status that will solve your problems, and accompany the entire process.

Zlata Erlach
Zlata Erlach

Head of the Austrian office

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