VARDIKOS & VARDIKOS
IMI Official Partner
Vardikos & Vardikos has helped international investors navigate Greece’s financial opportunities for decades. The Greek Golden Visa program stands out as a highly coveted residence-by-investment program in Europe, offering a blend of affordability, appealing lifestyle benefits, and investment strategy.
Real estate continues to be the most popular investment option for the Greek Golden Visa as demand surges from various international markets.
Christos Vardikos, an Athens-based Attorney at Law, Member of the Athens Bar Association, accredited to the Supreme Court, and Managing Partner at Vardikos & Vardikos, says that “apart from the Chinese, Turkish, Egyptian, and Indian buyers have stood out as important investors over the past 12 months.”
The Greek Golden Visa has attracted increasing demand from American and European markets, where interest has markedly grown.
Vardikos observes that “high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) from these regions have had a considerable impact on the Greek luxury real estate market, purchasing properties along the Athens Riviera and across the Greek islands.”
Ultra HNWIs often diversify their golden visa investment risk by acquiring multiple properties across different regions in Greece.
These investors prioritize liquidity, explains Vardikos, “so they frequently evaluate their financial goals, risk tolerance, and the long-term potential of their investments in Greece, often acquiring portfolios that exceed the minimum investment requirements for the Golden Visa program.”
The Greek government recently changed the Golden Visa’s investment framework, and applicants who want to qualify through real estate investment must now invest in one of the following:
- EUR 800,000 for properties in high-demand areas with over 3,100 inhabitants (including Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, and Santorini)
- EUR 400,000 for properties elsewhere, provided they exceed 120 square meters
- At least EUR 250,000 for those focusing on restoring historically or culturally important properties or converting commercial properties into residential ones
Vardikos says that “although the minimum thresholds have increased, the Greek Golden Visa remains a competitive residence-by-investment program in a country that offers an investor-friendly ecosystem.”
The Greek Golden Visa program has expanded its offerings through a startup investment route aimed at international entrepreneurs.
Vardikos explains that the new pathway requires “a minimum investment of EUR 250,000 in startups listed on the National Register of Startups, a maximum equity participation of 33%, the creation of two or more jobs within the first year, and maintaining the workforce for at least five years.”
Foreign investors increasingly partner with Vardikos & Vardikos, a distinguished boutique law firm maintaining strategic offices in Cyprus, Dominica, and Saint Lucia.
The firm crafts tailored, transparent pathways through Greece’s lucrative Golden Visa ecosystem.
Vardikos points to their client-first approach: “We have no exclusive agreements with local promoters, ensuring we can act as independent advisers. This allows us to guide clients transparently, ensure they avoid projects with low capital appreciation prospects, and ultimately safeguard their interests.”
Vardikos & Vardikos delivers comprehensive counsel spanning tax advisory, acquisition contract representation, land registry examinations, and personalized assistance through every Golden Visa application phase. The firm’s principal, Christos Vardikos, possesses remarkable credentials.
He functions as Consul a.h. for the Commonwealth of Dominica in the Hellenic Republic and serves the Honorable Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica as Special Advisor for Maritime Affairs.
Many HNWIs that are keen to diversify their portfolios opt to combine the Greek Golden Visa with Caribbean citizenship-by-investment solutions.
The firm’s cross-border expertise creates unique advantages: “As an Authorized Government Agent in Dominica and St. Lucia, we have assisted clients who wish to pair a Caribbean second citizenship with a European residence-by-investment permit.”
Greece attracts ultra HNWIs through programs extending beyond the Golden Visa, including the Non-Dom regime and the Financially Independent or Retiree Program.
The Greek Non-Dom system levies a EUR 100,000 annual flat tax on foreign-sourced income for primary applicants, with EUR 20,000 for dependents.
This framework has generated over 8,000 applications since its creation. Program interest surged markedly following Italy’s doubling of foreign income flat tax to EUR 200,000 and the UK’s Non-Dom regime elimination.
The Retiree Program implements a consistent 7% tax rate for foreign pension recipients. This draws HNWIs to Greece for its affordable living environment, socio-political stability, and premium lifestyle opportunities. Greece represents an attractive hub for global investors seeking balanced financial and quality-of-life rewards.
To learn more about your options in Greece, visit www.vardikos.com or email vardikos@protonmail.com.
