Greece Golden Visa

Europe’s most popular residence-by-investment program for three of the last four years, the Greek Golden Visa offers visa-free travel throughout the Schengen area, as well as settlement rights in Greece itself.

While applicants may choose from a wide array of asset classes, the great preponderance prefer to qualify by investing at least €250,000 in real estate on the open Greek market.

To qualify for a Golden Visa for Greece, you must make one of the following investments:

Real estate investment

• €800,000 in real estate in a single property with a minimum area of 120m² in the Administrative Region of Attica, the Regional Units of Thessaloniki, Mykonos, and Santorini, as well as in islands with a population of over 3,100 inhabitants.

• €400,000 in real estate in a single property with a minimum area of 120m² in all other regions of Greece.

• €250,000 for properties converted from commercial to residential, regardless of size or location. The conversion must be complete before the investor can submit his golden visa application.

• €250,000 for properties in listed buildings (of historical or cultural importance) that the investor has fully restored or reconstructed, regardless of size or location. The renovation must be completed by the fifth year of residency if the investor wishes to renew his golden visa.

Restrictions on property use: Golden visa investors may not place their properties on the short-term rental market (i.e., AirBnBs). Moreover, investors may not use properties qualifying through the conversion of commercial real estate to residential as registered company headquarters. Non-compliance with the property use restrictions will result in the revocation of the residence permit as well as an administrative fine of €50,000.

Other investment categories

• Sign a lease agreement with a hotel or tourist establishment for at least 10 years to the value of €250,000.

• €250,000 equity investment in a Greek startup, provided the investor holds no more than 33% of shares/voting rights, the enterprise creates at least two new jobs within the first year, and those jobs are maintained for five years.

• €350,000 capital invested in an alternative investment fund established in Greece or another country in the EU, which intends to exclusively invest in immovable property in Greece.

• €500,000 investment in Greek government bonds with a maturity of at least three years at the time of purchase, via a credit institution established in Greece, which will also act as the custodian of the bonds.

• €500,000 acquisition of shares in a share capital increase or bonds that are, at the time of issue, admitted for trading on regulated markets or multilateral trading mechanisms that operate in Greece.

• €350,000 investment in a mutual fund incorporated in Greece or another country and with the intention to invest exclusively in shares, corporate bonds, and/or Greek government bonds.

• €800,000 investment in corporate or government bonds that are admitted for trading or are traded on regulated markets or multilateral trading mechanisms, operating in Greece

• Freedom of movement (but not settlement) within Schengen
• Path to citizenship
• Minimal physical presence requirements
• Permits dual/multiple citizenship
• Lower cost of living
• Safety and security
• Warm climate
• Enhanced business access to large economies
• Short processing time

Applicants are eligible for Greek citizenship following seven years of de facto residence in the country – during which time the applicant must also be a tax resident – and passing a Greek language test.

Browse 195 countries’ paths to citizenship in the hyper-detailed IMI Citizenship Catalog.

Applications for this program may be directed to the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum.

Legislation upon which this program is based upon the Greek “Golden Visa” Law 4251/2014 “Permanent residency permit for investors”.