Greece Golden Visa
Living by the sea and travelling
across Europe visa-free
€250,000+
6 months
5 years
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.
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.
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%.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Practical guide on the Greece Golden Visa
Step-by-step procedure
Requirements for applicants
Required documents
Answers to frequently asked questions
Who can get a Greece Golden Visa
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.
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.
Renting a hotel or tourist residence for 10 years — €250,000+
Purchase of land plot for construction or agriculture — €250,000+
Timeshare for 10 years — €250,000+
Inheriting real estate or receiving it as a gift — €250,000+
Purchase of securities or opening a bank deposit — €400,000+
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.
Step-by-step procedure for obtaining the Greece Golden Visa by purchasing real estate
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.
Take a short anonymous test and learn more about the nuances of Due Diligence checks
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.
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.
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.
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.