The Greek Golden Visa Law sets out the requirements for granting residence permits to foreign investors in Greece. It provides a flexible and low-cost scheme to investors and their family members who wish to acquire residency by investment or a second passport.
The Greek Golden Visa Law provides for residence permits for
non-European investors in Greece.
Many countries offer Residency by Investment (RBI) schemes as an incentive to attract foreign investment from foreign nationals.
These are known as “Golden Visas” and provide residency rights, with usually low stay requirements, to investors in exchange for specific investments in real estate or financial instruments.
Greece offers such option to Non-EU nationals, among other EU countries.
The Golden Visa Greece Law came into force in July 2013. It offers the most
affordable and flexible option for residency by investment in Europe.
It gives you the option of investing:
A minimum of
A minimum of
Permanent residence
No minimum stay or
Visa-free movement in more
Residency for 3
Lifetime renewals provided youThe investment should be made directly in the name of the investor and Main Applicant of the Golden Visa. If the investment is made through a legal entity, the natural person applying for the Golden Visa should own 100% of the company shares. Offshore and Non-EU companies do not qualify for the Golden Visa through real estate investment.
Joint investment is only permitted for term deposits (for couples) and real estate option can also be between friends. Yet, each investor should meet the minimum investment amount to be eligible for a Greek Golden Visa (i.e. two friends can buy a property of €800,000 jointly, and both their families shall qualify, in the areas where Golden Visa properties meet the €400,000 minimum.
Spouses, nevertheless, when investing the minimum amount (i.e. €250,000) to buy a property jointly, are both qualified for a residence permit. Still, this exception for joint investment by spouses does not apply to all financial investment, however applicable on Term Deposits.
It is possible to switch from the Golden Visa through term deposit or other financial investments to Golden Visa through real estate, and vice-versa, without losing your residency rights as long as it is done within a specific time frame.
There is no limit to how many times a residence permit can be renewed, provided that the applicant still be in full ownership and possession of the minimum investment (real estate or financial).
There is no minimum-stay requirement, by means that the Golden Visa holders are not required to stay in Greece, or visit Greece, to maintain their residency rights. Still, it is required to return every five (5) years to update their biometric data.
The time needed for the investment may vary, depending on the type of the investment chosen and the particular real estate asset or financial option as well.
Once the application for the golden visa is submitted, the Golden Visa applicants receive at the same day a certificate proving the submission of their applications which stands as a temporary residence permit.
After submitting their application, they can give their biometric data at any stage within the next 12 months.
