Greece Residence by Investment

The Greece Golden Visa Program is considered one of the most affordable residence by investment programs that provide access to Europe. Successful applicants and their families are able to benefit from visa-free access to Europe’s Schengen Area.

Investment: Minimum specialized real estate investment of EUR 250,000
Key benefit: Freedom of travel to Greece and Europe’s Schengen Area

Key Advantages of the Greece Golden Visa Program

• Visa-free travel within Europe’s Schengen Area
• No requirement to reside in Greece
• Unlimited expiry date of residence permit
• Opportunity to rent out the investment property
• Residence applicable to the whole family (married spouse, children under 21 years old, and parents of the main applicant and spouse)
• Eligibility to apply for citizenship after seven years of residence
• Ability to hold shares and receive income from the dividends of a company registered in Greece (but not to be employed in Greece)

Requirements of the Greece Golden Visa Program

The Greece Golden Visa Program is a residence by investment program launched in 2013 that enables non-EU nationals and their family members to obtain permanent residence permits in Greece. The residence permits may be renewed every five years.

The program’s qualifying options are:

Real estate investment in one of the following investment zones:

• EUR 250,000: Specialized real estate investment allocated towards the conversion of commercial properties into residential use or the restoration of listed buildings, regardless of location or size
• EUR 400,000: For the purchase of properties in Greece, the investment must be made in a single property with a minimum size of 120 sqm
• EUR 800,000: For the purchase of properties in Athens, Thessaloniki, and islands with more than 3,100 inhabitants

Alternatively, select one of the following qualifying options:

• A 10-year time-sharing or lease agreement for hotel accommodation or furnished tourist residences with a value of at least EUR 400,000 or EUR 800,000, depending on the threshold zone
• A fixed-term deposit of at least EUR 500,000 with a Greek credit institution
• A capital contribution of at least EUR 500,000 in a public limited real estate investment company that invests exclusively in Greece, increasing its share capital; or in a closed-end investment company or mutual fund; or in a Greek-based company for share capital increase or bonds issued for trading on regulated Greek markets or multilateral trading facilities
• Purchase of Greek government bonds worth at least EUR 500,000 with a remaining maturity of at least three years, through a Greek credit institution
• Purchase of shares, corporate bonds, or Greek government bonds traded on regulated Greek markets or multilateral trading facilities, with an acquisition value of at least EUR 800,000
• Purchase of shares or stocks with an acquisition value of at least EUR 350,000 in a mutual fund exclusively investing in shares, corporate bonds, or Greek government bonds traded on regulated markets or multilateral trading facilities in Greece, or in an alternative investment fund established in Greece or another EU member state, solely dedicated to investing in Greece

Procedures for Greece Residence by Investment

Step 1: Visit Greece

Step 2: Choose the preferred property

Step 3: Submission of the application

Step 4: Final verification

Citizenship in Greece

After residing in Greece for seven years, the applicant may apply for citizenship according to the Greek Nationality Code (Law 3284/2004) via the process of naturalization. This process can only be achieved if the applicant can demonstrate that they have established close ties with the country and that they have successfully integrated into Greek society, both financially and socially. The naturalization process also entails an exam to verify that the applicant has obtained an adequate knowledge of the Greek language.