We help with visas, residency and real estate throughout the EU.
The Greece Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program that allows non-EU citizens to obtain Greek residency by investing in real estate or other assets like Greek Government Bonds, corporate shares or bonds or by making an investment in approved Greek investment funds.
Launched in 2013, the Greek Golden Visa Program grants a five-year residence permit in exchange for as low as a €250,000 real estate investment in Greece. You can include your family in the residency program. The Golden Visa grants you the flexibility to travel throughout the Schengen zone without requiring a separate visa.
With the Greek Golden Visa you and your family will have a permanent Greek residency permit. There is no limitation to how long you can stay. As a matter of fact, there is no minimum stay requirement either. The right to live in Greece comes with public healthcare and education benefits as well.
The Golden Visa gives you the freedom to travel across the Schengen zone without the need for an additional visa. The Schengen zone consists of 29 European countries that have officially abolished visas and border control at their mutual borders. Romania and Bulgaria are the newest members, joined on 1st January 2025.
The Golden Visa residence scheme allows you to include in the programme your spouse and children under the age of 21 and also children between the age of 21 to 24 who are currently studying. In addition to the other Golden Visa programs, the Greek program provides an extended family benefit. This means that the principal applicant’s parents and parents-in-law can also receive residency cards without any further requirements. This means that all these family members can also receive and enjoy all the benefits of a Golden Visa card.
Your money will be secure as you are investing in a European country with a strong and stable economy. By choosing to invest in Greece, you gain the advantages financial stability, promising growth opportunities and the reassurance that your money is in a safe and trustworthy environment. The Greek real estate market experienced a significant downturn following the 2008 financial crisis. For nearly ten years, property values and market activity struggled to recover, making it a challenging period for investors and the economy alike. By 2023, the Greek real estate market began to show promising signs of recovery. Steady improvement in property values and increased investor interest highlight the sector’s growth potential, making it an appealing option for those looking to benefit from a revitalized market.
Among the Golden Visa programs in Europe, Greece stands out for its affordability. With a minimum investment of just €250,000 in Greek real estate, it offers the lowest entry point for investors seeking residency through property investment.
In order to qualify for a Golden Visa in Greece, you must meet the following requirements:
You will not need to visit Greece in person in order to start your application.
Required Documents for Opening a Bank Account in Greece
In order to apply for Golden Visa, you will need a personal bank account in Greece. The good news is that our team can assist you with opening your bank account. The specific documents needed to open a Greek bank account can vary based on each bank’s policies and the client’s profile (e.g., profession, age). It’s advisable to work closely with your legal team and coordinate with the bank to get a preliminary list of required documents before collecting or sending originals. Here is a list of commonly requested documents by Greek banks:
Document Requirements
All documents must be issued within the last 3 months, translated into Greek, certified and apostilled.
Documents Collected in the Country of Origin
Applicants must gather several documents in their home country, particularly those that verify relationships between the main investor and eligible family members. Key documents to collect are:
Important Notes
Documents Collected and Processed in Greece
Biometric Data
A key step in the Golden Visa process and the only one that requires the physical presence of all applicants (both the main investor and family members), is the biometric data collection. Applicants can travel to provide their biometric information any time after the Golden Visa submission date but within twelve months after the submission.
In compliance with EU regulations, Greek authorities will gather the following:
If an applicant cannot provide fingerprints due to a temporary or permanent condition, a medical certificate explaining the reason can be submitted.
The legal timeframe to receive the Greek Golden Visa as set by the law is two (2) months, after giving the biometric data.
The time needed for finalizing 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 visa is submitted, the Golden Visa applicants receive on the same day a certificate proving the submission of their applications which stands as a temporary residence permit.
The first step is for the investor to identify a suitable property in Greece. With our experts in Greece we can facilitate this process by connecting investors with trusted real estate agencies and private sellers.
Once a property is identified, we conduct a due diligence to verify its legal status. This includes checks with the Land Registry and Mortgage Registry to ensure title validity and clarity.
We assist investors with obtaining a Greek tax identification number and opening a local bank account, both essential for the purchase process. Additionally, we will support you in securing a health insurance policy from a Greek-registered private insurer, which is required for residency. We also arrange certified translations for all documents involved.
Upon completing the property purchase contract, we provide the investor with a legally translated copy. Payment for the property can be made using the funds transferred directly to the seller’s Greek bank account. The purchase must be fully paid before the residency application can proceed.
With all documentation in order, we handle the residency application submission on behalf of the investor. We can complete the entire process using a Power of Attorney.
For biometric collection, the applicant and their family members are required to travel to Greece.
The Greece Golden Visa is issued for five years. In order to maintain your residency status, you will need to renew it every five years. To qualify for renewal, the following conditions must be met:
To renew your Greece Golden Visa, the following documents need to be submitted:
The authorities may occasionally request additional documentation to process your renewal.
Golden Visa holders, along with their dependent family members, can pursue Greek citizenship through naturalization after fulfilling the required residency period. Specifically, after 7 years of continuous, legal residency in Greece, Golden Visa holders may apply for citizenship. For adult dependents, eligibility requires 12 years of residency, though this timeframe can be reduced to 7 years if they transition to a permanent residence status after their fifth year in Greece. Once a parent obtains Greek citizenship, any dependent minors automatically receive citizenship as well.
Children under 23 who have attended school within the Greek curriculum in Greece have an accelerated pathway to citizenship. They may apply for citizenship after meeting one of the following educational milestones: completion of 9 years in primary and/or secondary school, completion of 6 years in secondary school (junior and senior high school), or graduation from both a Greek senior high school and a Greek university.
Acquiring Greek citizenship offers substantial new advantages for you and your family:
With a Greek passport, citizens gain visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 180 countries worldwide, placing the Greek passport among the top-ranked globally. This high level of travel freedom opens doors to numerous destinations without the need for lengthy visa applications.
Greek citizenship grants the right to live, work, and study not only in Greece but throughout the entire European Union. This freedom provides access to employment opportunities, educational institutions, and residency options across all EU member states.
After obtaining Greek citizenship, there is no requirement to maintain your original Golden Visa investment. Citizenship is permanent, so you can choose to sell your investment without needing further renewals, allowing complete financial flexibility.
Greek ancient civilisation and cultural legacy is prominent throughout the cities as well as islands with well-preserved monuments, museums, relics and cultural events and activities. A characteristic representation of ancient relics and temples coexisting with a modern landscape is the Historical Center of Athens where ancient and current architecture merge harmoniously.
Either visiting as a tourist or moving to Greece, you will soon find out that this is a vibrant country. With shops being open until late and people populating the streets constantly, security is prioritised. Most importantly, nearly everyone speaks English, so it is easy to find your way around.
Public and private healthcare of high standards is available to foreign investors just as to the locals. The hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers in Greece are widespread and fully equipped with well-trained medical professionals who are familiar with providing treatment to non-Greek speaking patients such as Golden Visa investors.
There are several International schools in Athens for primary and secondary education as well as universities. In the same manner, Golden visa holders may attend European Universities with the same benefits as EU citizens.
Being amongst the sunniest countries in Europe, life in Greece is bright and the weather makes daily outdoor activities a breeze while maximizing the holiday season for tourists.
Venues to go out in Greece are available 24/7 varying from traditional music and dancing to mainstream bars and clubs.
Restaurants and cafes are really popular amongst locals and tourists alike, with choices ranging from high profile gourmet eateries to traditional outdoor family owned taverns. Food in Greece is based on the flavours of the Mediterranean cuisine and offers a variety of choices to suit different tastes.
Being part of a culture shaped around hospitality and tourism, Greeks are used to welcoming nationalities from every part of the world, most being fluent in English and willing to show newcomers and visitors around. Whether you are visiting Greece as a tourist, planning on staying long-term, or moving to Greece, locals are welcoming and amenities are high quality making your stay pleasant and easy to adapt to.
Reach out to us with confidence, our dedicated team is here to support you every step of the way. We are committed to handling your inquiry with the utmost care and confidentiality.
