Golden Visa Program for Greece
SAMI REAL ESTATE | Real Estate Agency Athens

Key advantages of the Golden Visa Program for Greece:

 1. Visa-free travel: Allows unrestricted movement within Europe's Schengen area.
 2. No mandatory stay: Residence in Greece is not required to maintain the visa.
 3. Quick processing: Residence permits are usually issued within 30 to 60 days.
 4. Long-term benefits: The residence permit has no expiration date if the investment is maintained.
 5. Family integration: The program covers the applicant, their spouse, children under 21 years of age, and the parents of both the applicant and their spouse.
 6. Property rental option: Investors can generate income by renting out their property.
 7. Path to citizenship: Right to apply for Greek citizenship after seven years of residence.
 8. Business opportunities: Investors can own shares and receive dividends from Greek companies, although direct employment in Greece is limited.

Program requirements:

 1. Real estate investment: Minimum investment in real estate €250,000 (the lowest among European programs).
 2. Started in 2013: Designed to attract foreign investment to stimulate the Greek economy.
 3. Application process: Includes purchasing a qualifying property, submitting required documentation, and completing background checks.

This program is ideal for individuals and families seeking European access, global mobility, and the possibility of acquiring citizenship in the future, all without the need to relocate to Greece.

The Greece Residency by Investment program offers numerous benefits, making it an attractive option for investors wishing to secure residency in the European Union. The key benefits of this program include:
 1. Cook Resitenky: Applicants can obtain a residence permit in just 60 days after investment.
 2. Low Investment Requirement: Minimum investment of €250,000 in real estate, one of the lowest in the EU.
 3. Renewable Housing: 5-year residence permit, which can be renewed as long as the property is maintained.
 4. Access to the Schengen area: Visa-free travel within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
 5. Family eligibility: The entire family, including spouses and children, can benefit from the stay.
 6. No Residency Requirements: No minimum stay is required either before or after obtaining the residence permit.
 7. Education: Access to high-quality education, including prestigious EU universities with lower tuition fees.
 8. Healthcare: Access to Greece's public health services, which are free or low-cost for residents.

These advantages make the Greek residency program an attractive option for investors and their families who wish to live, work or study within the EU.

The Greek Golden Visa program has introduced significant changes, notably with tiered investment requirements based on location:

 1. Two investment zones:
 • Investment Zone €800,000: Applies to high-demand areas such as Attica (including Athens), Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and many popular islands such as Crete, Rhodes, Corfu and others.
 • Investment Zone €400,000: Applies to properties outside of these prime locations.

 2. Investment Criteria:
 • Single ownership requirement: Οι επενδυτές πρέπει να αγοράσουν ένα μόνο ακίνητο με ελάχιστο μέγεθος 120 τετραγωνικών μέτρων (περίπου 1.292 τετραγωνικά πόδια).
 • Usage restrictions: Properties purchased through Golden Visa cannot be used for short-term rentals (e.g. Airbnb). Violations may result in license revocation and a fine of 50,000 euros.

 3. Exceptions:
 • Conversion of commercial use to residential use: Properties that have been converted from commercial to residential use remain eligible for the €250,000 limit.
 • Restoration of Listed Buildings: The restoration of listed properties also meets the requirements for the minimum investment amount of €250,000, provided that the restoration is completed for visa renewal after five years.

 4. Transition period:
Investors who have signed pre-contracts and paid a 10% deposit by August 31, 2024, can qualify for the minimum amount of €250,000 if the purchase is completed by December 31, 2024. The property purchase can be transferred if it is not completed by that date, as long as it is finalized by April 30, 2025.

These changes reflect Greece's strategy to focus investments in more desirable locations, while maintaining a more flexible approach to certain types of real estate investments.