29

Schengen countries to explore

€250,000

Minimum requirement

2-3

Months processing time

The Greece Golden Visa is particularly attractive for applicants who want European residence without being required to relocate. There is no minimum stay requirement to maintain the permit, although applicants must submit biometric data in Greece as part of the application process. 

The residence permit is valid for five years and may be renewed indefinitely, provided the qualifying investment is maintained and all ongoing requirements continue to be met. 

What are the main Greece Golden Visa benefits?

One of the main benefits of the Greece Golden Visa is visa-free travel within the 29 countries of Europe’s Schengen Area. This can be valuable for investors, entrepreneurs, and families who frequently travel across Europe for business, education, lifestyle, or family reasons.

The Greece Golden Visa is a family-friendly residence by investment route. The main applicant may include a spouse or legal partner, children up to the age of 21, parents, and parents of the spouse, subject to meeting the relevant requirements and providing proof of kinship. This makes the program attractive for families seeking a European residence option that can support multi-generational planning.

Greece does not impose a minimum physical presence requirement on Golden Visa holders. Applicants do not need to live in Greece to maintain or renew their residence permit, provided they continue to satisfy the relevant program requirements. The main required visit is for biometric data submission. This makes the Greece residence program suitable for individuals and families who want a European Plan B while maintaining their primary home, business, or lifestyle elsewhere.

Real estate remains the most popular Greece Golden Visa route. Depending on the property, location, and applicable rules, investors may be able to generate rental income from their Greek real estate asset. Any rental strategy should be reviewed carefully with professional real estate, legal, and tax advisors before purchase. The Greece property market may appeal to applicants seeking a combination of residence planning, lifestyle value, and long-term investment potential.

The Greece Golden Visa grants residence rights in Greece. The permit is valid for five years and may be renewed indefinitely, provided the qualifying investment is maintained and the applicant continues to meet the relevant requirements. Golden Visa holders may reside in Greece, although the permit does not require relocation.

Golden Visa holders may become eligible to apply for Greek citizenship after seven years of residence, subject to meeting the relevant legal requirements. Applicants should note that citizenship is not automatic. Those seeking Greek citizenship should expect to satisfy additional criteria, which may include actual residence, language, integration, and other requirements under Greek law.

Who Can Get Greece Residence

The main applicant must generally: 

  • Be over 18 years old 
  • Be a non-EU national 
  • Hold valid health insurance covering Greece 
  • Have no potential national security or reputational risk 
  • Make and maintain a qualifying investment 
  • Provide the required supporting documents 
  • Submit biometric data in Greece within the required timeframe 

All applications are subject to government review and due diligence. 

A spouse or legal partner over the age of 18 may be included in the Greece Golden Visa application, subject to meeting the relevant requirements (such as being a non-EU national and holding health insurance) and providing the required documentation. 

Children up to the age of 21 may be included in the application. 

Applicants should seek advice if children are close to the age limit, as family eligibility rules and timing can affect planning. 

Parents of the main applicant and parents of the spouse may be included as dependents. 

Applicants must provide evidence of the family relationship and any other documentation required by the Greek authorities. 

Program Requirements

To qualify for the Greece Golden Visa, applicants must make one qualifying investment and meet all other program requirements. The most popular route is real estate investment. Applicants may choose from the following qualifying options, subject to availability, eligibility, and the specific rules applying to the property or investment.

Purchase Real Estate: €250,000 Route 

A minimum investment of €250,000 may be available for specific qualifying real estate projects. 

This may include a property that will be converted from commercial to residential use, or the restoration of a listed building. 

Applicants should obtain professional advice before proceeding, as the property must meet the relevant legal and program requirements. 

Purchase Real Estate: €400,000 Route 

A minimum investment of €400,000 may apply to the purchase of a single qualifying property in certain areas of Greece. 

The property must generally meet the applicable minimum size requirement of 120m². 

Purchase Real Estate: €800,000 Route 

A minimum investment of €800,000 applies to qualifying property in higher-demand areas, including Attica, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Mykonos, Santorini, and Greek islands with more than 3,100 inhabitants. 

The property must generally meet the applicable minimum size requirement of 120m². 

Greek Government Bonds 

Applicants may qualify through a €500,000 purchase of Greek government bonds with a remaining maturity of at least three years, purchased through a credit institution established in Greece, which also acts as custodian. 

Time Deposit 

Applicants may qualify through a €500,000 minimum time deposit in a domestic credit institution. 

Other Investment Options 

Other investment options may include a capital contribution or the purchase of shares in an Alternative Investment Fund or mutual fund, subject to meeting the relevant program requirements. 

Other Requirements and Benefits 

As a Greece Golden Visa applicant, you must hold valid medical insurance covering your stay in Greece. 

You must also provide the relevant certificates and supporting documents to demonstrate family relationships where dependents are included. 

The qualifying investment must be maintained for as long as the residence permits are required. 

The Greece Golden Visa permit is valid for five years and may be renewed indefinitely, provided the applicant continues to meet the program requirements. 

Golden Visa holders may also access Greece’s public education system, subject to the relevant rules and practical requirements. 

Speak To An Expert

Latitude is a global leader in Residence and Citizenship by Investment. Our IMC-certified professionals specialize in cross-jurisdictional residence and citizenship planning. We help clients understand how the Greece Golden Visa compares with other European residence options, including Malta, Portugal, Italy, and other jurisdictions. Every applicant’s circumstances are different. A private consultation can help determine whether the Greece Golden Visa aligns with your family profile, investment preferences, timeline, tax position, and long-term objectives.

Latitude is a global leader in Residence and Citizenship by Investment. Our IMC-certified professionals specialize in cross-jurisdictional residence and citizenship planning. We help clients understand how the Greece Golden Visa compares with other European residence options, including Malta, Portugal, Italy, and other jurisdictions. Every applicant’s circumstances are different. A private consultation can help determine whether the Greece Golden Visa aligns with your family profile, investment preferences, timeline, tax position, and long-term objectives.

Speak To An Expert

Application Process

  • Month 1

    Client Onboarding Process

    We begin the Greece Golden Visa process with an initial assessment and Latitude due diligence.

    Following successful screening, we provide a Client Agreement for review and signature. Once the agreement is signed and the retainer payment is received, our team begins preparing the application.

    This stage may include selecting the qualifying investment, reviewing available property or investment routes, preparing supporting documents, and arranging the required legal steps.

    Applicants may select an investment remotely or by visiting Greece, depending on their circumstances and the investment route selected.

  • Months 1-2

    Application Review and Submission

    Before submission, we comprehensively review the application to ensure the file is complete and aligned with the requirements of the Hellenic Republic Ministry of Migration and Asylum.

    The application preparation stage may include powers of attorney, supporting civil documents, proof of investment, health insurance evidence, and family relationship documents where dependents are included.

    Once the file is ready, the application is submitted to the relevant Greek authorities.

    The authorities undertake their own review and due diligence. After submission, a receipt may be issued, which can act as temporary proof of residence status while the application is being processed.

  • Months 2-3

    Application Approval and Biometrics

    The processing time is typically estimated at 2 to 3 months from submission to residence card issuance, assuming the application has no areas of concern.

    Applicants must submit biometric data in Greece within the required timeframe. Under the current process, biometric data must be submitted within one year in Greece.

  • Months 3+

    Golden Visa Issued

    Once the application is approved and biometric data has been submitted, the residence card is issued.

    The Greece Golden Visa residence permit is valid for five years and may be renewed indefinitely, provided the qualifying investment is maintained and the applicant continues to meet the relevant requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Greece Golden Visa is a residence by investment program that allows eligible non-EU nationals and their families to obtain Greek residence through a qualifying investment. 

The program was launched in 2013 and is one of Europe’s most established Golden Visa routes. 

The Greece residence program allows qualifying non-EU investors to obtain a renewable residence permit in Greece. It is commonly known as the Greece Golden Visa. 

The program is especially popular with applicants seeking Schengen Area access, no physical presence requirement, and real estate-linked residence planning. 

The main benefits include visa-free travel within the Schengen Area, no physical presence requirement, family inclusion, renewable five-year residence, real estate investment options, and the ability to reside in Greece. 

The program may also support long-term planning for families seeking a European base. 

The Greece Golden Visa starts from €250,000 for certain qualifying real estate routes, such as conversion from commercial to residential use or restoration of a listed building. 

Other real estate thresholds include €400,000 and €800,000, depending on the location and property type. Other investment routes may also be available, including government bonds, time deposits, and certain fund-related options. 

Yes, the €250,000 threshold may still be available for specific qualifying real estate investments, including certain commercial-to-residential conversions or the restoration of listed buildings. 

It is not a general threshold for all property purchases. Applicants should confirm whether a specific property qualifies before proceeding. 

The €800,000 real estate threshold applies to qualifying property in higher-demand areas, including Attica, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Mykonos, Santorini, and Greek islands with more than 3,100 inhabitants. 

A minimum property size of 120m² generally applies. 

The €400,000 threshold applies to qualifying single-property purchases in other areas of Greece, subject to the applicable minimum size requirement of 120m². 

Under the current rules described in the program guide, the €400,000 and €800,000 real estate routes refer to a single property with a minimum size of 120m². 

Applicants should obtain advice before assuming that multiple properties can be combined to meet the threshold. 

In many cases, investors may be able to rent out their Greek property and generate rental income. 

However, rental use, restrictions, taxation, property management, and compliance should be reviewed with qualified legal, real estate, and tax advisors before purchase. 

No. Greece does not impose a minimum physical presence requirement on Golden Visa holders. 

Applicants must, however, submit biometric data in Greece and maintain the qualifying investment for as long as the residence permit is required. 

Yes. Applicants must submit biometric data in Greece within the required timeframe. 

According to the current process, biometric data must be submitted within one year in Greece. 

The processing time is typically estimated at 2 to 3 months from submission to issuance of the residence card, assuming the application has no areas of concern. 

Timelines may vary depending on document readiness, investment completion, government processing, and any issues that arise during review. 

The Greece Golden Visa residence permit is valid for five years. 

It may be renewed indefinitely, provided the qualifying investment is maintained and the applicant continues to meet the relevant requirements. 

Yes. The Greece Golden Visa allows family inclusion. 

Eligible family members may include a spouse or legal partner, children up to the age of 21, parents of the main applicant, and parents of the spouse, subject to meeting the relevant documentation and eligibility requirements. 

The current page notes that same-sex couples are welcome. Family eligibility should be reviewed based on the applicant’s documents, relationship status, and the requirements in force at the time of application. 

Children are generally included up to the age of 21 at the time of application. 

Families with children approaching the age limit should seek advice early, as timing can affect eligibility and planning. 

The Greece Golden Visa may support a long-term route to Greek citizenship, but citizenship is not automatic. 

Applicants may become eligible to apply for citizenship after seven years of residence, subject to meeting the relevant requirements under Greek law. These may include actual residence, language, integration, and other criteria. 

Greece generally permits dual citizenship. However, applicants should also check the rules of their existing country or countries of citizenship before pursuing naturalization. 

The Greece Golden Visa grants residence rights in Greece, but investor residence permits do not generally provide access to employment in Greece. 

Applicants who intend to work, operate a business, or take an active role in a company should seek legal advice on the appropriate permissions and structure. 

Golden Visa holders and eligible family members may access Greece’s education system, subject to the relevant rules, school or university admission requirements, and practical considerations. 

Yes. Applicants must hold valid medical insurance covering their stay in Greece. 

This applies to the main applicant and eligible family members included in the application. 

Required documents may include passports, proof of qualifying investment, health insurance, civil status documents, proof of kinship for dependents, and other supporting documentation required by the Greek authorities. 

Exact requirements depend on the applicant’s family profile, investment route, and circumstances. 

The qualifying investment must be maintained for as long as the residence permits are required. 

If you sell the property or cease to maintain the qualifying investment, you may no longer meet the requirements for renewal. 

Changes to the qualifying investment should be reviewed carefully before any action is taken. 

Applicants should seek professional advice to ensure that any sale, replacement, or restructuring does not affect residence permit eligibility or renewal. 

Holding a Greece Golden Visa does not automatically mean you are taxed on worldwide income in Greece. 

Tax residence depends on your personal circumstances, time spent in Greece, and other connecting factors. Greek-source income, such as rental income from Greek property, may be taxable in Greece. 

Applicants should obtain independent tax advice before investing, relocating, or renting out property. 

Greece offers the option of an attractive high-net-worth individual tax regime, subject to eligibility and professional advice. 

Applicants should not assume they qualify automatically and should obtain specialist tax guidance before making any decisions. 

Yes. Greece is part of the Schengen Area. 

Greece Golden Visa holders may travel visa-free within the Schengen Area for short stays, subject to Schengen rules. 

The Greece Golden Visa may be suitable for applicants seeking a real estate-linked European residence option, Schengen Area access, no minimum stay requirement, family inclusion, and a renewable five-year residence permit. 

The right choice depends on your nationality, family profile, investment preferences, tax position, timeline, and long-term goals. A private consultation can help determine whether Greece, or another residence route, is the most suitable option. 

Speak to one of our global experts and begin your journey today

The Latitude Group is a global leader in Residence and Citizenship by Investment. Our IMC-certified professionals are specialists in cross-jurisdictional residence and citizenship planning. We help clients compare the Greece Golden Visa with other European and global residence options to determine which route may best support their family, mobility, lifestyle, investment, and long-term planning objectives. Speak with a member of our team to explore whether the Greece Golden Visa is right for you and your family.

  • 2-3 months application processing time
  • 29 Schengen countries
  • No minimum physical presence required

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