Residency

Greece Golden Visa

The Greece Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program that allows non-EU citizens to gain EU residency through property or financial investment. It is a popular option in Europe because of its low investment requirement, flexible residency stay rules, and access to the Schengen Area.

EU Member State Schengen Area No Min. Stay Required Family Inclusion
€250K
Min. Investment
5 years
Permit Validity
4-8mo
Processing Time
0 days
Min. Stay Required

Key Highlights

Why Choose Greece?

Low Investment Threshold
One of the most affordable Golden Visa programs in Europe, starting from just €250,000 for qualifying conversion properties.
Schengen Area Access
As an EU member and Schengen Area state, Greek residence permit holders can travel visa-free within Europe.
No Stay Requirement
No minimum stay requirement, giving investors complete flexibility to live elsewhere while maintaining Greek residency.
Family Inclusion
Residency extends to the entire family including spouse, children under 21, and dependent parents of both the applicant and their spouse.
Tax Optimization
Greece's non-domicile tax regime allows foreign nationals to pay a flat annual tax of €100,000 on all global income for up to 15 years.

Available Programs

Programs Overview

Investment Option Location Type Min. Investment Processing
Real Estate — Conversion Projects All areas · Min. 120m² · Commercial to residential Residency €250,000 4–8 months
Real Estate — Standard Areas Patras, Larissa, Volos & smaller islands (<3,100 inhabitants) Residency €400,000 4–8 months
Real Estate — Prime Areas Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini Residency €800,000 4–8 months
Property Leasing 10-year lease or timeshare in approved resort Residency €250,000 / €500,000* 4–8 months
Investment Funds Greek shares or bonds focused funds Residency €350,000 4–8 months
Shares or Corporate Bonds Listed on regulated Greek markets Residency €800,000 4–8 months
Government Bonds Min. 3-year maturity Residency €500,000 4–8 months
Fixed-Term Bank Deposit Greek bank or national credit institution Residency €500,000 4–8 months
Startup Investment Company registered with Elevate Greece Residency €250,000 4–8 months
* €500,000 for leasing in prime areas (Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini)

Detailed Programs

Program Details

Click on each program to expand the details

Real Estate — Conversion Projects (€250K) From €250,000

The €250,000 threshold applies to commercial property conversions (e.g., offices converted to residential) and restoration of listed buildings. The property purchased must be at least 120 square meters in size.

Under Ministerial Decision 214926/2025, conversion projects using the €250,000 route are required to have the change of use completed before the application submission. Short-term rentals on platforms such as Airbnb are strictly prohibited under Law 5100/2024.

Min. Investment
€250,000
Property Type
Conversion or listed building
Min. Size
120 m²
Short-Term Rental
Strictly prohibited

The €400,000 threshold applies to properties in less populated areas such as Patras, Larissa, Volos, Ioannina, the Peloponnese region, and smaller islands with a population under 3,100 inhabitants.

The investment must be in a single property — combining multiple smaller units to meet the requirement is strictly prohibited under Law 5100/2024. The property must be at least 120 square meters in size.

Min. Investment
€400,000
Location
Standard & less populated areas
Min. Size
120 m²
Single Property Rule
Mandatory — no splitting

The €800,000 threshold applies to prime real estate areas including Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, and Santorini. These are the most sought-after locations for investors seeking lifestyle and rental yield opportunities.

As with the €400,000 tier, the investment must be in a single property. Short-term rentals are prohibited, and administrative penalties of up to €50,000 apply for non-compliance, along with possible residence permit revocation.

Min. Investment
€800,000
Location
Athens · Thessaloniki · Mykonos · Santorini
Short-Term Rental Penalty
Up to €50,000 fine
Single Property Rule
Mandatory — no splitting

Investors can qualify for the Greece Golden Visa by investing €350,000 in investment funds focused on Greek shares or bonds. This option is ideal for investors who prefer financial instruments over real estate.

Additional capital contribution options include €800,000 in shares or corporate bonds listed on regulated Greek markets, or €500,000 in Greek government bonds with a minimum 3-year maturity.

Investment Funds
€350,000
Shares or Corporate Bonds
€800,000
Government Bonds (min. 3yr)
€500,000
No Real Estate Required
Financial instruments only

Applicants can qualify for the Greece Golden Visa by opening a fixed-term deposit of at least €500,000 in a Greek bank account or other national credit institution.

This option is particularly attractive for investors seeking a low-maintenance, liquid-adjacent pathway to Greek residency without the complexities of property ownership or fund management.

Min. Deposit
€500,000
Where
Greek bank or national credit institution
No Real Estate Required
Bank deposit only
Permit Validity
5 years, renewable

Introduced under Article 44 of Law 5162/2024, the startup investment option creates the Type B.6 residence permit. To qualify, investors must invest at least €250,000 into a company registered with Elevate Greece.

The law includes a 33% maximum ownership cap for foreign investors and requires the company to maintain at least 2 new jobs for 5 years. This option is ideal for entrepreneurial investors looking to actively participate in Greece's growing startup ecosystem.

Min. Investment
€250,000
Max. Ownership
33% cap for foreign investors
Job Creation Required
Min. 2 new jobs for 5 years
Registration Required
Elevate Greece platform

Citizenship

Path to Greek Citizenship

There is no Greek citizenship by investment program — citizenship can only be obtained through naturalization. Golden Visa holders can apply for Greek citizenship after spending at least 7 years in Greece, with a minimum of 183 days per year in the country during each qualifying year.

Applicants must not spend more than 10 months outside Greece during any 5-year period, maintain a clean criminal record both in Greece and abroad, and hold a valid residence permit throughout the qualifying period.

Residency Required
7 years · min. 183 days/year
Max. Absence
10 months outside Greece per 5-year period
Language Requirement
Greek language test — B1 level (CEFR)
Tax Residency
Must be Greek tax resident during qualifying period

Tax Optimization

Greece Tax Benefits for Investors

Non-Domicile Flat Tax Regime
Foreign nationals who relocate their tax residence to Greece can pay a fixed annual lump-sum tax of €100,000 on all global income for up to 15 years. This exemption can extend to family members for an additional €20,000 per person. Applicants must not have been Greek tax residents for 7 of the last 8 years and must invest at least €500,000 in Greek assets within 3 years.
No Minimum Stay Requirement
The Greece Golden Visa has no minimum stay requirement to maintain residency — giving investors complete flexibility to live elsewhere while maintaining their Greek EU residency and Schengen access. However, obtaining citizenship requires 183 days/year for 7 years.
Greek Rental Income Tax Rates (2026)
Golden Visa holders must declare rental income to Greek tax authorities even if living abroad:

• Up to €12,000 — 15%
• €12,001 to €24,000 — 25%
• €24,001 to €35,000 — 35%
• Above €35,000 — 45%
Short-Term Rental Ban (Law 5100/2024)
Golden Visa properties cannot be used for short-term rentals (Airbnb, etc.) under Law 5100/2024. Administrative penalties of up to €50,000 apply for non-compliance, along with possible residence permit revocation. Long-term rental income remains permitted.

Application Process

Your Path to Greece Residency

1
Investment Selection
Choose your qualifying investment option based on budget and objectives
2
Documentation
Passport, criminal record, health insurance, proof of investment & source of funds
3
Investment Completion
Purchase property or make qualifying financial investment in Greece
4
Application Submission
Submit application with all documents certified with Apostille stamp and translated into Greek
5
Biometrics
Visit Greece to complete biometric data collection at the relevant authority
6
Residence Permit Issued
5-year renewable Golden Visa permit issued. No minimum stay required to maintain residency

Ready to Start Your Greece Journey?

Contact us for a free, strictly confidential consultation. Our senior advisors will identify the best Greek investment option for your profile, budget, and family situation.

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