Who is eligible?
All citizens of all nationalities are eligible for the Greek Golden Visa Programme, with the exact same terms. The residence permit is available to American, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, Canadian, Israeli and any other Non-European citizens.
What about family members?
Children under 21 years of age, parents, spouse or partner with a cohabitation agreement (concluded in Greece) and in-laws of the main investor can benefit from the same investment and issue a permanent European residence permit too.
What advantages are there of holding a residence permit in Greece?
– You may stay continuously in Greece for the duration of the permit.
– You may travel unconditionally to any of the other Schengen 26 countries without a visa as long as your stay in those countries does not exceed 90 days in any 6 month period.
– You may have access to health and education services, just as any Greek citizen.
Which are the 26 Schengen Countries?: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland
What are the requirements?
In order to satisfy the Golden Visa property ownership requirements in Greece, you must own property with a minimum value of €250,000. It is also possible to be a joint owner of a property, as long as your share in the property equals or exceeds €250,000.
There are, however, some exceptions to this rule.
For the Region of Attica, the Regional Units of Thessaloniki, Mykonos, and Santorini, and the islands with a population of more than 3,100 inhabitants, the minimum value of real estate at the time of acquisition is 800,000 EUR. For all other regions of the country, the minimum value of real estate at the time of acquisition is set at 400,000 EUR. The investment must be carried out in a single property with a minimum surface area of 120 square meters.
The minimum threshold in Mykonos and Santorini will be increased from 500k to 800k EUR. Additionally, 32 more islands have been added to the same 800k investment list, but the minimum threshold for these islands will be raised directly from 250k to 800k EUR
How long does the residence permit last?
It is renewable indefinitely every 5 years as long as the ownership of the property remains in the applicant’s name
What are the costs associated with the application process for the residence permit for owners of real estate?
Power of Attorney
Power of Attorney (POA) in front of a Greek Notary or Greek Consulate: € 300-400 (approx.)
Interpreter
Interpreter Fee for translating and co-signing the POA with the principal: € 100-200 (approx.)
Private Health Insurance
Up to 65 years old: € 100-250 per person
66-76 years old: € 250-350 per person
76- … : under special conditions (i.e. good medical history etc.) Upon request
Immigration Government Fees
Main investor Application/renewal: € 2,000
Family Member Application/renewal > 13 years old: € 150 per person
Printing cost (it applies to all applicants regardless their age): € 16 per person
How long will it take for the residence permit to be issued?
It is estimated to be issued within 2 months from the day on which the application was submitted or reached the Decentralized Administration. The applicant is not affected by the duration of the processing of their application. After the application has been submitted, the applicant receives a receipt confirming the submission of the application, which is valid for one year. The time required to process the application depends on the specific locality where the application was submitted and the volume of pending applications. Authorities have been instructed to give priority to this type of application, and all efforts are made to process the applications within two months. If an application for a residence permit is submitted for the first time, proof of submission can be issued even if the supporting documents with regards to the insurance coverage or the medical certificate of the applicant will be submitted at a later date.
How do I apply?
Once you own your property you must make an application at the Directorate of Foreign Citizens and Immigration of the Decentralized Administration, in the place of residence. In some cases, the application should be submitted to the Municipality of where your property is located.
