Greece Golden Visa
Rules changed
Zone pricing since 31 August 2024: about €800,000 in Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and larger islands (one property, at least 120 m²), €400,000 elsewhere, and €250,000 only for commercial-to-residential conversions or listed-building restorations. The permit also does not give the right to take salaried employment with a Greek employer.
All programme updates →Short answer
The Greece Golden Visa — real-estate investment residence (5-year renewable) prized for Schengen access and near-zero physical-stay, and able to include family. Note: short-term (Airbnb-style) rental of the qualifying property is now prohibited.
Best for
- Investors who want EU residence with minimal physical presence
- Families seeking Schengen access together
- People building a backup plan rather than immediate citizenship
Not ideal for
- Applicants targeting fast citizenship
- Those without investment-level liquid funds
Snapshot
- Region
- Europe
- Budget band
- High
- Timeline
- Medium
- Residence burden
- Low
- Passport potential
- Weak unless real residence
- Family suitability
- High
- Tax / banking complexity
- Medium / Medium
- Entry capital
- €250,000 · Invested / contributed
- Typical processing
- 2–6 months
- Estimated budget
- Tiered real-estate investment (Law 5100/2024): ~€800,000 in prime zones (Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and islands over ~3,100 residents; one property of at least 120 m², no combining), ~€400,000 elsewhere, or ~€250,000 for commercial-to-residential conversions / listed-building restoration. Non-real-estate options: ~€350,000 in a qualifying Greek investment fund, or ~€500,000 in a Greek bank deposit or government bonds. Plus ~7–10% taxes and fees. Subject to current rules.
Timeline, stay requirement & passport in detail
- Timeline
- Roughly 2–6 months from completing the investment to permit issuance (biometrics + processing). Subject to current rules.
- Residence burden
- No minimum-stay requirement to hold or renew the residence permit — a key reason applicants choose it.
- Passport potential
- Weak for citizenship: naturalization is possible only after ~7 years of genuine residence (~183 days/year) plus a Greek language/history exam, so the visa itself is not an easy citizenship track.
Commonly requested documents
- Valid passport and proof of address
- Source-of-funds evidence and bank statements
- Clean criminal record
- Family certificates where relevant
Main risks
- Investment due diligence and source-of-funds review can be demanding
- Bank compliance and onboarding may take time
- Not designed as a quick citizenship route
Recommended next steps
- Confirm your liquid funds and source-of-funds story
- Review which investment option suits you
- Arrange professional due-diligence support
See if this route fits your profile
Frequently asked questions
Related reading
- Portugal D7/D8 vs Greece Golden Visa →
- Greece Golden Visa vs Turkey / Caribbean Citizenship →
- Spain Digital Nomad / Non-Lucrative vs Greece Golden Visa →
- Greece Golden Visa in 2026: tiers, timeline and who it suits →
- Best countries for Americans to move abroad in 2026 →
- Greek golden visa: renewals, permanent residence and the road to citizenship →
- Greece: days, tax residency, and what the golden visa does not let you do →
- Moving to Greece from the United States →
Information reviewed: 2026-09 · subject to change — not legal advice · Sources: enterprisegreece.gov.gr, investmentvisa.com
Important disclaimer
This tool provides a general route-matching estimate based on the information you entered. It is not legal, tax, financial, or immigration advice. It does not guarantee eligibility, approval, visa issuance, residence approval, citizenship, bank account approval, or any government outcome. A professional assessment is recommended.
