Whitewashed architecture overlooking the Aegean Sea

Residency by Investment

Greece Golden Visa

One of Europe's most affordable golden visas: Greek residency through real estate, with no stay requirement to renew.

Time to residency

3–6 months

Minimum investment

€250,000+

Program Overview

About the Greece program

In brief

The Greece program is a residency-by-investment program that grants the right to live in Greece. The minimum qualifying investment is €250,000+, and approvals typically take 3–6 months. It requires no residence or relocation. Figures are indicative minimums for the main applicant.

Greece's golden visa grants five-year renewable residency to real estate investors, with no minimum stay requirement to maintain or renew the permit.

Investment thresholds vary by location — prime areas such as central Athens command higher minimums, while qualifying conversion and restoration properties preserve a lower entry point.

Presence requirement

No stay requirement — not even for renewal

Document validity

5-year permit, renewable indefinitely while the property is held

Dual nationality

Residence status — your current citizenship is unaffected

How it compares

Greece against other residency programs

Where Greece sits among the 8 residency by investment programs we advise on. The gold marker is the peer average.

Minimum investment (lower is better)€250,000

Peer average $428kBelow the peer average

Time to approval (lower is better)3–6 months

Peer average ≈ 14 monthsBelow the peer average

Investment is compared on a USD-normalized basis; the label shows this program's own currency. Time uses the upper end of the published range. Figures are indicative.

Key Benefits

Among the most affordable EU golden visas
Schengen mobility for permit holders
No stay requirement to renew the permit
Family members included in the application

The Life It Unlocks

The Aegean base your family returns to every year.

A home that earns its keep

A real property in Greece anchors the residence — the summer house that doubles as your family's European status.

Schengen from the islands

Ninety days in each hundred-eighty across Europe, starting from a country people dream of being sent to.

No clock to feed

No minimum stay to keep the permit valid — Greece waits for you, not the other way around.

Investment Pathways

Real Estate Purchase

From €250,000

Purchase of Greek real estate. Thresholds vary by location and property type — from €250,000 for qualifying conversion or restoration properties to €800,000 in prime areas.

Held for the duration of the permit

Explore your route

From (indicative)

$273,000

Capital treatment

Held for the duration of the permit

Purchase of Greek real estate. Thresholds vary by location and property type — from €250,000 for qualifying conversion or restoration properties to €800,000 in prime areas.

Who comes with you

Spouse of the main applicant
Children under 21
Parents of the main applicant and spouse

Family additions are quoted individually — request your exact figure

Application Timeline

Your dates

Complete files are typically processed in 3–6 months.

Indicative — based on typical processing of 3–6 months for complete files. Government timelines are not guaranteed.

1
Month 1
Property selection
Selection and legal verification of the qualifying property; issuance of a Greek tax number.
2
Months 2–3
Purchase & submission
Completion of the purchase and submission of the residence application.
3
Months 3–4
Biometrics
Biometrics appointment in Greece.
4
Months 4–6
Permit issuance
Issuance of the five-year renewable residence permit.

Requirements

Qualifying real estate maintained for the duration of the permit
Clean criminal record
Valid health insurance covering Greece
Biometrics submitted in Greece

Family Eligibility

Spouse of the main applicant
Children under 21
Parents of the main applicant and spouse

What to Weigh

Honest advice includes the trade-offs. Before committing to the Greece program, consider:

Thresholds are location-dependent — €800,000 in prime areas, €400,000 elsewhere, €250,000 only for specific conversion or restoration properties.
The permit does not grant the right to work as an employee in Greece.
Rental restrictions apply to some qualifying property categories — check before underwriting rental income.

Does Greece fit you?

Three questions, scored by the same engine as our Program Finder — with an honest answer, even when it isn't this program.

What are you ultimately looking for?

What investment level are you comfortable with?

How soon do you want this in hand?

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the €250,000 threshold still apply?

Only for qualifying properties converted from commercial use or listed buildings under restoration. Standard residential purchases require €400,000 or €800,000 depending on location.

Do my family get permits too?

Yes — your spouse, children under 21, and the parents of both spouses receive permits linked to the same investment.

Can Greek residency lead to citizenship?

Only through genuine residence: naturalisation generally requires seven years of actual living in Greece plus language and integration requirements. The golden visa alone does not lead to a passport.

Alternatives

Related Programs

Families often weigh this program against these alternatives.

Residency

Malta

Permanent residence in an EU member state through Malta's Permanent Residence Programme, with no physical stay requirement.

Min. investment: €375,000+
Time to approval: 6–8 months
You receive: Residence permit

View full details

Residency

Portugal

Europe's best-known golden visa: EU residency with a minimal stay requirement and a potential path to citizenship after seven to ten years of legal residence.

Min. investment: €500,000+
Time to approval: 10–14 months
You receive: Residence permit

View full details