Conditions for investment to immigrate to Greece

Investors obtain a Greek Golden Visa by purchasing residential or commercial property worth over 250,000 Euros. Another option is to rent accommodation for tourists or sign a time-sharing agreement.

Besides real estate investment, there are also options to invest in the capital of local companies, buy securities and government bonds, or open bank deposits. In these cases, the minimum investment amount is €500,000.

Below are the requirements and conditions for investment to settle in Greece that investors need to follow:

Conditions for investors to settle in Greece through the Golden Visa program

Residence permits are issued to the investor’s family: spouse, children under 24 years old and parents. There is no requirement to pass an exam in Greek language or history. Living in Greece is only necessary if the investor plans to apply for citizenship.

For Investors

• Over 18 years old
•  Be a citizen of a non-EU/EEA country
•  Have a clean criminal record
• Have health insurance for yourself and your family
• Ability to confirm the legitimacy of income

Spouse or partner

• Includes same-sex couples. Partners must have a cohabitation agreement registered and signed in Greece

Children of investors under 24 years old

• Unmarried
• Students over 21 years old

Children of spouses under 21 years of age

• Unmarried
• Depends on the investor

Parent

• No age limit
• No need for financial dependency

Investment Options – Estimated Costs for Real Estate Investment Options

Real Estate Investment

Greece offers investors nine options for obtaining a residence permit through investment. Four of them involve buying or renting real estate.

Minimum investment depends on the location of the property

• €500,000 in the northern, central and southern regions of Athens, the southern suburbs of Athens, Thessaloniki and on the islands of Mykonos and Santorini;
• €250,000 in all other regions.

If the spouse or partner buys the property under joint ownership, each person must invest at least 250,000 Euros or 500,000 Euros, depending on the region. For example, buying a villa in Mykonos for €1,000,000.

An investor can purchase residential or commercial property, one or more properties, as an individual or through a legal entity.

Estimated costs to contribute to real estate investment options:

• Buy a property: €250,000+
• Property transfer tax: 3.09% of the asset value
• Notary fee: 1-2% of the value of the property
• Registration fee: €2,000 for investors, +€150 per adult family member
• Health insurance: €300+ per applicant

In case you choose to continue buying real estate:

• The property must remain in your possession for the duration of the Golden Visa holding.
• If you buy the property through a legal entity, you must own 100% of the company’s shares.

In case of choosing to sign an accommodation rental contract:

• Long-term contract: The lease contract must have a minimum term of 10 years.
• Contract value: The total rent must reach 250,000 Euros.
• One-time payment: You must pay the full amount of rent for 10 years as soon as you sign the contract.

You can renew your Golden Visa residence permit every 5 years. You must meet the above conditions to be able to renew at the end of each five years.

Other investment options

Minimum investment of €500,000 in

• Greek Government Bonds
• Bonds or shares of real estate investment companies in Greece
• Stocks and bonds of venture capital funds and private equity funds headquartered in Greece

Conditions for buying real estate to apply for a Greek Golden Visa – Changes to know

Before 31/8/2024

Minimum Value: Investors buy real estate worth €250,000 or more.

Term:

• Sign a 10% deposit contract before 31/8/2024.
• Complete the transaction before 31/12/2024.

Exception: If the transaction is not completed before 31/12/2024, it is possible to purchase another property at the same price and complete it before 30/4/2025.

After 31/8/2024

Minimum value: Investors buy real estate worth from

• €800,000 in Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and islands with over 3,100 inhabitants.
• €400,000 in other regions.

Exception: €250,000 for property purchased for renovation or conversion into residential space.

Minimum area: 120 square meters for a property valued at €400,000 or €800,000.

The updates of the Greek Golden Visa program represent a forward-looking approach to investment immigration. The program aims to diversify the types of investments attracted and this development is expected to promote a more balanced and sustainable contribution to Greece’s economy and cultural heritage.

Settle in Greece with support from Portico and Bridge

Portico and Bridge  is proud to be a leading European immigration and investment solution provider, from Malta with nearly 40 years of experience in the industry and 5 representative offices around the world including: Malta, Vietnam, Singapore, China, Cyprus.

Over the years, with the efforts of all employees and the trust of customers, Portico and Bridge has been helping more than 1,700 successful immigration applications. Currently, the success rate of applications in Vietnam is 100%.

If you want to invest in Greek island, contact us immediately at 0909 898 758 for the most detailed support and advice!