Why to Get a Greek

The Golden Visa Programme 2020 boasts an extensive list
of benefits ranging from financial gains to the
freedom of visa-free travel around Europe.

Golden Visa 2020

Golden visa is a type of Greek residence visa with added benefits, offered by several European countries including Greece.
It is an investment scheme that ensures visa-free travel in the Schengen zone to non-European investors and their families.

Launched in July 2013 the Greek golden visa programme grants a five year greek residency visa in return for an investment in real estate. There is no minimum stay requirement and children up to the age of 21 are included in the family application. The Greek golden visa is granted for five years andrenewed every five years if the property investment is retained. It is not necessary to live in the country in order to retain and renew the investor visa. However citizenship can only be granted after seven years of residency.

The Golden Visa Programme 2020 boasts an extensive list of benefits ranging from financial gains to the freedom of visa-free travel that a real estate investment in Greece offers non-European investors.

The Golden Visa Programme in Greece is exceptionally competitive as it features friendly terms, minimizing both the amount of the capital required and with the help of investment consultants it is easy to obtain. It is an investor visa and it can be renewed indefinitely as long as the main applicant keeps the investment, while there is no requirement to stay in Greece whatsoever.

FAQs about Greek Golden Visa

The first thing to do is to arrange a trip to Greece to view the properties and learn about the required formalities.
During your stay we can do practically everything within 4 working days, we will answer all your questions regarding the program
and present your obligations as a property owner in Greece.

In brief what we do during your stay is :
We visit the properties.

We Issue tax id number.

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If you decide to proceed further :
-We open a local bank account.

-We sign a power to attorney document, which gives us the right to represent you with the Greek public authorities.
-You sign a property purchase pre-agreement with the property seller. A 10% deposit is required to secure the transaction.
This amount can be transferred after you return to your country.
-After we receive the deposit we prepare the transfer contract and we sign within 10 days.
-We register your name as the new owner at the local land registry authorities.
-Then we apply for the residency permit(s).
-The rest we can do on your behalf. You don’t need to be in Greece.
All payments will be performed from your Greek bank account after you transfer the required funds.

We follow up the whole procedure closely and we report to you at every step.

We do. It is part of our services portfolio to handle all the necessary paperwork on behalf of the applicant:
– The application process for the initial residence permit.
– The submission of any additional required documentation.
– Finally the collection of the receipt of the residence permit.

We also deal with all aspects regarding the purchase of the property.

As soon as you submit the residency application, you will receive a confirmation receipt that serves as a one year provisional residency permit. You can reside legally in the country for the duration of the confirmation receipt (one year) and you are entitled to all the benefits of the final permit. In the mean time (two to four months) you will receive the final residency permit certificate.

Yes. After seven years of continuous residency the permit holders may apply for Greek citizenship.
(law No. 4332/2015, Greek Government Gazette Number 76 A’, July 2015)

For the citizenship eligibility there are certain criteria to be met :
– Knowledge of Greek language. Knowledge of Greek history and elements of civilisation.
– The applicant must live in Greece for most of the time before the application.

With the approval of the application the investor receives:
– Greek – European Union passport.
– Voting rights.

-Residence permit holders and their family members, must also have private insurance policies that covers their healthcare and medical care expenses.
-The holders of the residence permit have access to public education, in the same way as Greek citizens.
-There is a variety of state and private schools and universities with multilingual syllabus.
-They have also access to the Greek public health system.


Yes, under the specific regulations of the Ministry of Transport, which apply to non EU citizens.

You may travel with your passport and the residency permit to all countries that are part of the European Union and belong to the Schengen Area:

Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Czech Republic and Finland.

You may also travel to these Non-EU countries that belong to the Schengen Area:

Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Please note that after the residence permit has been issued, you may also travel to any Schengen country directly from your country.
You do not need to go through Greece first.

What is Investment Migration?

Investment migration is a form of legal migration used by over 80 sovereign states globally.
Investment migration comprises various citizenship and residence by investment programmes which allow individuals to gain citizenship or residence rights in return for investments in their host countries.

Benefits

When managed effectively, this creates benefits to the individual, the host country, and wider society, thus facilitating integration and peace in an increasingly interconnected world.

who applies for a golden visa

Security, better education, career opportunities, and greater mobility are the main reasons why individuals apply for citizenship or residence by investment.

 

 

 

 
 
Real estate investment options for Golden Visa acquisition in Greece
There is an a bundance of choice when you are interested in investing in Greece for a Golden Visa. Whether you are investing in residential or commercial real estate, you can buy your property either as an individual or jointly with other investors, or alternatively as a legal entity (owning 100% of the company shares).
 
 

The Greece Golden Visa Program

The Greece Golden Visa Program is considered one of the most affordable residence-by-investment programs that provides access to Europe.
Successful applicants and their families are able to benefit from visa-free access to Europe’s Schengen Area within two months of applying.
 

Requirements

The Greece Golden Visa Program is a residence-by-investment program launched in 2013 that enables non-EU nationals and their family members to obtain permanent residence permits in Greece. The residence permits may be renewed every five years.
 
The program’s qualifying options are:
A. Real estate options
Real estate acquisition
1. An investment in real estate property with a minimum value of EUR 250,000, plus the applicable taxes.
2. A 10-year lease agreement for hotel accommodation or furnished tourist residences in tourist accommodation complexes (Article 8 of Law 4000/2001)
3. A 10-year time-sharing agreement for hotel accommodation (Law 1652/1986)
 
B. Other options
Capital contribution
1. A capital contribution with a minimum value of EUR 400,000 to a company that has its registered office or establishment in Greece (with the exception of portfolio investment companies and real estate investment companies) for the acquisition of shares in a share capital increase or bonds that are, at the time of issue, admitted for trading on regulated markets or multilateral trading mechanisms that operate in Greece.
2. A capital contribution with a minimum value of EUR 400,000 to a real estate investment company (Article 21 of Law 2778/1999) that will invest exclusively in Greece, for the acquisition of shares in a share capital increase.
3. A capital contribution with a minimum value of EUR 400,000 to a closed-end investment company (Article 5 of Law 2367/1995) for the acquisition of shares or to a closed-end mutual fund (Article 7 of Law 2992/2002) for the acquisition of shares, provided that the aforementioned alternative investment institutions have the intention to invest exclusively in companies that have headquarters or establishments in Greece.
Shares, bonds, and/or government bonds.
1. Purchase of Greek government bonds with a minimum acquisition value of EUR 400,000 and residual maturity of at least three years at the time of purchase, via a credit institution established in Greece, which will also act as the custodian of these bonds.
2. Purchase of shares, corporate bonds, and/or Greek government bonds with a minimum acquisition value of EUR 800,000, which are admitted for trading or are traded on regulated markets or multilateral trading mechanisms, operating in Greece.
3. Purchase of units with a minimum value of EUR 400,000 of a mutual fund incorporated in Greece or another country and with the intention to invest exclusively in shares, corporate bonds, and/or Greek government bonds that are admitted for trading or are traded on regulated markets or multilateral trading mechanisms, operating in Greece.
4. Purchase of units or shares with a minimum purchase value of EUR 400,000 of an alternative investment fund established in Greece or another country of the EU, which intends to exclusively invest in immovable property in Greece.
 
Capital transfer
1. Term deposit of a minimum value of EUR 400,000 to a domestic credit institution, for at least one year, with a standing order for renewal.
 
Qualifying criteria
1. In all cases, the applicant and their spouse, children, and parents must have health insurance in Greece.
2. A valid visa is needed at the beginning of the application process in order to enter Greece.
3. All the essential documentation that accompanies the application for an immigration permit must be duly certified, along with a
translation of the same documents into the Greek language.
 
Key advantages of the Greece Golden Visa Program:
Visa-free travel within Europe’s Schengen Area
No requirement to reside in Greece
• Residence permits can be acquired within 30–60 days
• Unlimited expiry date of residence permit
• Opportunity to rent out the investment property
Residence applicable to the whole family (married spouse, children under 21 years old, and parents of the main applicant and spouse)
Eligibility to apply for citizenship after seven years of residence
• Ability to hold shares and receive income from the dividends of a company registered in Greece (but not to be employed in Greece)
 
 
 No requirement to live in Greece
Contrary to other countries’ requirements, staying in Greece is entirely optional with no obligation of visiting after issuing a Golden Visa.
 
No nationality restrictions
Everyone is welcome to apply for permanent Greek residency since all countries outside Europe are eligible for the Greek Golden Visa Programme, with the exact same terms.
 
Unlimited renewal of travel visa
A Greek Golden visa may be renewed indefinitely, as long as the investor keeps the investment.
 
Citizenship option
Get a Greek citizenship after 7 years and under specific conditions. Dual citizenship is permitted.
 
Education for Children of International investors
Once permanent Greek residency is established for the investors and their families, children gain immediate access to European education
from International schools to European universities.