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The only EU programme with no stay requirement at all

Greece Golden Visa
through real estate

Full cost including government fees, the real zone-based thresholds in force since April 2024, and realistic timelines — with no requirement to live in the country at all.

Investment from
€400,000
Time to status
6–9 mo.
Stay requirement
not required
Citizenship after
7 years of actual residence

The threshold depends on where you buy

Since April 2024 (Law 5100/2024) there is no single nationwide amount — Greece is split into zones. Property size matters: the €400,000 and €800,000 tiers both require at least 120 m² of living space.

ZONE
AMOUNT
WHAT TO KNOW
Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, islands with 3,100+ residents
AMOUNT€800,000
The most liquid locations carry the highest threshold. Minimum 120 m².
The rest of Greece
AMOUNT€400,000
The main, most common tier. Also requires a minimum of 120 m².
Renovation or change of use (commercial → residential)
AMOUNT€250,000
No area minimum applies, but the project must genuinely convert the building’s use, not just renovate it.

What the full cost consists of

The property itself is almost the entire budget; government fees are small by comparison. Property transfer tax and agent commissions are not included here — confirm those with the appointed firm.

COST ITEM
RATE
APPLIES TO
Application review fee
RATE€2,000
main applicant
Application review fee
RATE€150
per adult family member
Electronic residence card printing
RATE€16
per applicant
Renewal, every 5 years
RATEat the rate in force on renewal
per person, not in the quote

How the process runs

01
Tax number and bank account
The AFM (Greek tax number) and a bank account can be arranged under power of attorney. Two to four weeks.
02
Choosing and buying the property
Due diligence on the property, deposit, and the main contract before a notary. The bank checks the source of funds — the most common cause of delay.
03
Filing the application
Through the Migration Ministry’s digital platform, together with every family member.
04
Biometrics
An in-person visit to Greece for biometric data — required for every applicant over 6.
05
Receiving the residence card
The card is valid for 5 years, counted from the date of issuance. Renewal follows the same process, with no stay requirement.

A good fit if

You are not planning to relocate: this is one of the very few EU programmes with no stay requirement at all.
You see the property as an asset, not just a visa condition — the Greek market has been growth-oriented.
Your budget covers €400,000+ outside the top locations, or €800,000 in Athens and the popular islands.
You have children or parents to include — they join one application at a lower per-person fee than the main applicant.

A poor fit if

Your goal is EU citizenship on a reasonable timeline: it requires 7 years of ACTUAL residence at 183+ days a year, which most visa holders never accumulate.
Your budget caps out below €400,000 — cheaper options largely disappeared in April 2024, except the narrow renovation route.
You need visa-free entry to the US: Greek residence does not provide it.
Your source of funds is hard to document — the bank will stop you at step one.

Who runs this programme

Your request goes to two or three firms from this list. You see exactly which ones before it is sent, and you can exclude any of them.

This is an independent list of firms in the market, not our partners — we do not forward requests to them or receive payment for referrals. Contact them directly via the link.

Frequent questions

Do you have to live in Greece?

No — there is no stay requirement for the residence status itself, unique among EU programmes. Citizenship by naturalisation is different: it requires 7 years of actual residence at 183+ days a year.

Can you rent out the property?

Yes, the programme does not prohibit renting it out — many investors use rental income to offset holding costs.

How do I know which zone a property is in?

The zone follows the property’s municipality. Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and islands with 3,100+ residents carry the €800,000 tier; everywhere else is €400,000.

How many years until citizenship?

The law requires 7 years of residence, but the clock only runs on ACTUAL time spent in the country (183+ days a year), plus a B1 Greek language exam and a history and culture test. Investors who never relocate cannot complete this path — the Golden Visa itself is not a citizenship programme.

Who can be included in the application?

A spouse, children under 21, and the parents of the applicant and spouse — each adult family member pays a separate €150 fee; the investment amount does not increase.

Are there restrictions for Russian nationals?

There is no formal citizenship-based restriction, but the bank handling the transaction runs standard AML source-of-funds checks — this can take longer than the purchase itself.

Sources

Figures are for reference only. Verified against official sources on 26 August 2026. A precise quote is issued by the appointed firm after document review. This material is not legal advice, a public offer or investment advice.