Greece Golden Visa
Requirements & Eligibility
The Golden Visa has deliberately simple personal requirements - the complexity lives in the investment rules. Here is exactly who qualifies, who can come with you, and what you must prove.
The Main Applicant
Who can apply
There is no nationality restriction beyond one: you must be a non-EU/EEA citizen. EU citizens already enjoy free movement and do not need (or qualify for) the programme. Beyond that, the personal conditions are minimal:
- Over 18 years oldWith one important exception - a minor can be the main applicant through legal guardianship (see the strategy below).
- Clean criminal recordA certificate from your country of residence; serious convictions lead to rejection, and offences after issuance can trigger revocation.
- Health insurance valid in GreecePrivate policy covering you and every family member on the application, for the full permit duration.
- Own funds, transferred transparentlyThe qualifying amount must be your own money, moved through the banking system - typically from a foreign account to a Greek account. Greek bank financing of the qualifying amount is not allowed.
- Proof of economic capacityYou must show you can make and sustain the investment: bank statements, income evidence, or asset documentation.
What is NOT required
- No minimum stay in Greece - ever
- No language test for the visa itself
- No interview
- No business plan or job creation (real-estate route)
- No education or professional requirements
- No age ceiling
This combination - no stay requirement, no language test - is what distinguishes Greece from most remaining EU residence-by-investment programmes.
One Investment, Whole Family
Family members included
Covered by the main application
Planning Strategy
The minor-child applicant
Greek law allows the property to be purchased in the name of a minor child (through legal guardianship), making the child the main applicant. The parents are then covered as family members.
Why it matters: children normally age out of a parent's permit at 21-24. If the child is the main applicant, their permit never expires with age - extending the family's residency horizon by decades and positioning the next generation for the citizenship path.
Paperwork
Required documents
Foreign documents need an apostille (or consular legalisation) and official Greek translation. Your lawyer handles collection and filing - see the step-by-step process.
Grounds for rejection or revocation
Keep Reading
More from the Golden Visa Guide
What the programme is, key benefits, and where to start.
ReadThe β¬250K / β¬400K / β¬800K real-estate tiers and every alternative route.
ReadThe 7 steps from property selection to permit card - mostly remote.
ReadGovernment fees, transaction costs, the 2027 tax change, and ongoing taxation.
ReadAthens, the islands, Crete - zones, thresholds and live eligible listings.
ReadKeeping the permit, Schengen rights, and the 7-year route to an EU passport.
ReadPermits issued, investment volume, top nationalities and 2026 trends.
ReadShort answers to the questions investors actually ask.
ReadStart Your Golden Visa Journey
25+ years on the ground in Greece. We'll match you with eligible properties, introduce vetted lawyers, and walk with you from the first viewing to the permit card - in English, German, French or Greek.
Disclaimer: This guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal, tax or immigration advice. Programme rules change - notably the announced 2027 transfer-tax increase, which is not yet legislated. Always verify current requirements with a licensed Greek lawyer before investing. Last updated: October 2026.