Updated: June 2026

Case study · Greece · Residence permit

How a Saudi Arabian Family Obtained Greek ResidencePermit Directly Through Investment

A family from Saudi Arabia sought Greek residence permit for their children's education in the EU and Schengen access. Saudi passport with no restrictions - direct application submitted. Here's how we processed the family.

Sergey EvdokimovSergey EvdokimovManaging Partner, BRIDGESReading time9 min readVerificationReviewed by an expert

This case is based on a real matter. The name and certain identifying details have been changed to protect confidentiality.

BRIDGES client story - How a Saudi Arabian Family Obtained Greek Residence Permit Directly Through Investment
Contents

Case at a glance

Situation, solution and outcome in seven lines

Client
Family from Saudi Arabia
Citizenship
Saudi Arabia - unrestricted under Golden Visa
Objective
Greek Residence Permit through investment
Unlike RF/RB
direct submission, secondary passport not required
Composition
Spouses and children
Path
Investment → Bank accounts → Real estate → Residence permit
Outcome
Greek Residence Permit obtained directly

Client story

Client's Story

Where they started

A Saudi Arabian family planned European residence for their children's education and freedom of travel within Schengen. The program is open to Saudi citizens.

Why the standard route did not work

Here it is important to show the contrast we discussed in other cases in this series. For Russian and Belarusian nationals, Greek Golden Visa has been inaccessible since 2022 - we first obtain a secondary passport of an unrestricted country for them. Saudi Arabian citizens do not need this: their passport is unrestricted, therefore the path is direct - without secondary citizenship and workarounds.

What BRIDGES had to solve

Saudi passport is unrestricted, therefore the family did not require a secondary passport - direct submission, children included as family members.

Why a standard answer would not do

At BRIDGES, we processed the client via the direct Golden Visa route: prepared documents, assisted with bank accounts and fund transfers, selected and registered real estate meeting program thresholds, and submitted the residence permit application. Children were included as family members.

We are from Saudi Arabia, our priority is our children's education in Europe and Schengen access. BRIDGES advised - we apply directly, Saudi passport has no restrictions. We included our children and obtained Greek residence permits for the entire family. Now our children have access to European education.

Anna · Family from Saudi ArabiaThe name and certain identifying details have been changed to protect confidentiality.

What Was at Risk

What Was at Risk

There was no actual risk - for Saudi Arabian citizens the path is open. It was important not to complicate matters (secondary passport not required for them) and execute the direct route cleanly: documents, accounts, real estate, application.

That Saudi Arabian citizens have direct access to Greek Golden Visa (unlike RF/RB);

  1. 01That secondary passport is not required - passport is unrestricted;
  2. 02That the path is standard: Investment → Bank accounts → Real estate → Residence permit;
  3. 03That children are included in Golden Visa as family members (important for EU education);
  4. 04That family composition (spouses and children) is included in Golden Visa.

The logic of the solution

How the matter progressed: from checks to result

The chart is built from the facts of this matter and shows the logic of the work without decorative or unverified data.

BasisStage 1

Confirmed direct pathway. Verified that the Saudi Arabian passport is unrestricted and the application proceeds directly.

  • 01
    Stage 2

    Prepared documents and accounts. Assisted with bank accounts and fund transfers for investment.

  • 02
    Stage 3

    Considered: children are included in the Golden Visa as family members (important for EU education).

  • 03
    Stage 4

    Selected real estate. Chose a property meeting program thresholds.

  • 04
    Stage 5

    Submitted Golden Visa application. Filed for Greek residence permit for all family members.

Takeaway. Conclusion: Saudi Arabian citizens have direct access to Greek Golden Visa (unlike RF/RB citizens) - investment, accounts, real estate, application; second passport not required.

How we solved the matter

How we solved the matter

The work was split into verifiable stages so that every conclusion rested on documents.

  1. 01

    Stage 1

    Confirmed direct pathway. Verified that the Saudi Arabian passport is unrestricted and the application proceeds directly.

  2. 02

    Stage 2

    Prepared documents and accounts. Assisted with bank accounts and fund transfers for investment.

  3. 03

    Stage 3

    Considered: children are included in the Golden Visa as family members (important for EU education).

  4. 04

    Stage 4

    Selected real estate. Chose a property meeting program thresholds.

  5. 05

    Stage 5

    Submitted Golden Visa application. Filed for Greek residence permit for all family members.

  6. 06

    Stage 6

    Obtained residence permit. Client obtained Greek residence permit through the direct pathway, without a second passport.

Expert comment

Saudi family does not require a second passport - their passport is unrestricted, application is direct. Their objective is children's education in the EU and Schengen area, therefore it was important to correctly include children as family members. Assisted with real estate and application submission. The family obtained Greek residence permit and access to European education.

Sergey Evdokimov, Managing Partner, BRIDGESSergey EvdokimovManaging Partner, BRIDGES

Outcome

What the client received

Requirements
Solution implemented · Results
Direct application
Saudi Arabian passport without restrictions · Without second passport
Accounts and fund transfers
Assisted with banks · Funds established
Real estate
Selection according to thresholds · Property registered
Obtain residence permit
Golden Visa application · Greek residence permit
Obtain residence permit
Golden Visa application · Greek residence permit

What was needed: Saudi Arabian family wanted Greek residence permit through investment. What we did: confirmed direct pathway; prepared documents and accounts; selected real estate; submitted Golden Visa application. What was obtained: Greek residence permit directly, without a second passport.

Practical takeaway

What matters in a similar situation

  • Conclusion: Saudi Arabian citizens have direct access to Greek Golden Visa (unlike RF/RB citizens) - investment, accounts, real estate, application; second passport not required.
  • Client obtained Greek residence permit through the direct pathway - because his passport is unrestricted, and we implemented the standard Golden Visa procedure.

FAQ

Questions people ask in a similar situation

01Can a Saudi Arabian citizen obtain Greek residence permit directly?

Yes: Saudi Arabian passport is not subject to restrictions, therefore Golden Visa application proceeds directly, without a second passport - unlike RF/RB citizens whose new applications have been suspended since 2022.

02Is a second passport required?

No. Saudi Arabian citizens do not require it - a passport allows direct application for the Golden Visa. A second passport is necessary for Russian and Belarusian citizens.

03How does it work with bank accounts and fund transfers?

Saudi Arabian citizens have standard access to transfers and accounts in the EU; accounts are opened for the family.

04Which family members are included?

A spouse and children (and under certain conditions - parents) are included in the Golden Visa as family members. The exact composition is clarified with the competent authority.

05Is this legal?

Yes: standard Golden Visa procedure for a citizen of a non-sanctioned country, according to Greek regulations.

06Are you a Saudi Arabian citizen seeking Greek Residence Permit?

We will process your application through the direct Golden Visa route - without a second passport: documentation, bank account setup and fund transfers, property selection meeting investment thresholds, and Residence Permit application filing, so you obtain Greek residency status quickly and seamlessly.

About the author

Sergey Evdokimov

Author: Sergey Evdokimov

Managing Partner, BRIDGES

As Founder and Managing Partner of BRIDGES, I am responsible for the firm's strategy and personally lead its most complex client matters, including cases in which citizenship or residence decisions require a strategic view and consideration of capital.

I begin by defining the objective: the outcome the client needs, the facts that affect the choice, and the matters that require further review. I then establish the available directions, the sequence of work, and the key decision points.

Once the strategy has been agreed, I oversee the BRIDGES team's key decisions and remain involved at the stages that shape the course of the matter. The purpose is to give the client a clear rationale for the chosen direction and a precise understanding of the next steps.

Prepared on the basis of BRIDGES practice and reviewed by a subject-matter expert.

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Anna KovalevskayaHead of Legal, BRIDGES
Anna Kovalevskaya, Head of Legal, BRIDGES

Names and certain details have been changed to protect client confidentiality. The result described reflects one specific situation and is neither a public offer nor a guarantee of a similar outcome. Programme terms are stated as of 2026 and may change - please confirm current parameters with a BRIDGES consultant.