Greece Golden Visa
by investment

No. It is a residence permit: the right to live in Greece and visa-free entry to the Schengen area. A passport is not issued under the programme. The investor permit is granted for 5 years and is renewed while the investment is maintained.

There are three thresholds. 800,000 euros covers Attica, the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and islands with more than 3,100 residents. 400,000 euros covers the rest of the country; in both cases it is a single asset and the main premises must be at least 120 sq m. 250,000 euros applies to an asset being converted from commercial to residential use, or to a listed building undergoing restoration, where the 120 sq m requirement does not apply.

No, permanent residence is not required to keep the status. But the investment must be maintained: selling the asset without a qualifying replacement ends the basis for the permit.

The property transfer tax is 3% of the taxable value plus a municipal levy of 3% of that tax, an effective 3.09%. It is charged on the applicable taxable value, which does not always equal the stated price: the notary calculates the final figure before the deal.

Government card fees: 2,016 euros for the main investor, 166 euros for each adult family member and 16 euros for a child under 18, with no state duty charged for the child. The application can include a spouse or registered partner, unmarried children and direct ascendants of both spouses.

Notary, lawyer and legal audit, cadastre and registration, engineer and technical survey, estate agent fees, insurance, translations and apostilles, bank charges. There is no single figure for these: the amounts depend on the asset and the contract. Before paying a deposit you need a personal closing statement from a Greek lawyer and notary.

Not on a short-term basis. Qualifying housing cannot be used for short-term rental, and an asset on the change-of-use route cannot be registered as an office or a branch. Breaching the rules of use can lead to withdrawal of the permit and an administrative fine.

The annual ENFIA property tax, calculated individually from the characteristics of the asset, health insurance for each applicant, plus maintenance and utility costs. Every five years there are renewal duties and new cards.