Greece Golden Visa 2025: The Complete Guide
If you've been considering investing abroad, the Greece Golden Visa in 2025 is one of the more compelling options in the EU. With recent reforms, clearer tiers, and multiple investment pathways, it offers flexibility, family inclusion, and access to the Schengen Area — all while keeping thresholds relatively reasonable (especially compared with some other EU programmes). This guide will walk you through what it is, what’s required, and whether it might work for you.
What is the Greece Golden Visa?
The Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment programme for non-EU/EEA citizens, allowing them (and close family) to obtain a five-year renewable residence permit in Greece. It gives rights of travel across Schengen states, the possibility to live in Greece, and access to public services (education, healthcare) under certain conditions.
Current Investment Thresholds (2025)
Greece has introduced a tiered system depending on where you invest, plus some specialised lower-threshold options under specific conditions.
| Investment route | Minimum amount | Where / Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate in high-demand zones (Athens centre, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, islands with population > 3,100) | €800,000 | Single residential property, at least 120 m² |
| Real estate in other zones (outside the high-demand & premium islands) | €400,000 | Single residential property, at least 120 m² |
| Special cases: conversion of commercial properties → residential, or restoration of listed / protected historic buildings | €250,000 | Regardless of location; conditions apply (conversion/restoration must be completed before applying; cannot be used commercially afterwards) |
Other Eligible Investment Types
Besides real estate, there are additional options:
Fixed-term deposit in a Greek credit institution (starting thresholds vary depending on zone).
Shares or units in real estate investment companies, closed-end investment funds, or mutual funds dedicated to investing in Greece assets.
Purchase of Greek government bonds (with certain maturity requirements).
The new Startup Golden Visa option: investing €250,000 in eligible Greek startups, under conditions such as work creation and limits on share/voting rights (start-ups must meet certain criteria).
Eligibility & Family Inclusion
To qualify, you generally need:
Valid passport / non-EU citizenship.
Clean criminal record.
Proof of funds (investment funds, legal ownership etc.).
Health insurance valid in Greece.
For family: spouse, children under 21, and in many cases dependent parents of both the main applicant and spouse.
Stay & Renewal / Citizenship Prospects
The residence permit granted is valid for 5 years, and is renewable as long as the qualifying investment is maintained.
There is no minimum stay requirement in Greece to hold or renew the Golden Visa (you do not need to live there full-time).
Citizenship (naturalisation) is possible after 7 years of legal residence, subject to additional requirements: language proficiency, knowledge of Greek history/culture, integration etc.
Recent Changes & Key Updates
The introduction of the three real estate price tiers (€250k, €400k, €800k) fully in force from March / mid-2024 onwards.
Strict conditions around certain investment types: e.g. the lower threshold €250,000 only valid for conversions/restorations; in many cases, rental via short-term platforms (Airbnb etc.) is now restricted in certain zones.
A new route via startups under the Golden Visa announced, starting 2025.
Pros & Cons at a Glance
Pros
Relatively low minimum entry point via the €250,000 special routes.
Travel freedom: access to Schengen area.
Family inclusion.
Flexible stay requirements.
Multiple investment options beyond just real estate.
Cons / What to watch out for
The high thresholds in premium zones can be expensive.
For the cheaper options (restoration/conversion), the investment must be completed before applying. Bureaucracy may slow things down (permits, classification of property etc.).
Restrictions on short-term rentals in many zones.
If citizenship is a goal, meeting residence / language / integration criteria takes time and effort.
Conclusion
If you are seeking EU residency, Greece’s Golden Visa for 2025 is among the more accessible options — especially if you can work with the special €250,000 routes, or pick property outside the most expensive island or city zones. But for the premium areas, the required investment is significantly higher. Whether it’s right for you depends on where and how you want to invest, your long-term goals (residency vs. citizenship), and how much bureaucracy you’re prepared to handle.
