Why Greece’s Golden Visa Is the Most Affordable Path to EU Residency
When you’re looking for a route to European residency, the cost and obligations matter. For 2025, the Greece Golden Visa stands out — thanks to accessible investment thresholds, flexible stay requirements and solid benefits. Here’s why it might be the smartest choice.
1. Lowest Entry Bar in Europe
Among EU residency-by-investment programmes, Greece offers one of the most affordable options. As of 2025 you can qualify via real estate from €250,000 in certain cases. In regions outside premium areas the threshold is around €400,000, and in high-demand zones it goes up to €800,000. This tiered structure means you can choose your entry point based on location and budget.
2. Minimal Stay Requirements
Unlike many programmes that carry strict residence or physical stay obligations, the Greek Golden Visa imposes no minimum stay requirement to renew the 5-year residence permit. This gives you residency rights with great flexibility, ideal for investors who do not plan to relocate full-time but still want EU access, Schengen travel and family inclusion.
3. Family & Travel Benefits
You can include your spouse, children (under 21 in many cases) and often parents of both you and your spouse. Also, the permit grants you visa-free travel across the Schengen area, making it a gateway not just to Greece but to broader Europe.
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4. Strong Real-Estate & Market Context
Because Greece suffered a prolonged property slump post-2008, its real-estate market still offers good value relative to many Western European locations. This means your investment may benefit from upside potential.
Also, the fact that Greece keeps the lower entry option (via conversion or heritage restoration) means you can engage with more niche opportunities.
5. Strategic Timing & Market Trends
In 2025, Greece’s Golden Visa programme continues to be attractive: one analysis notes that Greece is “one of the most accessible Golden Visa programmes in Europe” given its thresholds and processing speed.
So if you're looking for value right now, Greece offers a favourable mix of cost, benefits and flexibility.
Conclusion
If your priority is to secure EU residency with maximum flexibility and minimum cost, the Greece Golden Visa programme stands out. It doesn’t mean it’s easy, you still need to plan carefully, pick the right investment route and ensure compliance. But from a value perspective (for many investors) it’s the strongest option on the table.
