GREECEGOLDEN VISA PROGRAM

Overview

The Greek Residency Golden Visa Program is a residence-by-investment program launched in 2013 that enables non-EU nationals and their family members to obtain permanent residence permits in Greece. The duration of this type of Residence Permit is 5 years and it can be renewed indefinitely (for a 5-year period each time) provided that the real estate property is still owned by the applicant.

Processing time

2-3 months
Visa free travel

Visa-free to 29 Schengen countries
Investment type

Real Estate
Investment cost

a minimum of EUR 250,000
Family dependents

Spouse and children below 21 years old

Country Info

Greece with its strategic location in the Southeast Europe is at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Greece is a member of the EU, Eurozone, and the Schengen Agreement. Globally, Greece is also a member of the United Nations, the OECD and NATO.

Greece is considered the birthplace of Western civilization, having contributed to the basis for mathematics, physics, literature, and other sciences. The country is considered one of the most popular tourist destinations worldwide – about 16.5 million tourists visit Greece every year – the country has something to offer to all types of lifestyle, from its calm, secluded beaches, and villages, where one can retire and relax, to its buzzing modern cities.

CAPITAL

Athens

POPULATION

11,400,000

LANGUAGE

Greek

GOVERNMENT TYPE

Unitary parliamentary republic

CURRENCY

Euro (EUR)

EXCHANGE RATE

1 USD = 0.9214EUR

Benefits

SIMPLE PROCESS

No physical residency requirements

No interview or language test required

No education or management experience required

GLOBAL MOBILITY

Visa free travel within Schengen area, no visa or further documentation required

Golden visa in Greece Allows you to stay in any other Schengen countries for up to a period of three months within every six-month period with the right of multiple entries

If applicant physically resides in Greece for 7 years has the right to apply for citizenship

WEALTH PROTECTION

No income tax for non-residents except on rental income of the property in Greece

Costs

To be eligible for residency in Greece under its residency by investment program, the applicant is required to make a Real Estate investment in anywhere in Greece to obtain the golden visa.

1. REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT IN GREECE

The Real Estate purchase must be completed before applying for residency.

Minimum Investment

EUR 250,000

Plus VAT

16 - 23%

GOVERNMENT FEES

In addition to the purchase of real estate, there are Government fees to be paid.

Fees per Applicant

EUR 500

Citizenship Invest professional fees, official application forms, certification of citizenship and passport, courier & other disbursements are the only other costs associated. A detailed quotation with no hidden costs is provided for the specific case.

Required Documents

Citizenship Invest appoints a Document Collection Specialist for each case. The firm offers a bespoke service that simplifies the application process, requesting from clients the bear minimum. Our job is to simplify the document collection as much as possible and when required we obtain the documents for the client without their involvement. Please note the below list is to be used as a guideline only, after assessing the particular case Citizenship Invest prepares a personalized checklist.

Documents required from each applicant including children:
• Certified copy of valid passports
• Schengen Visa
• Three (3) Original passport-size photos
• Health Insurance Policy – International Healthy Insurance policy confirming it provides for full hospitalization in a Greek public hospital and medical care expenses and that it specifically states it applies in Greece and that covers the person(s) as long as s/he resides in Greece. Official English or Greek translation and legalised by the Greek Consulate of Residence
• Original excerpt of Birth record or certified copy of Birth certificates with Official Greek or English translation and legalized/ Apostilled by the Greek Consulate
(2 copies are required for Main Applicant – It must show the main Applicant father’s name, otherwise Family Book must be provided)
• Medical Travel Insurance – Valid for no less than the length of the Greek Tourist Visa (1 year). To cover medical costs and medical repatriation, valid in all Schengen countries throughout the duration of the visa
CI Europe can arrange for you
• Flight Ticket Reservation to visit Greece (issuance not necessary)
• Proof of accommodation from a hotel or invitation letter from a relative or friend in order to prove the destination and the purpose of the trip

Documents required only from the main applicant:
• Official Utility Bill – must show residential address. Official English or Greek translation and legalised by the Greek Consulate of Residence
• Proof of work or Proof of personal company and income – Official document that proves the applicant’s work address, type of work and annual income. Official English or Greek translation and legalised by the Greek Consulate of Residence
• Bank Statements for the last 6 months

Documents required only if married persons apply together:
• Original excerpt of marriage record or certified copy of marriage certificates with Official Greek or English translation and legalized/ Apostilled by the Greece Consulate
• Certified copy of divorce certificate with Official Greek or English translation and legalized/ Apostilled by the Greece Consulate (if applicable).

*For a personalized document checklist please contact us.

Timeline

Apply Now

WEEK 1-2

CI Retainer Agreement signed and first Payment of CI Professional Fees

The Client could select the Greek property remotely and CI starts preparing property purchase documentation required to be presented for Residency application.

WEEK 2-3

The Client must travel to Greece to get the passport stamped before submitting the Residency application.

If client does not have Schengen Visa, then a Greek Tourist Visa must be applied for at the Greek Consulate in the client’s country of origin/residence

WEEK 4-5

Lawyers prepare property purchase documents to complete the purchase. Property purchase funds and taxes transferred. Residency Permit documentation finalized and submitted to the Government.

Government Fees are payable at this point

File Submission Payment of CI Professional Fees is payable.

MONTH 3-4

2 months for the official Residency Permit to be approved

Final CI Professional Fees are paid

Once approved Client either sends the passport to CI lawyers in Greece to insert Residency Permit or client travels to Greece to get Residency Permit inserted into Passport

The estimated time to receive residence visa approval depends on the due diligence processing time and the specific case

The estimated time to receive residence visa approval depends on the due diligence processing time and the specific case.

GREECE VISA FREE countries

* Visa on arrival

29Countries

SCHENGEN AREA

Austria
Belgium
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Monaco*
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
San Marino*
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Vatican City*

*The list of countries is subject to variations depending on each government's policy and so is access to these countries.

brochure

Content

Program Overview
Citizenship Law
Country profile
Benefits of the program
Applicants Qualifications
Investment requirements
Application Fees
Document Checklist
List of countries Visa free and on arrival

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10 pages3.80 MB