IMMIGRATION TO GREECE

GREECE: RESIDENCY ADVANTAGES

Having a Greek residence will enable you and your family members to enjoy many advantages, such as the following:  

1. 1. 1. A pleasant weather: each season, you will enjoy mostly warm and sunny days;
      2. Access to many historical monuments reflecting the incredibly ancient character of the country;
      3. A welcoming community always ready to help newcomers;
      4. A distinctive landscape: the beaches, the islands, the hillside villages and the national parks will amaze you;
      5. Many economical opportunities: after the crisis, the housing price went truly down. You will easily find a compelling and affordable house;
      6. An attractive tax situation : recently, Greece introduced favorable tax rates for individuals having another country than Greece as main residence;
      7. Free and unlimited movement through the Schengen area; 
      8. Access to a good quality of education system and health care, just like any Greek citizen.

GREECE: REQUIREMENTS

To qualify under the Golden Visa Programme of Greece, the candidate must meet the following eligibility requirements:

1. 1. 1. Invest in a property in Greece for a minimum amount of €250,000. The Greek Golden Visa program’s minimum investment threshold moved from 250,000 EUR to 500,000 EUR in certain areas. The changes are effective as of July 31st, 2023.  The increased threshold applies to real-estate investments in specific municipalities in Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, and Santorini.
      2. Be of good character and present a police certificate from your country of citizenship and/or of country of residence.
      3. Subscribe to a medical insurance valid in Greece that covers all risks in Greece during your stay.

GREECE: LIST OF DOCUMENTS

Listed below are the main documents required to apply for the Golden Visa programme of Greece:

1. 1. 1. Passport, copy of all pages.
      2. Birth certificate.
      3. Family booklet and marriage certificate, if applicable.
      4. National identification card.
      5. Obtained diploma(s).
      6. Documents justifying the source of health.
      7. Curriculum vitae.
      8. Bank certificate and bank statements (covering previous 6 months transactions).
      9. Insurance Policy valid in Greece and in Schengen area covering the applicants for a minimum of € 30,000 in medical care.
      10. Proof of investment in real estate in Greece in accordance with the regulations.
      11. Police conduct certificates from the country of citizenship and from the country of residence.
      12. Certificate of business incorporation and/or work letter.
      13. Confirmation documents of income or any types of source: salary, dividends, pension, property ownership, lease agreements, business ownership, etc.
      14. Tax clearance.
          

All supporting documents must be translated into Greek and be certified according to the Greek guidelines. An Apostille may be required in the event that your country is part of the Hague Convention.

GREECE: PROCESS

Below is a general procedure for a Golden Visa application until the Greek citizenship acquisition. It might occur that the process is different for you according to the local policy, your familial situation or based on your country of residence or of citizenship. However, in most situations, the process remains very similar. Therefore, you can use this list for reference purposes.

1. 1. 1. We suggest beginning to process with a complete consultation with our immigration experts regarding the immigration process in Greece under the Golden Visa programme. During this consultation, we will provide you with all the most essential information regarding the Greek residency and we will be able to answer all your questions related to your immigration and your installation.
      2. We will evaluate your profile and communicate a list of documents you should prepare for your application.
      3. Once your documents are gathered, we will assist you with regards to the legalization and the translation of the documents into Greek.
      4. We can help you with the property search and investment in Greece as well as with the bank account opening.
      5. Once your file and all of your documents are complete, we will take an appointment for you to submit your application for a Greek national immigration visa at the respective consulate authorities in your country.
      6. If your file is accepted, you will receive long stay visa in Greece. With this visa you can travel to Greece and complete your process by applying for a residence permit. The submission of a residence permit is to be made at the town hall of your city of residence.
      7. Issuance of residence permits: each residence permit is valid for a period of 5 years and it is possible to renew it as long as you meet the requirement of the immigration programme and own real estate in Greece.
      8. It is possible to apply for Greek citizenship after 7 years of residence in the country. 

GREECE: TESTIMONIAL I

“We happen to be a big family from North Africa. I, my spouse, our 3 kids, my parents-in-law and my own parents were really close. We had a family business together. We wanted to move together to a new country in Europe. We ended up choosing Greece considering their Golden Visa programme allows to include children up to 21 years old and parents of the applicants.
Inimex has repeatedly explained to us the process and the requirements for our family. Their team was very patient with each question we had. They explained to us how to proceed with our particular situation. They also helped us in the preparation of all the documents of my family since gathering everything by ourselves was quite challenging.

Finally, we acquired a property in Vouliagmeni, a beautiful small town by the sea that is under 30 minutes away from Athens. The Inimex team helped us to negotiate the price of the property, and they also supported us through the buying process. We are very happy in Greece now. The mix of European and Mediterranean culture is really appreciated by the entire family. We moved into a big house, so we have a lot of space for everybody. Our children are going to a private school, and they are learning French, English and Greek. We all received a 5-year residence permit. It allows us to travel very easily all over Europe. We are very glad with everything Greece has brought to us: the climate, the food, the culture and the proximity to many countries. We are happy we made this choice and we could count on the help of Inimex during the whole process. Without their support, this transition would have been much more difficult.“

GREECE: TESTIMONIAL II

“As a businessman, I need to travel to Europe quite often. That is why I wanted to get a residence permit in a European country. My business trips would not be bound to any restriction from the Schengen area. I asked some help from Inimex, so they could guide me in the decision-making since I knew nothing about the subject. At first, I was considering the Spanish Golden Visa, but I gave up the idea since the investment of at least €500,000 was not fitting my budget. So I looked for another opportunity, and that’s when Inimex told me about the Greek program that only requires an investment of €250,000 in a real estate. I took the opportunity since it was only half of what I thought I would have to invest. Inimex was there to assist me the whole time. I am really thankful for the help I received from their team. They found a program fitting my particular situation and they assisted me through the entire process. Now, the Greek residence permit allows me to easily travel to Austria, Germany and France for business reasons without any limitation. “

NATIONALITY

1. Descent

If you are of Greek descent, the easiest way to obtain Greek nationality by descent is through recognition of your status by the authorities.

You will automatically obtain citizenship if:

1. 1. 1. your father or mother had Greek nationality at the time of your birth;
      2. you were born in Greece to parents who have resided there for 5 years or more;
      3. you were born out of wedlock to a Greek mother
      4. have grandparents or great-grandparents who were Greek citizens and can prove it.

There are additional requirements for obtaining Greek nationality if:

1. 1. 1. you were born abroad, and your family has lived in Greece for 5 years or more. You qualify after 6 years of primary education in a Greek school.
      2. you were born out of wedlock to a Greek father. You need a recognised proof of paternity.

2. Residence

If you plan to reside in Greece for a long period of time, you can be naturalised after fulfilling certain requirements to obtain Greek citizenship.

In order to undergo the naturalisation process, you must:

1. 1. 1. reside in Greece for 7 years or more
      2. be a taxpayer;
      3. not have a criminal record.

You can naturalise more quickly if you

1. 1. 1. you are an EU citizen
      2. your spouse is a Greek citizen and you have children together
      3. you have adopted a child of Greek nationality
      4. you are a documented refugee or stateless person.

In these cases, you only need 3 years of permanent residence in Greece to apply. Unmarried children of naturalised citizens receive citizenship automatically. They must be under 18 years of age.

You may be disqualified if you have been convicted of an intentional crime in Greece or abroad. Especially if you have served a prison sentence of more than 6 months (or 1 year for some types of offences). If this is the case for you, check with the authorities what possibilities your situation offers.

If you have been expelled from the country or do not have proof of residence, you will not be able to naturalise.