Getting a Golden Visa in Greece

The Code of Immigration and Social Integration (Law 4251/2014, Government Gazette A ’80) includes provisions that facilitate the stay of third country investors, whose investments have been characterized as strategic investments, by providing extended residence time limits for investment representatives. agencies and their partners. At the same time, it is possible to issue residence permits to third-country nationals and their family members, who purchase real estate in Greece, the value of which exceeds 250,000 Euros.

Particularly: A. Residence permit of property owners (Article 20)

1. By decision of the Secretary General of the Decentralized Administration, a residence permit for five years, with the possibility of renewal, is granted to a citizen of a third country, who: (a) Has entered the country legally with any entry visa or resides legally in the country even if the residence permit he holds does not allow a change of purpose. (b) Personally owns full ownership, prefecture and occupation, real estate in Greece. In the case of co-ownership of a property, worth 250,000 euros, the right of residence is granted only if the owners of the property are spouses who own the property indivisibly. In all other cases of co-ownership, the right of residence is granted only if the co-ownership percentage of each co-owner is worth 250,000 euros. (c) Has full ownership, prefecture and possession of real estate in Greece, through a legal entity, whose shares or corporate shares belong entirely. (d) Has entered into a lease for at least ten years of hotel accommodation or tourist furnished residences in complex tourist accommodation, in accordance with the provisions of article 8 par. 2 of law 4002/2011 (A 180). (e) Has concluded a time lease agreement in accordance with the provisions of Law 1652/1986 “Time Lease Agreement and Regulation of Related Issues” (A 167), as in force. 2. The minimum amount of real estate, as well as the contractual price of leases of hotel accommodation or tourist residences of this article, is set at two hundred and fifty thousand (250,000) euros and must have been paid in full at the time of signing the contract. “The price is paid by a double bank check to a payment account of the beneficiary kept in a credit institution operating in Greece or by credit transfer, according to the definition 24 of article 4. 4537/2018 (AD 84), in a payment account of the beneficiary kept in a payment service provider, according to the definition 11 of article 4 of law 4537/2018, which operates in Greece “. By joint decision of the Ministers of Interior and Finance, the amount of the above real estate can be adjusted and will result from the values of the real estate or the lease agreements indicated on the contracts. 3. Citizens of third countries, property owners are given the opportunity to rent them. 4. The above third country citizen may be accompanied by his family members who are granted, upon their request, an individual residence permit that expires at the same time as the residence permit of the dependent. Family members mean: a. The wife b. the other spouse or partner with whom the third-country national has entered into a cohabitation agreement in Greece c. the unmarried common children of spouses or partners under the age of 21 d. the unmarried children of the spouse or other spouse or partner, if the custody has been legally assigned to one of the sponsor’s children to him / her and to the children of the other spouse or partner to him / her below of 21 years e. the direct relatives of spouses or partners.
2. The above permit may be renewed for an equal period, each time, if the real estate remains in the ownership and prefecture of the third country citizen or the contracts of paragraph 1 hereof remain in force and the other conditions provided by law are met. . Periods of absence from the country are not an impediment to the renewal of the residence permit. “The resale of real estate during the validity of the residence permit to another third-country national provides the right to issue a residence permit to the new buyer while revoking the seller’s residence permit.”
3. Residence permits issued under paragraphs 1 and 4 of this Article shall not establish the right of access to any form of work. You can download in Greek, English, Chinese, Russian, Arabic and Turkish, the concise guide to residence permits for property owners in Greece edited by Enterprise Greece. B. Residence permit for investment activity (Article 16) I. 1. Third-country nationals are allowed to enter and reside in Greece in order to make an investment that will have a positive impact on national development and the economy. Depending on the height and the characters up to ten third-country nationals, including investors, can enter and stay in the country for its implementation and operation. 2. With the suggestion of the Directorate of Foreign Funds of the Ministry of Economy and Development, which concerns the characterization of the investment and the expediency of issuing a residence permit, the entry and residence of third country nationals in Greece may be allowed for the implementation and operation of the investment. 3. The application and the required supporting documents, as determined by the joint ministerial decision of paragraph 12 of article 136, are submitted to the Greek consular authority of the place of residence of the interested parties which within one month forwards them to the Directorate of Foreign Funds of the Ministry of Economy and Development. The above service within a month examines the application and forwards the relevant recommendation to the competent consular authority in order to issue the required national entry visas. The competent consular authority in case of delay in transmitting the relevant proposal of the Directorate of Foreign Funds of the Ministry of Economy, and Development, may issue the required relevant entry permits. 4. A third-country national who has received an entry visa to make an investment shall be granted a residence permit for the same reason, provided that he / she submits the required supporting documents. The validity of the residence permit is five years and is renewed for an equal period each time, as long as the implementation of the investment or its operation continues after its completion. 5. The above third-country nationals may, by way of derogation from the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 70, be accompanied by their family members who are granted a residence permit for family reunification ending at the same time as the dependents’ residence permit. 6. The Directorate of Immigration Policy of the Ministry of Immigration Policy is responsible for examining the application and issuing a decision for granting or renewing a residence permit to carry out an investment activity. 7. The provisions of this Article shall also apply to the entry and residence of third-country nationals in the context of new investments made by domestic companies already operating or by third-country nationals already legally residing in Greece and holding a residence permit for independent financial or investment activity. 8. In the residence permit of the citizens of third countries of paragraph 1 of this article is written “Residence permit for investment activity” and in the field “Remarks” the professional capacity of the holder. ” You can download in Greek, English, Chinese, Russian, Arabic and Turkish the concise guide to residence permits for investment activity in Greece edited by Enterprise Greece. II. 1. Up to ten (10) third country nationals, per investment, deemed necessary, in order to make investments designated as “Strategic Investments”, are allowed to enter the country if they have previously obtained, where required, an entry visa (Visa D). , following a decision of the Interministerial Committee for Strategic Investments on inclusion in Law 3894/2010 (A 204). The above visa is granted free of charge, upon presentation of the decision of the Interministerial Committee on Strategic Investments, which characterizes the investment as a “Strategic Investment” and a recommendation of the Secretary General of Strategic and Private Investments regarding the relationship of third country nationals with the . 2. The above are granted, by decision of the Minister of Interior, a ten-year residence permit which is renewed for ten years, provided that the same conditions apply. 3. For the issuance of the residence permit, an application is submitted with the required supporting documents, as they are defined in the joint ministerial decision provided by the provisions of par. 1 of article 136, to the Directorate of Immigration Policy of the Ministry of Interior. The residence permit is issued within a period of five (5) days, from the date of submission of the application. 4. The above third-country nationals may, by way of derogation from the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 70, be accompanied by their family members who are granted a residence permit for family reunification ending at the same time as the dependents’ residence permit, as well as by support staff, if they are disabled. III. 1. Third-country nationals falling within Chapters I and II of this Article and legally residing in the country are not obliged to leave Greek territory in order to apply for a residence permit. 2. The competent services of the Ministry of Economy and Development shall notify in writing or electronically to the Directorate of Immigration Policy of the Ministry of Interior any change as an investment activity. C. Residence permit for investment in securities or bank deposit (Law 4605/2019 Article 42 par. C.) 1. Third-country nationals are allowed to enter and reside in Greece, in order to make an intangible investment in Greece in certain forms of securities or a bank deposit in excess of € 400,000, either as individuals or through legal entities. 2. The right of entry and permanent residence permit, within the framework of this program, is granted: – To third country nationals who as individuals invest in Greece in securities or bank deposit – To third country nationals who invest in Greece in securities or bank deposits through a domestic legal entity in which they hold all of their corporate shares. – To shareholders or executives of a foreign legal entity that invests in Greece in securities or bank deposit (up to three residence permits are granted depending on the amount of the investment) – To members of the family of a third country citizen The residence permit issued to the above citizens of third countries does not provide them with the right to work in Greece. 3. Categories of investments: a. Capital contribution, amounting to at least four hundred thousand (400,000) euros, to a company established or established in Greece, excluding the Portfolio Investment Companies and the Real Estate Investment Companies, for the acquisition of shares with a share capital increase or bonds issued by the bond , which are introduced for trading in regulated markets or multilateral trading mechanisms, operating in Greece. b. Capital contribution, amounting to at least four hundred thousand (400,000) euros, to a Real Estate Investment Company (AEEAP) of article 21 of law 2778/1999 (Government Gazette A ‘295), which aims to invest exclusively in Greece, for acquisition of shares in an increase of its share capital. c. Capital contribution, amounting to at least four hundred thousand (400,000) euros, to a Business Holdings Capital Company (EKES) of article 5 of law 2367/1995 (A ‘261) for the acquisition of shares, or a capital contribution to the Mutual Fund of Business Holdings, A ( of article 7 of law 2992/2002 (Government Gazette AD 54) for the acquisition of shares, provided that the above Alternative Investment Organizations (AIF) aim to invest exclusively in companies based or established in Greece. d. Purchase of Greek Government bonds, with an acquisition value of at least four hundred thousand (400,000) euros and remaining duration at the time of purchase, at least three (3) years, through a credit institution established in Greece, which is their custodian. e. Term deposit of four hundred thousand (400,000) euros at least, in a domestic credit institution, of at least annual duration, with a permanent renewal order. f. Purchase of shares, corporate bonds and / or bonds of the Greek State, which are admitted for trading or traded in regulated markets or multilateral trading mechanisms, operating in Greece, with an acquisition value of at least eight hundred thousand (800,000) euros. g. Purchase of shares with an acquisition value of at least four hundred thousand (400,000) euros in a mutual fund, which has been established in Greece or another country and aims to invest exclusively in shares, corporate bonds or Greek government bonds that are admitted to trading or are being traded in regulated markets or multilateral trading mechanisms, operating in Greece. h. Purchase of units or shares with an acquisition value of at least four hundred thousand (400,000) euros in an Alternative Investment Organization (AIF), established in Greece or in another member state of the European Union and intends to invest exclusively in real estate in Greece provided that it is included, upon his request, in the list compiled by the Directorate of Foreign Funds of the Ministry of Development and Investment in collaboration with the Hellenic Capital Market Commission. 4. You can download in Greek, English, Russian, Chinese, Arabic and Turkish the concise guide to residence permits for securities investment or bank deposit edited by Enterprise Greece. in the progress of implementation on.