GOLDEN VISA IN GREECE

Introduced in 2013, the Greek “Golden Visa” Program enables a third country (i.e. non EU country) national to legally acquire residence permit in Greece, provided that certain requirements are met. The general idea is that if you invest in real estate property in Greece, and the value of that property is at least two hundred and fifty thousand (250.000) euros, you have the right to apply for a five-year residence permit in Greece. This residence permit can be renewed every 5 years, provided that that you are still the owner of the property.

We, at Dimitra Mella’s law office, undertake all the necessary procedures and actions that need to be taken in order to obtain your “Golden Visa” promptly, whilst managing all the workload and multitude of paperwork for you. Our legal assistance covers the whole procedure, from its early stages, i.e. the real estate purchase, till the end, i.e. the obtaining of the residence permit, thus allowing you and your family to enjoy all the privileges and the numerous opportunities that the acquisition of the Greek “Golden Visa” entails.

As our law office represents many real estate owners who reside abroad, our experience has shown us that it is quite difficult and often complicated for someone who does not reside in Greece to have full control of his/her property in Greece and be totally secured that all the necessary procedures regarding his/her property are effected efficiently, due to the intrinsic risks of property ownership and the Greek bureaucracy. Our law office safeguards your interests and guarantees that all the pertinent actions will be effected in the best possible way and in a timely manner too.

Both from a legal standpoint and from a technical one (through engineers with whom we cooperate), a meticulous research of every relevant aspect of your case is conducted by our office, upon the end of which a pertinent report is drafted and handed over to you, along with any other supporting document in relation to the services rendered for your case.

From the very first day that you will contact us, till the day of the completion of your investment and the acquisition of your “Golden Visa”, and, even more so, during the time that you may not be here (a time at which we can take care of your investment in whatever possible way), Dimitra Mella’s law office will accompany you and your family in this new chapter of your life, protecting your interests and assisting you with any matter that may arise.

Eligibility for Greek “Golden Visa” and investment criteria

If you are a third country national who has legally entered the country with any type of visa or legally resides in the country, then you can be granted with a residence permit for five years, after proceeding to a substantial investment in Greece via on of the following ways:

• Purchase of real estate property in Greece (personally or via a legal entity owned by you)
• Conclusion of an agreement for at least a ten year lease of hotel accommodation or furnished tourist residences in tourist accommodation complexes
• Conclusion of an agreement for a time sharing agreement pursuant to the pertinent provisions of Greek Law

In all the above cases, the minimum value of the investment, is determined at two hundred and fifty thousand (250.000) euros.

An additional but very important advantage is that the five – year residence permit can also be granted to your family members (husband/wife, children who are under 21 years old and parents of both partners) at their request, which expires together with your residence permit.

Benefits

Apart from the full family residency, if you find yourself intrigued by the potential of a property investment in Greece, you should know that there are many more positives yet:

• Cheapest golden visa in Europe
• No obligation to reside in Greece
• EU Schengen member country (unlimited visa free travel to Schengen countries)
• No restrictions as regards the location of the property
• Great climate, cultural events, gastronomy
• Low cost of living

Greek Legislation

The “Golden Visa” Program was launched in Greece by Law 4146/2013.

Since then, the legislation has changed a little bit, as Laws 4251/2014 and 4332/2015 came into force, regulating now the procedure and the requirements that need to be met by a third country national in order to acquire a “Golden Visa” in Greece.

Required documentation

To apply for a “permanent residence permit for investors”, the following documentation is required:

• Four (4) recent color photographs, of the same technical requirements as passport photographs, also in JPEG200 file format on a compact disk. In particular, the photograph and digital image should be a) in color, b) taken within the last month so as to reflect your current appearance, c) sized 4X6cm (without frame), d) printed on high quality photograph white paper, no watermarked or embossed, e) of high resolution not raster or pixel images and not printed on inkjet or laser printers;
• Certified copy of a valid passport or travel documents recognized by Greece and with the relevant valid entry visa, where required;
• A residence permit electronic fee (€2.000 for a five-year permit) for the investor.
• A residence permit electronic fee of 150€ for each family member (minor children are exempted from this fee)
• Cost of single document permit €16
• Private health insurance contract, which is either concluded in the applicant’s country of origin to provide coverage for the whole length of stay in Greece, or is concluded in Greece for coverage as prescribed in the Joint Ministerial Decision 53821/2014;
• A purchase contract stating that “the contract of sell and purchase of the property is not subject to conditions or exemptions, the total price amounts to ………….. (the price of the real estate property purchase must be at least 250.000€) which has been paid in full with a crossed bank cheque or bank transaction kept at a bank in Greece or a credit institution under the supervision of the Bank of Greece” and a proof of registration of the contract by the competent Land Registry
• A certificate of non pending claims and obligations from the competent Land Registry
• A family status certificate

APPLICATION FORM