Greece grants investors a residence permit renewable every 5 years (the start-up option is issued for 1 year, then renewed every 2 years) through its Golden Visa (MRP) program, with investment thresholds and conditions substantially revised by a 2024 law. The program offers residence in Greece, convenient Schengen travel, and a high standard of living.
Greece grants investors a residence permit renewable every 5 years (the start-up option is issued for 1 year, then renewed every 2 years) through its Golden Visa (MRP) program, with investment thresholds and conditions substantially revised by a 2024 law. The program offers residence in Greece, convenient Schengen travel, and a high standard of living.
€800,000: a single property with at least 120 sqm of main living space in Attica (including Athens), Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, or islands with more than 3,100 residents.
€400,000: a single property with at least 120 sqm of main living space in other areas.
€250,000: converting commercial property to residential, or restoring heritage buildings (no location or size limit; single property).
€250,000: invest in a startup registered in the National Startup Registry (Elevate Greece).
Requirements: investor's stake capped at 33%; at least 2 jobs created within a year of investment, maintained for at least 5 years (permit issued for 1 year, then renewed every 2 years).
€500,000: shares or corporate bonds of Greek companies, or funds investing in Greece.
€500,000: Greek government bonds (minimum 3-year maturity).
€500,000: term deposit with a Greek bank for at least 12 months (auto-renewing).
Note: Under the 2024 reform (Law 5100/2024), the minimum for financial investment options such as deposits, bonds, and shares was raised to €500,000.
Pick one of the options above and arrange the required capital.
Open an account for investment and fund transfer purposes.
Carry out the chosen investment and lodge the required paperwork.
After review, the Golden Visa is granted.
The Golden Visa has no stay requirement, but citizenship requires at least 7 years of actual residence in Greece and passing the Greek language and history exam, among other naturalisation requirements.
Under the 2024 reform, property thresholds rose to €800,000 in Attica (including Athens), Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, and islands with more than 3,100 residents, and to €400,000 elsewhere; multiple properties can no longer be combined, and the investment must be a single property with at least 120 sqm of main living space.
Investors must keep the qualifying investment for as long as they hold the permit; selling or withdrawing it early may lead to revocation.
Properties acquired through the Golden Visa cannot be used for short-term rental (e.g., Airbnb); violations can lead to permit revocation and a €50,000 fine. Properties qualifying under the €250,000 conversion route also cannot be registered as a company's registered office.
Under Korea's Nationality Act (Article 15), a Korean national who voluntarily acquires foreign citizenship generally loses Korean nationality automatically, so nationality implications must be reviewed before planning to acquire citizenship.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and in good health.
Applicants must have no criminal record in Greece or their country of residence; a record may lead to refusal.
Meet the minimum investment threshold for the chosen route, with lawful proof of source of funds.
There is no minimum stay requirement to keep the Golden Visa. Citizenship, however, requires meeting separate naturalisation requirements, including at least 7 years of actual residence.
Spouse, children under 21, and the parents of both spouses may be included.
Schengen travel:
Live in Greece and travel visa-free in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period (this does not grant residence in other EU countries).
Tax system:
Special regimes, such as a €100,000 flat tax on foreign income for high-net-worth individuals relocating to Greece, may be available subject to requirements.
PR and citizenship pathway:
Eligible to apply for citizenship after 7+ years of actual residence and meeting naturalisation requirements.
Family inclusion:
Spouse, children, and other direct family members may be included.
High quality of life:
Safe environment, excellent healthcare, and strong education system.
Greece's Golden Visa program offers flexibility through diverse investment options. Beyond real estate, you can invest in startups or established companies — opportunities that benefit Greek economy and your portfolio alike. It provides residence in Greece and a long-term pathway to citizenship, paired with the safety and quality of life Greece is known for.
Yes. Under the 2024 reform (Law 5100/2024), Attica (including Athens), Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, and islands with more than 3,100 residents require €800,000 for a single property with at least 120㎡ of main living space, while other regions require €400,000 on the same basis. Converting a commercial property to residential use or restoring a listed heritage building qualifies from €250,000, with no location or size limit.
Yes. Investing €250,000 in a start-up registered in the National Startup Registry (Elevate Greece) qualifies, subject to holding no more than a 33% stake, creating at least two jobs within one year, and maintaining those jobs for at least five years (the permit is issued for one year, then renewed every two years). Other routes are €500,000 in Greek company shares, corporate bonds, or funds investing in Greece; €500,000 in Greek government bonds with a minimum three-year maturity; and €500,000 in a Greek bank term deposit of 12 months or more on automatic renewal.
No. Property acquired through the Golden Visa program cannot be used for short-term rentals such as Airbnb; violations can lead to permit revocation and a €50,000 fine. The investment must also be held for as long as the permit is kept, and selling or withdrawing it early may lead to revocation.
No. There is no minimum stay requirement to keep the Golden Visa. Citizenship is a separate matter: it requires at least seven years of actual residence in Greece and meeting naturalisation requirements such as the Greek language and history exam.
Yes. A spouse, children under 21, and the parents of both the main applicant and the spouse can be included without any additional investment.
DaeYang guides each stage: selecting the investment type and preparing funds, opening a local bank account, executing the investment and filing the documents, and following through to Golden Visa approval. Greek thresholds move by region and were substantially revised in 2024, so the applicable requirements are re-confirmed as of your consultation date.
