What the Greece Golden Visa is
Greece's Golden Visa is an investment-based residence route: you invest a qualifying amount and, in return, obtain residence for you and your family with a very low physical-residence requirement. It is popular with investors who want EU and Schengen access without relocating full-time.
After recent reforms, the required investment varies by tier and by location — higher in high-demand areas, lower in less-pressured regions — with a real-estate track and a fund-based option. Because the rules have changed and continue to be adjusted, treat any figure as subject to the current framework.
Why investors choose it
The main draws are minimal residence (you don't have to live in Greece to keep it), family inclusion (spouse, children and often parents), and access to the EU and the Schengen area. It is one of the lower-friction ways to hold an EU residence permit as a non-EU national.
It is generally weaker for citizenship unless you build genuine, long-term residence — so if a passport is your main goal, weigh it against routes designed for that. Our comparison pages put Greece side by side with alternatives.
Who it suits (and who it doesn't)
It suits investors who have the capital, want an EU/Schengen base with minimal residence, and value including their family. It is less suited to people on a tight budget (income-based EU routes like Portugal's may fit better) or whose primary goal is a fast passport.
This is general information, not legal advice. Amounts, eligible investments and timelines depend on current rules and professional due diligence.
Related routes
