Greece

Greece has a rich culture, history and heritage which makes it one of the top choices for investing in Europe. You can invest in real estate, bonds, shares, and attain residency permit. It is one of the simplest routes to obtain Greece Citizenship. DM is a legitimate and accredited immigration and investment consultant in the UAE. You can consult DM to obtain PR smoothly in a European country.

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    Greece - An Overview

    Renowned for its rich culture, Greece is one of the oldest civilizations in Europe. The country is well-known for its scenic beauty. It is part of Europe, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. It is located at a point between Asia, Africa, and Europe. It is known as one of the most picturesque countries with 1/5th of its area covered in pristine beaches, lush green islands, and numerous historical sites. Greece was controlled for more than a thousand years by the Byzantine Empire and then the Ottoman ruled it for four centuries.

    Greece is part of the European Union. It is also a famous tourist spot due to its culture, history, and cuisine. Also, the country has significant contribution in philosophy, mathematics, medicine, and theatre. Besides being a popular vacation and tourist spot, it can be one of the best countries to live in. Greece residency by Investment is the best route to achieve that.

    Greece Residency by Investment - Greece Golden Visa Program

    The Greece Golden Visa Program is one of the most popular and beneficial residence by investment programs providing access to Europe. The successful applicants and their families can greatly benefit from the Greece Residency by Investment program. Since it is a member of the EU, Greece provides its residents with excellent perks like safety, security, and top level education and healthcare facilities. The residents can live in Greece and engage in business activities while enjoying all the benefits of the EU/Schengen residency.

    The Greek government launched the Golden Visa Program in 2013. More than 22,500 residence permits were granted to non-EEA and non-EU investors and their families during January and June 2020. The investors are required to invest minimum €250,000 in property. Greece Golden Visa holders can stay in the country and freely travel within the EU and Schengen zone for five years. They need to maintain their property during this period.

    The Greece Golden Visa does not have any residency requirements.  The residency permit is valid for 5 years and if the investors own the property after 5 years, it can be renewed.

    DM has the expertise and experience in immigration and investment industry and can guide you in securing the Greece residency by investment from UAE. We provide services in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. If you are interested in learning more about the Greece citizenship by investment, book your free consultation today.

    Changes in Greece Golden Visa Program

    The Greek government revised and made some changes in the Greece Golden Visa program earlier this years. The minimum investment requirement has increased from €250,000 to €800,000 in certain areas. The changes became effective from September 1st, 2024. The increased limit applies to the real estate investments in the region of Attica, Mykonos, Thira, and Thessaloniki as well as the islands with population over 3100.

    If you submitted your application for Greece Golden Visa already, your case will be in process. Therefore, new changes to the program will not affect your application. The investments will go as planned according to the previous rules.

    Contact DM to ensure your approval of Greece investment citizenship via the Greek Golden Visa program. We will see that from application to the approval process, everything goes smoothly without a hassle.

    Greece Golden Visa – Real Estate Investment Requirements

    The investor has to invest in real estate in one of the zones listed below:

    €250,000: Specialized real investment allotted towards the conversion of commercial properties into residential use or restoration of listed buildings no matter their location or size.

    €400,000: This investment has to be made in a single property for purchasing properties in Greece. Their size must be at least 120 sqm.

    €800,000:This investment is required for purchasing properties in Athens, Thessaloniki, and islands having more than 3100 inhabitants.

    Eligibility Criteria for Greece Golden Visa Program

    The Greece Golden Visa program is not exactly a citizenship by investment program. However, after spending seven years and meeting certain criteria, one can apply for naturalization.

    Here is the eligibility criteria for applying for the Greek Golden Visa:

    Documents for Golden Visa in Greece

    To apply for Greek Golden visa, you are required to submit the following documents with your application:

    It is necessary to translate the documents in Greek. A Greek attorney or the Translation Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens should do it.

    Step-by-step Guide for Applying for Greece Golden Visa

    Here is a step-by-step guide to apply for a Greek Golden Visa:

    Select Property in Greece

    The first thing to do is determine the investment criteria and select the property you want to invest in. There are different investment features you could opt for as long as the property value is equal or more than the minimum investment amount.

    Get a Greek Bank Account and acquire Non-resident Tax Number

    It is important to adhere to all the legalities. You are required to get a Non-resident Tax Number and open a bank account in a Greek bank. As an optional step, you can also execute a power of attorney.

    Get Acquisition of the Property

    You would need to follow all the necessary steps and perform the due diligence of the property by a lawyer on your behalf. Then, you should get the promissory sale and purchase agreement and the execution of a public deed.

    Initiate the Application Process

    Gather all the required documents that are mandatory for the Greek Golden Visa application. It is a bit complicated process and requires attention to detail. Therefore, hiring a lawyer could help you handle all the legal matters. The applicant was required to visit Greece before to submit the biometrics data to the relevant Greek authorities. But due to the new changes in the Greek Golden Visa, you can now apply for the Greece residency by investment remotely. All you have to do is provide your law firm with a Power of Attorney.

    Obtain Approval

    The relevant authorities would approve your Golden Visa application. Then after approval, you will get a Golden Visa Residence Card.

    Renew Golden Visa

    You can apply for a Golden Visa residence card renewal every five years. This makes it easy for the applicant to acquire permanent residence in Greece.

    Immigration application Step Seven

    Apply for Greece Citizenship

    After living in Greece for seven years and paying the taxes, you will be eligible to apply for Greece citizenship and passport. You can apply for Greece residency by investment from Dubai with the help of DM. Our immigration and investment experts assist clients with citizenship investment and residence by investment.

    Greece Residency by Investment - Golden Visa Benefits

    Listed below are the benefits of acquiring a Greek Golden Visa:

    You can hold shares and get income from the dividends of a company registered in Greece (but not to be employed in Greece)

    How DM CBI Can Help You With The Process?

    Process Overview

    Applicants can chose from multiple investment options. Aside from making an investment of USD 1,000,000 in a new enterprise or an investment of USD 500,000 in a new enterprise within a specific commercial region, applicants are also required to actively manage their daily operations and all facets of their business operations. Our Greece Investment Citizenship consultants in UAE offer the following services for availing citizenship by investment options in Greece.

    Prerequisite Check

    The DM experts will do an initial check before applying. It is to understand and overcome the possible hazards your application may face from getting approved.

    Choosing Real Estate Property

    The applicant can choose the property online or visit to choose one. Once the property has been selected, you can ask the DM consultant to process further legal requirements or do it yourself. The choice for investment is given to the applicant, and he may choose among the above options for investment.

    Submission of the Application

    The applicant has to travel to Greece to get the passport stamped before applying for the Green Citizenship by Investment. However, if the applicant does not possess Schengen Visa, then an option for Greek Tourist Visa is to opt from the Greek Consulate in the applicant’s country of origin. In the meantime, representatives of DM consultants will prepare property purchase documents to complete the purchase and submit the finalised Residency Permit documentation to the Government. Our Greece Investment Citizenship consultants in UAE offer the following services for availing citizenship by investment options in Greece.

    Due Diligence Check

    After the application is submitted the authorities cross verify the details provided by the applicant. Any application for Green Citizenship by Investment with inaccurate data or misinformation regarding the applicant can result in visa denial.

    Obtaining Residence Permit

    A residence Permit may take 1 to 2 months to be approved.

    FAQs

    The applicant has to purchase one or more properties worth €800,000 to apply for a Greek Golden Visa. Also, they have to maintain their investment for 5 years. Earlier, the minimum investment requirement was €250,000.
    Greek citizens can have dual citizenships. The Golden Visa holders do not have to forgo their existing citizenship.
    One can get residency with the Golden Visa. But it is not a work permit. You cannot work in Greece with a Golden Visa. However, you can own and run businesses in the country.
    One has to spend 7 years in Greece before applying for a Greek citizenship. Moreover, they are required to pass a Greek language test.
    It was a requirement earlier. However, now you can remotely apply for a Golden Visa. You are required to give a Power of Attorney to your law firm in Greece to apply remotely for the Golden Visa.
    Yes, you can get visa-free access to the Schengen Area, which has total 29 European countries.
    Yes, the investors can rent out their investment properties.
    Yes, Americans can apply for Greece Golden Visa if they meet all the eligibility criteria.

    No, Greece does not offer direct citizenship by investment. Interested applicants have to make a financial contribution to the country, invest in real estate, or opt for the Greece Golden visa. You could opt for residency after completing the investment. One become eligible to apply for Greece citizenship after being a Greek resident for seven years.

    Yes, investors can include their spouse and children under 21 years of age to the Greece Golden Visa application. The program allows the parents of both the investor and the spouse.
    As of January 1st, 2021, British citizens from UK can apply for the Greek Golden Visa.
    Yes, you can get a residence permit in Greece if you buy a house. However, the house should be of the value as mentioned in the Golden Visa requirements, to qualify for Greece residency. If the value is less, then you cannot be eligible for the Greece Golden Visa program.
    Greece Golden Visa is the most preferred means to acquire permanent residency in Greece. You don’t have to live in the country to maintain it. However, you will have to live in Greece for seven years so you qualify to apply for citizenship. You would also have to pass a culture and language test.
    The renewal process is simple. You have to submit the updated proof of ownership, health insurance, and other mandatory documents before the expiration of your current visa.
    The investors are required to pay taxes on the income they get in Greece only. If one spends most of the year in Greece, they become a tax resident in Greece and must pay taxes. Also, being a tax resident is a requirement to apply for Greece citizenship.