Greece offers many benefits to high-net-worth individuals who wish to attain Greece citizenship by investment in real estate.
Our clients have shown a great deal of interest in Greece residency by investment, so we have compiled this top 14 FAQ to answer some of the common questions we receive.
A: Yes. The law does not distinguish between the two types of properties, as long as the investment meets the minimum threshold of €250,000.
A: Yes, you must prove that you can complete the purchase or lease, and can pay all fees. You do this by providing authenticated bank statements, bond holdings, or other transferable securities.
A: There are some restrictions, but they may be lifted if the applicant submits a request to the Minister of Defense. Properties in border regions within 20 prefectures are affected by size restrictions. As part of the investment planning, we will ensure that all such matters are properly explored and will aid in the selection of property and location.
A: You will lose your right to residency unless you are already a Greek citizen. If the buyer or transferee is also not a European Union citizen, the buyer may apply for residency at that time.
A: As a real estate investor, you have the right to long-term residency; you do not have an automatic right to apply for naturalization. However, if you are a long-term resident and meet other qualifications, you will be eligible to apply for citizenship.
A: No. Residency by investment grants the applicant the right to work within their own Societe Anonyme (SA) business. It does not grant anyone else the right to work or to seek employment.
A: Yes.
A: You will receive health care as long as you have appropriate health insurance. You can have one livening in Greece. If you purchased insurance outside of Greece, then the insurance must state that you are covered while you are in the country.
A: There are two ways: the first way is to be found guilty of a criminal offense either in your home country or in Greece. The second way is to lose possession of your real estate investment or if you are on an international ban list.
A: Yes, you may travel throughout the EU and the Schengen Area, with some limitations. Not all EU members are Schengen Area members. You may travel to and stay in a Schengen Area member state for up to three months per a six-month period. You do not need to travel from Greece to enter a Schengen Area member state. For example, if you want to travel to Germany, you can do that directly, without going to Greece first.
A: No, your existing visa remains valid.
A: Yes, as long as you satisfy the requirements published by the Ministry of Transport for third-country citizens.
A: Yes, you may mortgage the property in the same way that a Greek citizen would mortgage their own property.
A: Technically, the Greece residency by investment program does not require that you hire a lawyer to act on your behalf. But as with all critically important endeavors, it is wise to obtain counsel from immigration experts who can answer legal questions, manage and monitor the entire process, and ensure that everything is completed correctly and on time. In order to arrange a free initial consultation, please contact us.
Greece does not offer direct citizenship by investment. Instead, investors obtain residency through the Greece Golden Visa Program. After seven years of continuous legal residence, they may apply for Greek citizenship through naturalization, subject to language and integration requirements.