! Submission of the application through a proxy, without the obligation to previously enter Greece !
Non-EU citizens who have made an investment through the three options of the Greek Golden Visa program, can apply for a residence permit through a proxy, without the obligation to previously visit Greece.
The Power of Attorney for the appointment of a proxy, must be signed before a Greek Consular authority. The non-EU citizen, must enter Greece in a period of 12 months from the date of the confirmation receipt of the application, in order to submit his biometric data.
Introduction
As a member state of the EU, Greece offers its residents and citizens a number of reassuring benefits including high levels of safety and security, excellent education opportunities, robust healthcare options, and a dependable rule of law.
Key advantages of the Greece Golden Visa Program
- Visa-free travel within Europe’s Schengen Area
- No requirement to reside in Greece
- Residence permits can be acquired within 30–60 days
- Unlimited expiry date of residence permit
- Opportunity to rent out the investment property
- Residence applicable to the whole family (married spouse, children under 21 years old, and parents of the main applicant and spouse)
- Eligibility to apply for citizenship after seven years of residence
- Ability to hold shares and receive income from the dividends of a company registered in Greece (but not to be employed in Greece)
Requirements
The Greece Golden Visa Program is a residence-by-investment program launched in 2013 that enables non-EU nationals and their family members to obtain permanent residence permits in Greece. The residence permits may be renewed every five years.
The program’s qualifying options are:
- Real estate options
- An investment in real estate property with a minimum value of EUR 250,000, plus the applicable taxes
- A 10-year lease agreement for hotel accommodation or furnished tourist residences in tourist accommodation complexes (Article 8 of Law 4000/2001)
- A 10-year time-sharing agreement for hotel accommodation (Law 1652/1986)
- Up to ten (10) third-country nationals, per investment, deemed necessary, are allowed to enter the country if they have been granted, where necessary, visa (Visa D), in order to realize investments, which have been characterized as “Strategic Investments” , pursuant to a decision of the Interministerial Committee of Strategic Investments on inclusion in Law 3894/2010 (Government Gazette 1, no 204).
Other options
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION
- A capital contribution with a minimum value of EUR 400,000 to a company that has its registered office or establishment in Greece (with the exception of portfolio investment companies and real estate investment companies) for the acquisition of shares in a share capital increase or bonds that are, at the time of issue, admitted for trading on regulated markets or multilateral trading mechanisms that operate in Greece
- A capital contribution with a minimum value of EUR 400,000 to a real estate investment company (Article 21 of Law 2778/1999) that will invest exclusively in Greece, for the acquisition of shares in a share capital increase
- A capital contribution with a minimum value of EUR 400,000 to a closed-end investment company (Article 5 of Law 2367/1995) for the acquisition of shares or to a closed-end mutual fund (Article 7 of Law 2992/2002) for the acquisition of shares, provided that the aforementioned alternative investment institutions have the intention to invest exclusively in companies that have headquarters or establishments in Greece.
SHARES, BONDS, AND/OR GOVERNMENT BONDS
- Purchase of Greek government bonds with a minimum acquisition value of EUR 400,000 and residual maturity of at least three years at the time of purchase, via a credit institution established in Greece, which will also act as the custodian of these bonds
- Purchase of shares, corporate bonds, and/or Greek government bonds with a minimum acquisition value of EUR 800,000, which are admitted for trading or are traded on regulated markets or multilateral trading mechanisms, operating in Greece
- Purchase of units with a minimum value of EUR 400,000 of a mutual fund incorporated in Greece or another country and with the intention to invest exclusively in shares, corporate bonds, and/or Greek government bonds that are admitted for trading or are traded on regulated markets or multilateral trading mechanisms, operating in Greece
- Purchase of units or shares with a minimum purchase value of EUR 400,000 of an alternative investment fund established in Greece or another country of the EU, which intends to exclusively invest in immovable property in Greece.
CAPITAL TRANSFER
- Term deposit of a minimum value of EUR 400,000 to a domestic credit institution, for at least one year, with a standing order for renewal
Procedures and time frame to acquiring Greek Residence
Step 1: Visit Greece (IMPORTANT NOTE: Following the latest bill amendment Non-EU citizens who have made an investment through the three options of the Greek Golden Visa program, can apply for a residence permit through a proxy, without the obligation to previously visit Greece. The Power of Attorney for the appointment of a proxy, must be signed before a Greek Consular authority. The non-EU citizen, must enter Greece in a period of 12 months from the date of the confirmation receipt of the application, in order to submit his biometric data.)
Step 2: Choose the preferred property
Step 3: Submission of the application
Step 4: Final verification