Applying for the Greek Golden Visa: The Process, Step by Step
Buying the property is step one. Then come the documents, the application, one trip for fingerprints, and the wait. Here is what happens and in what order.
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Before you buy: confirm the property qualifies
The investment threshold depends on the exact location (€800,000, €400,000 or €250,000) and, in the two higher tiers, the property must be a single home of at least 120 m² that is not let short-term. Read What Actually Qualifies first, and have your lawyer confirm the tier for the specific address. If you are buying presale, also ask whether the unit qualifies before it is completed and how much has to be paid for that.
The steps
- AFM and a Greek bank account. See AFM and a Greek Bank Account.
- Buy and pay in full, by bank transfer from your own account. The money trail is checked.
- Register the purchase at the Land Registry or Cadastre. Your lawyer obtains the certificates.
- Prepare the family file. Passports, photos, health insurance that covers Greece, and for family members, marriage and birth certificates with an apostille and an official Greek translation.
- File the application with the Greek migration authorities. Your lawyer usually files it for you with a power of attorney.
- One trip to Greece to give fingerprints (biometrics). This is the step you cannot do remotely.
- Receive the permit, valid for five years and renewable as long as you keep the property.
Once the application is filed you receive a certificate that lets you stay in Greece while it is processed. Processing often takes many months, so start early.
Who can be included
The investor's spouse or registered partner, children under 21, and the parents of both spouses can usually be included in the same application.
What it does not give you
- No automatic right to work in Greece.
- No citizenship. Citizenship is a separate process that requires actually living in Greece for years.
- No exemption from the short-let ban on the qualifying property.
Common questions
Do I have to live in Greece to keep a Golden Visa?
No. There is no minimum stay to keep the permit. It is renewed every five years as long as you still own the qualifying property.
How many times do I need to travel to Greece for a Golden Visa?
Usually once, to give fingerprints. Most of the rest can be done by a Greek lawyer with a power of attorney.
Can my parents be included in my Greek Golden Visa?
Yes. The parents of both spouses can usually be included, along with a spouse and children under 21.
General information, checked against public sources in October 2026. Not legal or tax advice. Rules change and every purchase differs, so have a licensed Greek professional confirm your own position.
