How Investors Can Obtain Greek Citizenship

What Benefits Does Greek Citizenship Provide

Greek citizenship provides a significantly broader scope of rights than any residential status, including an investment residence permit or permanent residence. We are talking about full legal belonging to an EU member state and access to all pan-European protection mechanisms and freedoms:

1. European Union Passport. Greek citizenship is automatically EU citizenship, which ensures the application of all rights and guarantees provided by European law, including consular protection and equal legal status throughout the Union.
2. Freedom of residence and work in EU countries. A Greek citizen can live, work, and conduct business in any of the 27 EU states and EEA countries without additional permits, without obtaining visas or work permits.
3. Extensive visa-free travel opportunities. A Greek passport provides visa-free or simplified entry to most developed countries in the world, including Schengen area countries, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, and Australia.
4. Access to the EU education system. Citizens have the right to study in state educational institutions of Greece and other EU countries on equal terms with local citizens, including participation in European educational programs.
5. Access to EU healthcare and social protection. Citizen status provides the right to participate in the national healthcare system of Greece and use healthcare mechanisms within the EU, as well as access to social guarantees in accordance with European legislation.
6. Transfer of citizenship to children. Greek citizenship can be transferred by descent, which allows including the next generation in legal protection when registration procedures are followed.
7. Full scope of civil and political rights. Citizens have the right to participate in elections, hold public office, enjoy diplomatic protection, and not risk loss of status due to changes in immigration legislation.

Investment Immigration to Greece: What’s Important to Know

Greek legislation clearly separates residential statuses and citizenship, and investments are considered only as grounds for obtaining a residence permit. Understanding the differences between the Golden Visa program, permanent residence, and citizenship through naturalization is of key importance for correct planning.

Greek citizenship is only possible through naturalization procedure. It assumes:

• Actual residence in the country for an established period;
• Integration into society and knowledge of the language;
• Absence of law violations and stable legal status.

Investments themselves do not replace these requirements and do not automatically accelerate the process.

Conditions for Obtaining Residence Permit in Greece for Investments (Golden Visa)

In 2025–2026, the key condition for program participation is fulfillment of one of the investment requirements:

Real estate (main and most common option):

• €800,000 – purchase of one real estate object with an area of at least 120 m² in main popular regions (for example, Attica, Athens, Thessaloniki, major islands).
• €400,000 – purchase of one real estate object with an area of at least 120 m² in other regions of the country.
• €250,000 – purchase of commercial real estate object with subsequent conversion to residential fund or restoration of objects of cultural significance (when special requirements are met).

Alternative forms of investment. In addition to real estate, the program allows other types of investments, such as investment fund units or shares/bonds of Greek companies, deposit in a Greek bank, or other qualified financial instruments, when the minimum investment amount is met (from €350,000–€400,000 and higher depending on the type of asset).

Threshold amounts depend not only on the type of investment but also on the geographical location of the object. This differentiation reflects the legislator’s desire to stimulate investments in regions with different levels of demand and economic activity.

One of the key elements of Golden Visa is confirmation of the legality of the origin of invested funds. The investor is obliged to provide documents that:

• Confirm the origin of capital (bank statements, income documents, corporate reports, etc.);
• Demonstrate legal transfer of funds through banking channels;
• Comply with AML/CTF requirements (combating money laundering and terrorist financing);
• Do not contradict EU sanctions and financial restrictions.

Inability to prove the legality of the source of funds or doubts about their origin may lead to refusal to issue a residence permit or cancellation of the residence permit.

When applying for and maintaining Golden Visa, the investor must comply with a number of obligations:

• Preservation of investment. The investment must be preserved throughout the validity period of the residence permit. Sale or alienation without restoring the investment threshold leads to loss of status;
• Maintenance of real estate. If real estate is chosen, it must be free from encumbrances and registered according to Greek law requirements;
• Immigration compliance. The investor and family members must have valid documents, insurance, and a clean history without serious criminal charges;
• Periodic renewal. The residence permit is issued for 5 years and can be renewed upon confirmation of investment preservation and document relevance.

Greek Golden Visa does not require mandatory residence for a certain number of days per year, but preservation of investments and compliance with immigration requirements remain mandatory conditions for permit renewal.

Who Can Participate in Greece’s Investment Program

To participate in this program, the applicant must meet a number of legally established requirements:

1. Age. A program participant can be a person of any adult age capable of independently entering into legally binding transactions and fulfilling investment conditions. Minor children can be included in the application provided the main applicant participates.
2. Absence of criminal record and law compliance. The applicant must have a clean legal history, without serious criminal convictions. Competent Greek authorities check the applicant’s involvement in offenses related to violence, organized crime, financial abuse, and other serious violations. The presence of current criminal cases or outstanding convictions may be grounds for refusal.
3. Legality of income and capital sources. Documentary confirmation of the legal origin of funds that are planned to be invested in the Greek investment program is required. This includes tax returns, bank reports, corporate documents, confirmation of income from business, rent, investments, and other legal sources.
4. Financial solvency and ability to invest. The applicant must have sufficient financial resources to meet the minimum investment thresholds established by the program. The investment must be registered in accordance with Greek legislation and preserved throughout the validity of the residence permit.
5. Medical insurance. The applicant and family members must have valid medical insurance, valid on the territory of Greece.

The program allows including in the family application not only the main investor but also certain relatives: the applicant’s spouse, minor children, as well as dependent adult children. Also, parents of the main applicant or spouse may be included in the application with documentary confirmation of their dependency and absence of independent sources of income.

Documents for Obtaining Residence Permit and Greek Citizenship

Documents for obtaining a residence permit in Greece

For obtaining a temporary residence permit on investment or other legal grounds, the applicant, as a rule, provides:

• Valid foreign passport and copies of all filled pages;
• Type D visa (if applicable);
• Application in the established form;
• Confirmation of investment (real estate purchase agreement, registry extract, documents on funds or business assets – depending on the grounds);
• Documents on legal origin of funds (bank statements, tax returns, corporate documents, etc.);
• Medical insurance valid on the territory of Greece;
• Certificate of no criminal record from the country of citizenship and/or residence;
• Confirmation of residence address in Greece;
• Biometric format photographs;
• Confirmation of payment of state fees.

Additional requirements and documents for permanent residence

When transitioning from a residence permit to permanent residence, it is necessary to confirm a stable legal and actual connection with Greece. In addition to basic documents, the following are usually requested:

• Confirmation of continuous lawful residence in Greece for an established period;
• History of residence permit renewals;
• Evidence of investment preservation or other legal grounds;
• Confirmation of income and financial independence;
• Tax documents (if necessary);
• Absence of serious immigration regime violations;
• Current medical insurance.
• Confirmation of integration into the economic and social environment (for certain categories of applicants).

Documents for obtaining Greek citizenship through naturalization

For submitting an application for naturalization, the following are required:

• Application for citizenship;
• Valid passport and resident card (permanent residence);
• Confirmation of lawful residence in Greece for an established period;
• Certificate of knowledge of the Greek language;
• Documents confirming social and economic integration (work, business, taxes, participation in public life);
• Certificate of no criminal record in Greece and abroad;
• Tax returns and confirmation of legal income;
• Documents on marital status;
• Confirmation of residence address;
• Receipts for payment of state fees.

Separately, an interview is conducted, and the applicant’s level of integration into Greek society is checked.

Stages of Obtaining Greek Citizenship Through Investments

Obtaining Greek citizenship by an investor is a multi-stage legal process in which investments serve only as a starting point for obtaining residential status.

Alternative Ways to Obtain Greek Citizenship

Investments and the Golden Visa program are only one of the possible tools for building a path to Greek citizenship. National legislation provides other legal grounds for acquiring citizenship.

How to Increase Chances of Obtaining Greek Citizenship Without Refusal

One of the main criteria is actual residence in Greece for the legally established period. Insufficient number of days of stay, long interruptions, or lack of evidence of residence may become an independent ground for refusal. It is recommended to record entries and exits in advance, keep rental or ownership agreements, utility bills, and other documents confirming actual presence in the country. Formal residential status without actual residence is usually not perceived as sufficient.

The applicant’s tax history is one of the key elements of verification. It is important to correctly determine tax residency, timely file returns, and pay taxes in accordance with Greek legislation. Discrepancies between declared income, lifestyle, and actual receipts may cause additional checks or refusal. Special attention is paid to the origin of funds and the absence of violations in the field of financial compliance.

Greek authorities evaluate not only documents but also the degree of the applicant’s involvement in the public life of the country. This includes knowledge of the Greek language, understanding of basic elements of history and the legal system, availability of professional activity or business, participation in the social environment. A formal certificate of language knowledge without actual command of it may prove insufficient at the interview stage.

A significant number of refusals are not related to the absence of the right to citizenship but to errors in document preparation. Incomplete information, contradictions in questionnaires, outdated certificates, or incorrect translations can significantly affect the case assessment. It is important that all documents be current, logically consistent, and comply with immigration authority requirements. Preparation for the interview is of particular importance, where not only language knowledge is checked, but also the overall consistency of the applicant’s immigration history.

If you are planning to apply for Greek citizenship or are already at the document preparation stage, it is advisable to conduct a professional legal assessment of your situation in advance. Our team supports clients at all stages: from analyzing residential status and tax consequences to preparing a complete package of documents and interacting with state authorities. Contact us to build a lawful and sustainable strategy for obtaining citizenship, taking into account your individual circumstances.

Anatoly Yarovyi

Senior Partner, Attorney-at-law, admitted to the Bar (Certificate to practice Law #701 as of 28.12.2009)

With 20 years of legal experience, Anatolii Yarovyi specializes in advising private clients on second citizenship and residence-by-investment programs. His expertise in international law and cross-border mobility makes him a trusted advisor for individuals seeking secure and strategic global citizenship solutions.

Phone:

+357 96 447475

Email:

[email protected]

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