Golden Visa Greece — Legal Services

Your Golden Visa Greece
lawyer, from start to finish

Getting a Greek Golden Visa is straightforward — with the right lawyer. We handle everything: property checks, contracts, paperwork, and your residency permit. Offices in Athens and Dubai.

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20+
Years of Experience
4
International Offices
13+
Legal Professionals
€3B+
Cases Advised

What is the Greek Golden Visa?

Live in Europe through investment in Greece

The Greek Golden Visa is a residency program for non-EU citizens. If you invest in Greek real estate or other approved assets, you get a 5-year renewable residence permit — for you and your whole family.

You do not need to live in Greece to keep it. After 7 years of continuous residence, you can apply for Greek citizenship and an EU passport.

Greece launched the Golden Visa program in 2013. It is one of the most popular residency-by-investment programs in Europe — and one of the most affordable entry points to EU residency.

Key benefits at a glance

  • Visa-free travel across all 26 Schengen countries
  • Include your spouse, children under 21, and parents — all in one application
  • No minimum stay required to keep your permit
  • Renewable every 5 years as long as you hold the investment
  • Path to Greek citizenship after 7 years of residence
  • Right to rent out your investment property

Investment Thresholds — 2026

How much do you need to invest?

The amount depends on where the property is and what type it is. Here are the current thresholds for the Greek Golden Visa program. Your lawyer will help you choose the right option for your budget and goals.

Investment type Minimum amount Notes
Real estate — Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, islands with 3,100+ residents €800,000
High demand zones
 Single property, min. 120 m². No short-term rentals.
Real estate — all other regions of Greece €400,000 Single property, min. 120 m².
Commercial-to-residential conversion €250,000
Lowest threshold
 Converting a commercial property into residential use.
Restoration of a listed building €250,000 Full restoration or reconstruction required.
Capital contribution — real estate funds, Greek companies €500,000 Shares in qualifying Greek investment vehicles.
Greek government bonds €500,000 Min. 3-year maturity, held through a Greek bank.
10-year hotel accommodation lease €400,000 – €800,000 Depends on property location.

The process

How the Golden Visa Greece application works

The Greek Golden Visa process has clear steps. With a lawyer managing everything, most clients find it much simpler than they expected. Here is what happens from start to finish.

The full process typically takes 6 to 12 months. A temporary residency certificate is usually issued within 1 to 2 months of submitting your application, so you can travel in the meantime.

01
Free legal consultation
We review your situation, goals, and budget. We advise on the best investment route for you and explain the full Golden Visa Greece process clearly.
02
Property search and due diligence
We check the property title, ownership history, debts, permits, and planning status. We protect you from buying a property with hidden problems.
03
Power of Attorney
You sign a Power of Attorney so we can act on your behalf in Greece. This means you do not need to be present for every step of the process.
04
Contract and purchase
We draft and review your purchase contract, coordinate with the notary, and make sure all tax obligations are properly handled.
05
Golden Visa application filing
We prepare your full Golden Visa Greece application — all documents, forms, translations, and fees — and submit it to the Greek authorities.
06
Residency permit issued
You visit Greece once to give biometric data. Your 5-year Greek residence permit is then issued. Your family members are included in the same permit.

Our Golden Visa legal services

What your Golden Visa Greece lawyer handles

Vasileios Apostolidis is a leading Golden Visa Greece lawyer with over 20 years of experience in investment migration, real estate law, and cross-border legal structuring.

He has guided investors from the USA, UAE, India, Australia, Israel, Canada, and across Europe through the Greek Golden Visa process — including complex cases involving tokenized real estate and investment fund structures.

When you work with us, you have a single point of contact who speaks your language and knows the Greek system inside out.

Start your Golden Visa application
  • Legal due diligence on any property or investment vehicle
  • Property title search — checking for debts, liens, and planning issues
  • Drafting and reviewing all purchase and investment contracts
  • Power of Attorney — so we can act on your behalf in Greece
  • Tax registration (Greek Tax ID / AFM) for foreign investors
  • Full Golden Visa application preparation and submission
  • Document translation and apostille coordination
  • Family member inclusion — spouse, children, parents
  • Communication with Greek authorities throughout the process
  • Golden Visa renewal every 5 years
  • Citizenship planning — advice on the 7-year path to a Greek passport
  • Tokenized real estate and investment fund structuring

Why choose us

A Golden Visa lawyer who knows Greece

There are many firms that offer Golden Visa services. Here is what makes Apostolidis & Partners different.

01
We are lawyers, not agents
Many Golden Visa "consultants" are not lawyers. We are a licensed law firm — we can represent you in court, draft legally binding contracts, and protect you if anything goes wrong.
02
Athens and Dubai offices
We have offices in Athens (where the work happens) and Dubai (where many of our clients are). You can meet us in person in either city — no need to fly to Greece just for a consultation.
03
20+ years of Greek property law
We have been doing this since before the Golden Visa program existed. Our knowledge of Greek real estate law, title searches, and notarial procedures is deep and current.
04
We handle the whole thing
From finding the right property to getting your residency card, we manage every step. You do not need to coordinate between a lawyer, an agent, a tax advisor, and a notary — we do that for you.

Common questions

Golden Visa Greece — FAQ

The minimum is €250,000 for converting a commercial property to residential use or restoring a listed building. For most other properties it is €400,000, and in high-demand areas like Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini the threshold rises to €800,000. Your lawyer will help you find the option that fits your budget.
You are not legally required to use a lawyer, but it is strongly recommended. A Golden Visa Greece lawyer carries out property due diligence, reviews contracts, handles your Power of Attorney, files your application, and communicates with Greek authorities — protecting you from mistakes that can cost far more than legal fees.
The full process usually takes 6 to 12 months from investment to final approval. A temporary residency certificate is typically issued within 1 to 2 months of submitting a complete application, which allows you to travel in the Schengen Area in the meantime.
Yes. Your spouse, your children under 21, and the parents of both you and your spouse are all eligible to be included in the same application — at no extra investment cost. They all receive their own residence permits.
No. There is no minimum stay requirement to keep your Greek Golden Visa active. You just need to maintain your investment and renew the permit every 5 years. This is one of the most flexible aspects of the Greek program compared to other EU Golden Visa schemes.
Yes. After 7 years of continuous residence in Greece — spending at least 183 days per year there — Golden Visa holders can apply for Greek citizenship and a full EU passport, with visa-free access to over 180 countries.
In most cases, yes. Long-term rental of your property is allowed and can generate income while you hold the visa. Short-term rentals (such as Airbnb) are not permitted for properties in high-demand zones that qualified under the €800,000 threshold. Your lawyer will clarify the rules for your specific property.

Ready to start?

Get your Golden Visa Greece consultation today

We offer a free initial consultation for Golden Visa Greece inquiries. Tell us about your situation and we will explain your options clearly — no legal jargon, no obligation.

Book a Consultation Call Athens Office

Contact us

Speak to a Golden Visa Greece lawyer

26 Skoufa Street, Kolonaki
Athens 106 73, Greece

The Aspect Tower, Business Bay
3rd Floor, Office 301, Dubai, UAE

+30 231 311 3829
+971 4 228 52 85
info@apostolidis-law.gr

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