On April 18, 2013, Greece enacted an investment immigration promotion act. It informed non-EU citizens worldwide that by purchasing property in Greece valued at 250,000 euros or more, they could obtain a residence visa and apply for a permanent Greek green card. Two years later, Greece implemented a new policy, upgrading the previous "residence visa" to a "permanent residence visa," allowing three generations to obtain status through a single investment.
Specific application requirements are as follows:
1. The main applicant must be at least 18 years old; a spouse, children under 21, and parents may apply as dependents.
2. Purchase property in Greece valued at 250,000 euros or more (must be held long-term and cannot be sold).
3. No requirements for language, business experience, or source of funds.
4. No criminal record.
Including property purchase, handling fees, taxes, etc., a minimum investment of 1.9 million RMB is required to own a Greek property and obtain a Greek green card.
Frequently Asked Questions About Greek Immigration
Q: As far as I know, the Greek permanent residence is not a true permanent residence! There are many restrictions. Besides keeping the property and not selling it, are there any other restrictions? I saw this online.
A: There are restrictions; you cannot work there, but you can start your own company and run a business there.
Q: What benefits can permanent residence provide? How does social security differ from that of ordinary citizens?
A: Other education and medical benefits are the same as those enjoyed by citizens. Social security differs from that of ordinary citizens because, without paying taxes in Greece, pensions and retirement benefits are not as high as those of local Greek citizens.
Q: Hello Lao Li, I would like to ask, given that the situation in many countries is very chaotic and Ireland has closed its immigration policy at any time, will Greece be easily affected?
A: There is currently no news regarding policy changes, so it remains quite stable.
Q: Does the 550 euro annual insurance not include pension insurance?
A: That refers to medical insurance, which does not include pension insurance. The only mandatory insurance required by the application conditions is medical insurance; others are not mandatory.
Q: Are there any taxes to pay if I am just living there?
A: If you are just living there without any employment income, you only need to pay property tax. If your annual income is below 9,000 euros, you do not need to pay personal income tax.
Q: For example, if I buy a villa in the suburbs of Athens, what is the property holding tax?
A: Property tax depends on the location, purchase price, building age, and floor. I am not sure about the specific details of your suburban villa, but generally, as a standard, for a 250,000 euro property, the property tax is 300–800 euros. For property valued at 500,000 euros or more, the annual property tax is 600 euros; for a total property value of 600,000 euros, it is about 900 euros annually; and for 700,000 euros, the annual property tax is 1,500 euros.
Q: What is the approximate price range for a villa in Athens, for example, one with a better living environment?
A: In Athens, it starts at about 380,000 euros for a villa of over 100 square meters. If you want a detached house of over 200 square meters, it only costs about 450,000 euros.