Recently, Greece officially passed Law No. 5275/2026, which amends and supplements the Greek Immigration Code.
This adjustment focuses on optimizing core dimensions such as approval efficiency, residence permit renewals, and the scope of family members, further enhancing the appeal of the Greek Golden Visa.
1. Application Process Optimization: Efficiency Gains
According to the new law, applications for residence permits and renewals are still submitted online through the official Greek digital system.
However, the difference is: The system will automatically assign applications to the immigration office with the "fewest pending cases" nationwide for processing.
What does this mean?
• No longer restricted by the applicant's place of residence or personal choice
• Breaks the "approval backlog" in popular areas like Athens
• Optimizes the allocation of immigration resources nationwide
• Substantially shortens the overall approval cycle
2. Extended Grace Period for Renewals: Clearer Rules
Original Rule:
Renewal could be submitted 2 months before expiration
Only a 1-month grace period after expiration
New Rule:
• Can still be submitted 2 months before expiration (unchanged)
• Grace period after expiration extended to 3 months
• A fine of 100 Euros for every month of delay
This change is highly significant. In the past, missing the window could risk the loss of status. Now, the extension to three months provides applicants with a more generous buffer.
For transnational families, frequent travelers, or applicants delayed by objective reasons, this is a clearly human-centric adjustment.
3. Expanded Scope of Family Members: More Reliable Planning
This revision adds a new category of family members:
"Adult children without legal capacity" of the main applicant or their spouse, regardless of age, can be included in the scope of family members, provided they meet three core conditions: being a third-country national, lacking legal capacity, and residing with and being supported by the main applicant.
This adjustment fills a policy gap, making family planning more comprehensive. It is a significant benefit for applicants with specific family structure needs.
4. Online System Upgrade: More Efficient Supplemental Documentation
Online platform synchronized upgrade:
• During the processing of a residence application, new passports can be proactively submitted
• After the residence permit has been issued, passport updates can be submitted directly without waiting for the residence card to be updated
This means applicants no longer need to passively wait for official notifications but can proactively supplement materials, increasing their sense of control over the process.
Overall, this revision is more of an "optimization upgrade," making the process smoother and providing more peace of mind for applicants. For those intending to immigrate to Greece, now is the window to lock in low-threshold entry qualifications. By investing in property starting from 250,000 Euros, you can obtain permanent residency in the EU member state of Greece in one step!
Currently, there are few high-quality "commercial-to-residential" properties on the market that comply with the Greek Golden Visa application law and can be transferred quickly. Early planning, early property selection, and early transfer mean more relaxed status planning and asset allocation arrangements.
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