Fresh data on Greek immigration has just been released! Over the past year (from April 2025 to April 2026), the Greece Golden Visa program received a total of 7,077 permanent residency applications.
Among them, Chinese applicants firmly topped the list with a 48.1% share, far exceeding other countries, while the UK and the US ranked fifth and seventh with 3.5% and 2.6% respectively.
This set of data sends a clear signal: the Greece Golden Visa is not only an immigration program of interest to Chinese families, but it is also continuously attracting investors from countries such as the UK and the US. In other words, the value of Greek residency planning is extending from "obtaining European status" to multifaceted planning for asset allocation, family education, quality living, and a globalized lifestyle.
1. A Greek residence permit
Opens up the entire European living radius
As a member of the EU and the Schengen Area, the fundamental value of Greek status is very clear: After obtaining Greek residency, the applicant and their family members can reside in Greece long-term and enjoy the convenience of travel within the Schengen Area.
For many families, this not only means greater freedom of travel but also more diverse choices for future life. Whether it is for children to study in Europe, parents to arrange for retirement, or for the family to stay, vacation, or conduct business in Europe in the future, Greek status provides an important "European access card."
Especially against the backdrop of constantly changing global residency policies, more and more high-net-worth families no longer view immigration as a single goal, but rather incorporate it into their long-term family asset allocation and risk diversification systems. Proactively securing a stable European residence permit is essentially about retaining more options for the family's future.
2. Real estate investment attributes
Are an important reason why Greek immigration is popular
The reason why the Greece Golden Visa has maintained its popularity for a long time is closely related to its real estate investment attributes. The Greece Golden Visa is typically combined with real estate investment. For investors, this means that residency planning and asset allocation can be completed simultaneously: on one hand, obtaining European residency, and on the other, holding local Greek real estate assets.
In recent years, the Greek tourism industry has continued to recover, and the demand for living, renting, and vacationing in Athens, Thessaloniki, the islands, and some popular resort areas is quite active. For families with plans for long-term holding, rental income, future self-use, or exit strategies, Greek real estate is not only a vehicle for residency applications but also possesses certain asset allocation and utility value.
3. Favorable conditions
Three generations of the family share European status
In addition to real estate investment attributes, the application conditions for the Greece Golden Visa are relatively favorable. The Greek immigration program has relaxed application requirements, with no requirements for language, education, business background, or residency; one person applies, and three generations of the family are planned for together; more importantly, the program is cost-effective. Greece is one of the few countries in the EU and Schengen Area where buying property can lead to permanent residency. After obtaining status, one can freely enter and exit 29 Schengen countries, travel is convenient, and children can enjoy high-quality Greek public education for free, or return to their home country to participate in the Joint Entrance Exam for Overseas Chinese Students.
Currently, investors can invest in properties starting from 250,000 EUR to apply for permanent residency in the EU country of Greece for the whole family! In the current market, high-quality "commercial-to-residential" properties that meet the policy requirements of the Greece Golden Visa program and can be quickly transferred are relatively limited. Planning ahead, selecting properties early, and advancing the transfer process will help you complete your residency layout with more ease.
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