Fresh data on Greek immigration has just been released! Over the past year (from May 2025 to May 2026), the Greece Golden Visa program received a total of 7,140 permanent residency applications (including both initial and renewal applications).
According to the latest application data:
• Chinese applicants continue to lead strongly, accounting for nearly half of the total application volume, firmly ranking first globally with a 47.9% share, which fully reflects the high level of recognition Chinese families have for the Greece Golden Visa.
• UK investors continue to maintain high interest, accounting for 3.4% and entering the global Top 5, becoming an important force in the local European market that cannot be ignored.
• US investors rank eighth globally, accounting for 2.5%, as the demand for Greek residency among high-net-worth families in North America is being rapidly unleashed.
I. Data Signal:
Greek residency is moving towards global allocation
In the past, when people mentioned the Greece Golden Visa, many would naturally associate it with Chinese investors. Indeed, according to the latest data, Chinese applicants account for 47.9%, firmly ranking first globally, and remain the most important applicant group for the Greece Golden Visa. This also shows that the recognition and appeal of the Greek program among Chinese families remain very strong.
However, it is worth noting that UK and US investors are also continuously entering the market. UK investors rank in the top five globally, and US investors rank eighth globally, indicating that the Greece Golden Visa is no longer just a choice for a single market, but is gradually becoming a European residency option recognized by high-net-worth families worldwide.
For Chinese families, Greek permanent residency can simultaneously address European residency, overseas real estate, children's education, Schengen travel, and future life arrangements; for UK investors, after Brexit, Greek residency fills the gap for long-term residence and living convenience in the EU; for US high-net-worth individuals, Greece is an important pivot for entering the European lifestyle, asset market, and retirement planning.
In other words, although investors from different countries have different needs, they all point to the same core: through the Greece Golden Visa, they are proactively securing a stable, flexible, and long-term European residency option for their families.
II. Multiple Value Stacking:
Simultaneous planning for travel, education, assets, and lifestyle
The core reason why the Greece Golden Visa continues to receive attention is that it can simultaneously cover multiple needs such as travel, education, assets, taxation, and lifestyle.
First, Greece is a member of the EU, a Schengen country, and a member of the Eurozone. After obtaining Greek permanent residency, investors can reside in Greece long-term and travel freely across 29 Schengen countries. Whether for business, travel in Europe, visiting children, or planning vacations and future life, they can enjoy more flexible options.
Secondly, Greek residency has value for educational planning. The country has resources for public schools, private schools, and international schools, which can provide a bridge for children to enter the European education system. If children wish to return to China for their careers, they can also use their status as overseas Chinese students to enter top mainland universities with lower scores.
In terms of asset allocation, the Greece Golden Visa can achieve residency planning through real estate investment. For high-net-worth families, this is not just about applying for permanent residency, but also about allocating a real estate asset in Europe that can be used for self-occupation, rental, or long-term holding.
In addition, Greece also has certain attractions in terms of cost of living, climate, and tax planning. For families with needs for cross-border asset allocation, retirement, and long-term residence, Greece provides a relatively friendly and flexible European lifestyle option.
III. From Attention to Implementation: Quality Properties are a Key Step
As more and more global high-net-worth individuals are proactively planning for European residency, the Greece Golden Visa is no longer just a popular immigration program, but a long-term family allocation for the future.
For families who already have needs for European residency planning, understanding the program's advantages is the first step. What truly affects the pace of the application is often whether they can timely match quality properties that meet policy requirements and can be smoothly transferred.
Currently, investors can invest in properties starting from 250,000 Euros to apply for permanent residency in the EU country of Greece for the whole family! Quality "commercial-to-residential" properties currently on the market 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 in completing your residency layout more calmly.
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