+306947261818
Investment options in Greece
All services for Foreing Nationals
The government of Greece introduced a procedure to obtain residence permits, which can be renewed every five (5) years, for owners of real estate by third-country citizens, the value of which exceeds €250.000, adopting a friendlier stance towards those who wish to own real estate property in Greece.
希腊政府面向在希腊拥有价值超过 250,000 欧元房地产的第三国公民，出台了 一项获取居留许可证的程序，此类许可证每五（5）年续签一次，此举表明希腊政 府对有意在希腊拥有房地产的人士秉持更友善的立场。
ىف إطار الرغبة ىف موقف يتميز مبزيد من الود تجاه مواطنني من دول ثالثة يرغبون ىف إمتالك عقار باليونان ، قررت الحكومة إجراءات منح تصاريح اإلقامة باليونان ، التى تتجدد كل خمس ) 5 ) سنوات ، ملالك العقارات التى تتجاوز قيمتها 250000 يورو. نعرض ىف هذا الدليل بطريقة ميرسة الطريقة والرشوط واإلجراءات واملستندات املطلوبة للحصول عىل ترصيح اإلقامة . ىف ذات ا
Yunanistan’da taşınmaz mal almak isteyen üçüncü ülke vatandaşlarına karşı daha dostane bir tavır çerçevesinde, Hükümet 250.000€ değerinin üzerinde taşınmaz sahibi olanlar için Yunanistan’da her 5 yılda bir yenilenen oturma izni verme prosedürü yaratmıştır.
Where to Invest? - Thessaloniki, Northern Greece
How to start? Real Estate Purchase - 250 000 Euro (FAQ)
Why to Invest in Thessaloniki?
Thessaloniki is an ideal destination to research and innovate
Research and education:
• 5 major Universities including the biggest in the region (AUTH is the biggest university in Balkans) and the International one (IHU)
• 5 world dominant research centers within the biggest research institute in the country (CERTH) • 150K+ undergrads, 20K+ grads students
• 5K+ Researchers • 500M+ Research Budget (EU, National, Regional, Private) the Thessaloniki
Science Center and Technology Museum is one of the most high-tech museums in Southeastern Europe Innovation:
• Vibrant start-up community
• Pre-Incubators/Accelerators 4 major incubators, the biggest in the country Innovation zone hosting and welcome facilities Economy:
• Many SMEs, only some large companies High-tech industry mostly SMEs Service and administration sector 70%+
An ideal destination to live and work
Climate: A transitional climatic zone. Winters are relatively dry, with sporadic snowfalls. Summers are hot with rather humid nights.
The average number of days the temperature is above 32°C (90°F) or below 0°C (32°F) is 32. Position: Central Macedonia, North Greece, on the Mediterranean, in the South-East corner of Europe, next to Asia, Middle-East, Russia, less than 300 miles from seven major economic centers in Southeast Europe.
Culture:
• The city's name derives from a princess’s name, Thessalonike of Macedon, half sister of Alexander the Great
• Countless archaeological sites from the Roman and Eastern Roman Empire("co-reigning" city of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, alongside Constantinople)
• Five Star Vergina site (tomb of Filippos of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great)
• European Capital of Culture (1997) and European Youth Capital (2014)
• Thessaloniki International Film Festival &Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival
• National Theatre of Northern Greece & Thessaloniki Concert Hall • Home of a number of festivals and events.
Sports:
• World-class sporting facilities hosted soccer games during the 2004 Olympics
• Sea& Winter sports areas •
Top league European and International Events
Food: Eastern Cuisine, famous for the local snacks Koulouri, Trigona, and Bougatsa
Leisure: The city has long been known in Greece for its vibrant city culture, including having the most cafes and bars per capita of any city in Europe; and as having some of the best nightlife and entertainment in the country, thanks to its large young population and multicultural feel.
Lonely Planet listed Thessaloniki among the world's "ultimate party cities”.
Thessaloniki is renowned for its major shopping streets and lively laneways.
Vacation: Well-known destination for summer vacation, with extraordinary sunny beaches (Chalkidiki) and mountain forests (Olympus)
Business Friendly community: being in the cross-roads of East-West trade for centuries it enjoys a vibrant business community well receptive to external establishments.
The Thessaloniki International Trade Fair: the most important business event in Greece Extrovert environment: A multi-cultural multi-ethnic along with the centuries city, re-discovering its place as a business and cultural metropolis bridging the East to the West and the North to the South
Transport and Logistics Facilities:
• Less than 600 Km (300 miles) to seven major economic centers in Southeastern Europe: Athens, Belgrade, Bucharest, Istanbul, Skopje, Sofia, Tirana -Flight connections to 40+ destinations
• Flight Cargo connections worldwide
• Port in operation for 2300 years, the largest transit-trade port in the country, servicing 15 million inhabitants of its international mainland: It occupies a total space of 1.5 million square meters and it spreads across a length of 3.5km. 6 piers suitable for servicing all types of cargo as well as passenger traffic, with installations suitable for liquid fuel storage and it is located in proximity to the international, natural-gas pipeline. Free Zone (control type I) is linked to a dense, traffic network that is directly linked to the national and international road network, bypassing thus city entrance. Linked to the national and international railroad network.
How to start? Real Estate Purchase - 250 000 Euro (FAQ)
Can I obtain more than one piece of property, the individual value of which is less than €250.000, if the combined value is equal to or greater than € 250.000?
You are entitled to residency rights irrespective of whether you own one or more properties, provided that their combined value is equal to or greater than €250.000
Can I buy commercial property or a combination of commercial and residential properties or land?
The law states that €250.000 must be the stated price on the contract. It does not distinguish between commercial and residential properties.
Are there any restrictions that apply to the real estate market? (e.g. location, size in square meters, or other factors).
There are restrictions on properties located in border regions. It should be noted that as border regions are defined the prefectures of the Dodecanese, Evros, Thesprotia, Kastoria, Kilkis, Lesvos, Xanthi, Preveza, Rodopi, Samos, Florina, Chios, and the islands of Thera and Skyros, as well as the former regions of Nevrokipi in the former prefecture of Drama; Pagoniou and Konitsas in the prefecture of Ioannina; Almopia and Edessa in the prefecture of Pella; and Sintiki in the prefecture of Serres. Individual or legal entities, which are affected by the restrictions above, can request the lifting of the ban for the border regions, along with their application, which should clearly state the intended use for the property. The decision to lift the ban is made by the Minister of Defence, following the submission of an application.
Can I travel in Schengen countries directly, after my residence permit has been issued, from my country, or do I need to first come to Greece?
You can arrive to any Schengen country you wish to.
What is the arrangement regarding the access to education and health services? Can the children of the residence permit holder attend a Greek public school?
The holders of the residence permit have access to public education, analogously to that of Greeks. Regarding access to health services, third-country citizens and their family members who fall under the regulations of the current law must have insurance that covers their healthcare and medical care expenses. To prove this condition, the following documents are accepted: i. Insurance contracts that have been signed outside Greece, provided they explicitly mention that they cover the applicant for the duration of their stay in Greece ii. Insurance contracts that have been signed-in Greece
Can I purchase a car with Greek license plates for my transportation needs in the country?
Yes, under the specific regulations of the Ministry of Transport, which apply to third-country citizens.
Is it required of the buyer to prove economic capacity?
The income of the applicant must be proven by documentation that proves their capacity (e.g. Certificate by class-A recognized bank or an official financial institution or other recognized institutions to store bonds) and certifies the existence of bank accounts or other transferable securities, especially shares or bonds (the above are checked for the issuance of a type D visa). In all cases, before the contract, the price of the real estate is paid via a crossed bank cheque or through another banking transaction.
If third-country citizens jointly buy a property for €2.000.000, are all the joint owners entitled to a residence permit?
Yes, provided that the amount invested by each one is €250.000.
What happens in the cases where someone tarnishes their criminal record, either in their country of origin or in Greece, during the period of when their residence permit is valid?
This leads to the revocation of the residence permit.
If someone holds a long-term Visa for a different Schengen country, does this Visa need to be cancelled to obtain a visa in Greece?
A Schengen visa by a different country gives the applicant the ability to enter Greece and settle issues regarding the purchase of the property.
Does the residence permit continue to be valid if the real estate property is transferred/resold?
In cases when the real estate (property) is transferred, the third country citizen loses the right to the residence. In case of resale of the property during the period of validity of the residence permit to another third country citizen, the right to a residence permit is granted to the new buyer along with a simultaneous revocation of the seller’s residence permit.
Is it possible to rent the real estate property to third parties?
Third-country citizens who own real estate have the right to rent their property.
Who is considered a family member?
According to the law, family members of third-country citizens entering the country are:
a. Spouses, b. the other spouse or partner with whom a third-country national has a cohabitation agreement in Greece, c. The direct unmarried descendants of the spouses, who are under the age of 21, d. the unmarried children of the supporter or of the other spouse/partner, provided that their custody has been legally entrusted to the sponsor (for his/her children) and to the other partner (for his/her children), under 21 years of age. e. the direct relatives of the spouses in the ascending line.
Can my relatives in the ascending line (namely my parents and my spouse’s parents) or my children who are over the age of 18, accompany me (in cases of real estate ownership in Greece), and be included in the family provision? What about the children who turn 18 during the period when their parents’ residence permit is valid?
Ascendants are included in the provision above but not children over the age of 21. Children of third-country nationals, who have been admitted to Greece under the terms and requirements of residence permit for property owners, are granted a residence permit for family reunification until the age of 21. After that, it is possible to acquire a renewal as a 3-year independent residence permit until they reach the age of 24, and then it is possible to renew it further according to pertinent immigration legislation.
Are unmarried partners entitled to a residence permit?
Family members do not include unmarried partners.
Does the residence permit give me the right to apply for citizenship?
According to the decision of the Minister of Interior no. 130181/6353/27.3.2018, published in the Government Gazette 1208/Β/2.4.2018, the residence permits of Real Estate Owners and permanent residence permits for Investors have been added to the categories of residence permits that are eligible for the submission of an application for the acquisition of Greek citizenship. In this case, the applicants must fulfill all the preconditions of the Greek Citizenship Code applied for the acquisition of Greek citizenship by naturalization. The above ministerial decision applies only to the real estate owners and investors themselves, and not their family members, who must first obtain the long-term residence status, which is a prerequisite for naturalization.
Does the amount of €250,000 include the Value Added Tax? What should the value of the investment be if the ownership/sale document includes the name of both spouses?
The amount of €250.000 refers to the price indicated on the contract. In cases of joint ownership of the real estate property by spouses, the residence right is granted to both spouses.
The process for the issuing of a residence permit for real estate property owners.
Step 1: Issuing an entry Visa for Greek Territory The interested party must submit an application for an entry visa to the Greek consulate authority in their country of origin.
Step 2: Collecting the documentation for the issuing of the residence permit Applicants for a residence permit for real estate owners, valued at €250.000, must provide the following documents:
• Two copies of the application document;
• Four recent color photos (passport type, printed as well as in Compartible Disc form);
• Certified copy of a valid passport or travel documents recognized by Greece and with the relevant valid entry visa, where required;
• A fee paid and obtained through the “e-paravolo” platform according to provisions of article 38 par. 8 of Law 4546/2018, which amounts to €2000 for residence permits of up to a five-year duration for real estate owners (code 2112). For family members, the fee amounts to €150 (code 2107). Minor children (under 18 years old) are exempted from this fee.
• A fee paid and obtained through the “e-paravolo” platform according to provisions of Law 4018/2011 article 1, which amounts to €16 concerning the printing of the separate document (electronic residence permit).
• Certification by an insurance agency for the cost of hospitalization and medical care. To certify that this condition is fulfilled, the following are accepted: - Insurance contracts that have been signed outside Greece provided that they explicitly mention that they cover the interested party for the duration of their stay in Greece. - Insurance contracts that have been signed-in Greece.
• In case the seller is a third-country citizen, he must submit a certificate from Aliens and Immigration Department of the competent Decentralised Authority, whether this property has been used for issuing a residence permit for real estate owners. The above applies also to the sale of the property by a legal entity.
Depending on the specific case, the following documentation may need to be submitted in addition to the above:
1. Residence permits for third-country citizens who own and possess, either wholly or jointly, property in Greece.
• A contract of purchase stating that “the contract of sell and purchase of the property is not subject to conditions or exemptions, the total price amounts to ….. which has been paid in full with a crossed bank cheque to a bank account of the beneficiary, held in a credit institution operating in Greece or with a credit transfer, as defined by Law 4537/2018 article 4, par. 24 (Official Government Gazette Α΄ 84) to a beneficiary’s bank account held in a payment service provider, as defined by Law 4537/2018 article 4 par. 11 operating in Greece.
• Proof of transfer of the contract by the competent Land Registry and a certificate issued by the Land Registry or national cadastre agency attesting to the non-existence of any encumbrance.
2. Residence permits for third-country citizens who own property in Greece through a legal entity, where the applicant owns all shares
• A contract of purchase stating that “the contract of sell and purchase of the property is not subject to conditions or exemptions, the total price amounts to ….. which has been paid in full with a crossed bank cheque to a bank account of the beneficiary, held in a credit institution operating in Greece or with a credit transfer, as defined by Law 4537/2018 article 4, par. 24 (Official Government Gazette Α΄ 84) to a beneficiary’s bank account held in a payment service provider, as defined by Law 4537/2018 article 4 par. 11 operating in Greece.
• Proof of transcription of the contract by the competent Land Registry and a certificate issued by the Land Registry or national cadastre agency attesting to the non-existence of any encumbrance.
3. Residence permits for third-country citizens who have a lease – for a minimum of 10 years – for hotel accommodations or furnished tourist residences in integrated tourist resorts
• Notarised copy of the lease for the hotel accommodations or furnished tourist residences in integrated tourist resorts, which demonstrates a single payment of €250.000 and includes a mention of the granting of the relevant operation licence by GNTO (Greek National Tourism Organisation)