Golden Visa demand hits a record
According to data from the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum, 7,875 residence permits were approved for non-EU investors between January and November 2025. This marks a 95% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
The strongest growth came from Turkish nationals, whose number of permits rose by 158% year-on-year to 3,072.
In addition to Turkey, demand from Iranian and Israeli investors also increased considerably. Chinese nationals remained the largest investor group overall, accounting for nearly half of all active permits under the programme.
Market data also shows rising interest from US nationals. Their investments in Greek real estate through the Golden Visa programme increased by 30% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Foreign investment drives the Greek property market
The rapid growth of the Golden Visa programme continues to influence the Greek real estate sector, which remains heavily investment-oriented, despite tightened investment requirements.
According to data from the Independent Authority for Public Revenue, property transactions in Greece reached approximately €23.5 billion in 2025. Most transactions involved commercial properties, holiday homes, and income-generating apartments rather than primary residences.
At the same time, the role of domestic lending remained limited. Of the total transaction volume, only €2.5 billion came from new mortgage loans, indicating that the market is increasingly driven by foreign capital and cash-based investments.
About the Greece Golden Visa programme
The Greece Golden Visa programme grants residence permits to non-EU nationals who invest at least €250,000 in the country’s economy. The most common route involves purchasing real estate. Alternative options include buying investment fund units and a bank deposit.
The permit is valid for 5 years and can be renewed indefinitely for 5-year periods. Investors may include family members in their application and benefit from visa-free travel within the Schengen Area.
Launched in 2014, the Greece Golden Visa programme has grown into one of Europe’s largest residency-by-investment schemes. Per market estimates, in 10 years of the programme, the total number of individual investors has approached 40,000 by early 2026, excluding family members. Total inflows into the Greek real estate market have exceeded €10 billion since the programme’s launch.
