Greece Golden Visa Process for Indians: Documents, Timeline & Step-by-Step Checklist
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If you are an Investor from India or a family who is looking for overseas residency options then you must have looked into Greece as one of the options. Greece has a lot of things to look up to. The weather there is lovely, the property costs less than most of the western Europe and most importantly one purchase can give you and your whole family a residence permit in Europe along with the ability to travel across the Schengen areas. If you are planning to invest in Greece then this guide is the perfect guide for you. This explains the Greece Golden Visa program and explains everything regarding documents, timeline and Step-by-Step Checklist to understand how it works.
What is the Greece Golden Visa?
The Greece Golden Visa is a five-year residency-by-investment permit introduced by the Greek government. This allows non EU citizens, including Indians to avail Greece residence permit by investing a qualifying investment in Greece. The program is governed by the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum. This program provides legal residency, not citizenship. So if we say in simple words, it can be said in a way that you first invest in Greece, you then get a residence permit and then you and your family can legally stay in Greece and can also travel to Schengen areas without applying for a Schengen Visa for each trip.
Minimum Investment Requirements
- €800,000: Attica (including Athens), Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, and islands with more than 3,100 residents.
- €400,000: All other parts of Greece.
- €250,000: Only for a commercial building converted to residential use, or a restored listed (heritage) building.
- For the €400,000 and €800,000 routes, the money must go into one single home with at least 120 square metres of main living space. You can’t combine two smaller flats to reach the amount. These thresholds have been in place since 5 April 2024, so if you see “€250,000 anywhere in Greece” online, that information is out of date.
Requirements For Greece Golden Visa
- Non-EU nationality
- Full ownership of a qualifying property at the right threshold for its area
- Full payment through approved banking channels (cash isn’t accepted)
- Private health insurance for every applicant
- A clean record (no threat to public order or security)
- A Greek tax number (AFM)
- A valid passport and a legal entry into Greece
List Of Required Documents
- Copy of your passport, with your entry visa or residence permit
- Recent colour photograph (Greek passport standard)
- Notary’s certificate confirming the sale price, payment method and property details
- Proof of registration at the Land Registry or Cadastre (proof that you applied for registration is enough at first)
- Your property tax declaration (E9)
- Private health insurance contract
- Proof of fee payment (e-paravolo)
- Proof that you own 100% of the shares, if you’re buying through a company
Greece Golden Visa Process: Step-by-Step Checklist
Step 1: Pick the right property
Decide your area first based on your budget. You can then check if the property meets every rule like, the price matches its zone, it’s one single unit, and the square metres of the main area.
Step 2: Get your AFM and sign the power of attorney
Your Greek tax number (AFM) comes first. As a non-resident, you will also appoint a tax representative in Greece. If you don’t travel for the purchase, you can sign a power of attorney at a Greek consulate in India, or before a notary in India with an apostille. This will let a Greek lawyer act for you.
Step 3: Do your legal checks
Your lawyer should check the title, building permits, and any debts or disputes on the property. You can’t file your application till the time your property is transferred to your name.
Step 4: Buy the property and pay in full
You sign the sale deed before a Greek notary. The full price must be paid before you apply, by bank transfer, crossed cheque into the seller’s Greek account, or card at a Greek POS machine. The payment can come from you, your spouse, or a relative up to the second degree.
Step 5: Arrange health insurance
Every applicant needs a private health policy that meets the Greek minimums. That means €10,000 a year for hospital care, €1,500 for outpatient care and €15,000 for accident disability, with your co-payment capped at 20%.
Step 6: File the application online
Your lawyer submits the file on the Ministry of Migration’s online portal and pays the fee. Once the file is complete, you get a certificate of application. This makes your stay in Greece legal while you wait.
One thing people often get wrong: this certificate is not a Schengen travel document. Until your actual card arrives, you can only travel on your passport and whatever visa you already have.
Step 7: Give your biometrics in Greece
Each applicant, including children, attends their own appointment for fingerprints and photos. If your lawyer filed from abroad, you have 12 months to do this.
Step 8: Get your residence card
Once approved, you and your family each get a five-year card, all with the same expiry date.
Common Mistakes Indian Applicants Make
- Relying on old €250,000 figures from outdated websites
- Buying two small flats to reach €400,000
- Picking a home under 120 square metres on the higher tiers
- Paying part of the price in cash or through an informal channel
- Skipping a proper title and permit check, especially with off-plan projects
- Not planning LRS remittances and TCS with a CA in advance
- Assuming the certificate of application allows Schengen travel
- Listing the property on Airbnb after getting the permit
Any of these mistakes can lead to delays, extra cost and also losing the permit. It is therefore recommended to get expert guidance before you decide to invest in Greece.
How Can Expert Guidance Help You?
- Clear advice on which investment tier suits your budget
- Help choosing a property that actually qualifies
- Coordination with Greek lawyers, notaries and tax representatives
- Document checklist and apostille support for Indian papers
- Guidance on LRS remittance planning
- Schengen or national D visa support for your biometrics trip
- End-to-end help until the residence cards are in your hands
The Greece Golden Visa process is still one of the more practical ways for Indian families to get a foothold in Europe. However, the rules are somewhat stricter and a tax change in the upcoming year may raise the cost. Working with the best immigration consultant in India will help you plan properly and avoid costly mistakes. You can also book a specific Greece Golden Visa consultation before you take any decision.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Greece Golden Visa?
The Greece Golden Visa is a five-year residency-by-investment permit introduced by the Greek government. It allows non-EU citizens, including Indians, to get a Greek residence permit by making a qualifying investment in Greece. The program is governed by the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum.
What is the minimum investment for the Greece Golden Visa?
€800,000 in Attica (including Athens), Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and islands with more than 3,100 residents; €400,000 in all other parts of Greece; and €250,000 only for a commercial building converted to residential use or a restored listed (heritage) building. For the €400,000 and €800,000 routes, the investment must go into one single home with at least 120 square metres of main living space.
Can Indians apply for the Greece Golden Visa?
Yes. The program is open to non-EU citizens, including Indians. Applicants need full ownership of a qualifying property, full payment through approved banking channels, private health insurance, a clean record, a Greek tax number (AFM), a valid passport and a legal entry into Greece.
What documents are required for the Greece Golden Visa?
A copy of your passport with your entry visa or residence permit, a recent colour photograph, the notary’s certificate confirming the sale price, payment method and property details, proof of registration at the Land Registry or Cadastre, your property tax declaration (E9), a private health insurance contract, proof of fee payment (e-paravolo) and, if you are buying through a company, proof that you own 100% of the shares.
How does the Greece Golden Visa process work?
There are eight steps: pick the right property, get your AFM and sign the power of attorney, do your legal checks, buy the property and pay in full, arrange health insurance, file the application online, give your biometrics in Greece and get your residence card. Once the file is complete you get a certificate of application, and if your lawyer filed from abroad you have 12 months to give your biometrics.
Can family members be included in the Greece Golden Visa?
Yes. One purchase can give you and your whole family a residence permit. Each applicant, including children, attends their own biometrics appointment, and once approved each family member gets a five-year card with the same expiry date.
Does the Greece Golden Visa provide citizenship?
No. The Greece Golden Visa provides legal residency, not citizenship.