Residency & the Greek Golden Visa

Non-EU buyers who invest in Greek property above a minimum threshold can apply for a 5-year renewable residence permit for themselves and their family.

Since Law 5100/2024 came into force (in stages from 1 September 2024), Greece runs a two-tier property route. The higher tier of €800,000 applies in Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and every island with a registered population over 3,100, and €400,000 applies everywhere else. Corfu's population sits well above that threshold, so purchases on the island fall in the €800,000 tier.

Additional rules introduced by the same law: the investment must be a single property of at least 120 m², short-term rental (Airbnb-style) of a Golden Visa property is prohibited, and converted commercial-to-residential or listed-building restorations follow their own separate €250,000 route. Rules have tightened twice since 2023, so always confirm the current figure with your lawyer before committing.

Visa-free travel within the Schengen area, the right to live in Greece, and the ability to include your spouse, children (up to 21, extendable to 24 for dependants) and both sets of parents in the application.

It does not grant the right to work as an employee in Greece, but you can own and operate a company. There is no minimum-stay requirement to keep the permit alive, and holders can access Greece's 7 % flat tax regime for foreign-pension retirees if they meet the separate criteria.