Does Buying a House in Greece Give You Residency?

Yes—buying property in Greece can give you residency under the Greek Golden Visa Program, one of Europe’s most accessible investment residency routes.

How It Works

Foreigners can obtain a 5-year renewable residency permit by investing in real estate.

Minimum Investment Amount

• Traditionally €250,000,

• but newer rules in 2024–2025 increased it to €400,000+ in many high-demand areas (Athens, Thessaloniki, islands).
  Some regions still offer the lower threshold.

What Residency You Get

• A renewable 5-year residence permit,

• Rights to live in Greece full-time,

• Ability to travel freely within the Schengen Zone,

• Family members included (spouse + children).

Does It Lead to Citizenship?

Yes, but only if you live in Greece.

Simply owning property is not enough for citizenship.

To naturalize, you must:

• Reside in Greece for 7 years,

• Pay taxes,

• Pass the Greek language & citizenship tests.

Golden Visa holders who do not live in Greece do not accumulate residency time for citizenship.

Why the Program Is Popular

• No requirement to live in Greece

• Strong property market

• Schengen travel freedom

• Full family eligibility

But it’s important to understand: the Golden Visa grants residency, not automatic citizenship.

Use CitizenGR to streamline your application.

Download the CitizenGR app for application checklists, residency tracking, and expert guidance.