Greece’s newest Golden Visa grants you residency in Greece if you invest in a Greek startup. Under the new initiative, third-country nationals can apply for a five-year residence permit with a €250,000 investment in a Greek startup.
This new Golden Visa was just announced by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Prime Minister of Greece, and he plans to start accepting applications in January, 2025.
What are the Requirements for the Startup Golden Visa?
To qualify, you need to acquire shares or equity in a startup in Greece, and you cannot hold more than 33 percent of a company’s total share capital or voting rights. Also, the startup needs to create at least two new jobs within one year of its creation and to keep these jobs for at least five years.
If the investment is made with a Greek-established legal entity, the investor needs to be the sole owner of the company. Alternatively, if you make the investment with a foreign legal entity (from the UK, US, Canada, etc), up to three shareholders can be eligible for the Golden Visa. In these cases, each investor holds at least 33 percent of the company’s shares.
Investors can also invest funds into venture capital frameworks, such as equity mutual funds, but for this the minimum investment to apply for a Visa is 500,000 euros.
When Can I Apply for the Startup Golden Visa?
The program is set to launch on January 1, 2025. The eligible companies are in the national startup register, Elevate Greece. You can find the participating companies here.
How Long Does a Startup Golden Visa Last?
The initial Greek Startup Visa will be for one year, and then it can be renewed every two years as long as the investor still meets the program’s requirements.
Why Do The Startup Golden Visa Matter if I Want to Buy a Home in Greece?
Currently, if you are a non-EU resident, and want a Greek residence permit through the Golden Visa program, you need to invest either 400,000 or 800,000 Euros in a property in Greece (depending on where it is located).
The new Startup Golden Visa gives you a chance to obtain a residence permit with an investment of 250,000 Euros. This time, it’s not through the purchase of property but by investing in a startup.
If you still want to own a home in Greece, you could even do both. You could buy a property you wish to live in or to rent out in Greece, regardless if it meets the Golden Visa minimums (400,000 or 800,000 Euros). Then, you could earn residency through the Startup Golden Visa.
What Other Visas are Available in Greece?
Greek Golden Visa (By Property Investment)
This is what most people usually think of when they hear “Greek Golden Visa”. By purchasing real estate above a certain price in Greece, you are eligible to apply for the Golden Visa, which grants residency, restriction-free Schengen Zone travel in Europe, and family inclusion.
What Changed in 2024 About the Greek Golden Visa?
For the Attica region (Athens), the Regional Unit of Thessaloniki, and the Greek islands with a population of over 3,100 inhabitants, the minimum price for a Golden Visa is now 800,000 Euros. For all other areas of Greece, the minimum price of a property to apply for a Golden Visa is now 400,000 Euros.
Another important change is that the property used to obtain a Golden Visa can no longer be used for short-term rentals. You can find out more about the Greek Golden Visa here.
Greek Digital Nomad Visa
Yes, Greece has a special Visa for digital nomads. With the Greece Digital Nomad Visa, you can work remotely for any employer outside of Greece. It also goes by the name “Greece nomadic visa.”
To qualify for a Digital Nomad Visa, you need to fulfil these requirements:
- You must be a non-EU citizen.
- You must prove that you are a digital nomad.
- You must prove that you will work with telecommunications.
- You must be able to show an employment contract with a company that is registered outside Greece.
- Your monthly salary must be at least €3,500.
The Benefits of Being a Digital Nomad in Greece
Working remotely in Greece has many benefits. Among the benefits, you will have a great quality of life, whether you choose to be a digital nomad in a city like Athens or Thessaloniki or on a slow-paced Greek island in the Aegean. You will be able to enjoy the beautiful weather in Greece, the healthy Mediterranean diet, and active nightlife with many other young people at tavernas in the evening.
Find out more about the Greek Digital Nomad Visa in our complete guide.
