25 Apr 2023

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Citizenship by investment in real estate in Greece

Foreign citizens who invest in real estate property in Greece can be granted a five-year residence permit for themselves and their family members. This is a permanent residence permit which can be renewed every five years, provided that the investor retains ownership of the property. According to the new legislative framework on monetary thresholds, for the purchase of property, for areas of the Northern, Central and Southern sector of Athens and the municipality of Vari – Voula - Vouliagmeni of the Region of Attica, the Municipality of Thessaloniki and for islands of Mykonos and Santorini, the minimum value of the property...

20 Apr 2023

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The right to EU citizens and their family members for residence and movement in Greece

Posted by Niki Plyta

in Immigration Law, Special topics

The right to EU citizens and their family members (irrespective of their nationality) to enter, reside and move in the Greek territory is recognized by the Greek Presidential Decree no. 106/2007 which integrates the Directive 2004/38/EC into the Greek legislative framework, and more specifically in article 3, as in force: Article - 3 Beneficiaries (Article 3 of Directive 2004/38/EC) This Presidential Decree shall apply to citizens of the Union who enter or reside in Greece and do not have Greek nationality and to members of their families, irrespective of nationality, as defined in paragraph 2 of Article 2, who accompany...

16 Jan 2023

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Changes to the Greek golden visa scheme

Posted by Niki Plyta

in Immigration Law, Special topics

Significant changes in the status of the investor residence permit for third country citizens, also known as the "Golden Visa", as regulated in Article 20 of the Code of Immigration and Social Integration (Law 4251/2014) and concerns the granting of residence permits to third country citizens who themselves as natural persons or through a legal entity based in Greece or another EU member state, either they own real estate in Greece in full ownership and possession, or they have concluded a long-term contract of complex tourist accommodation or a contract of timeshare rental of tourist accommodation, or they are adults...

20 Sep 2022

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Greek golden visa for investors (residence permit for 5 years) – Eligible investments and monetary thresholds.

Posted by Niki Plyta

in Immigration Law, Special topics

Investments of €400.000 and above (Article 16 of Law 4251/2014) a capital contribution of at least €400,000 to a company having its registered office or establishment in Greece, with the exception of Portfolio Investment Companies and, without prejudice to sub-paragraph b', Real Estate Investment Companies, for the acquisition of shares in a share capital increase or bonds in the issuance of a bond loan, which are admitted to trading on regulated markets or multilateral trading facilities operating in Greece a capital contribution of at least four hundred thousand (400,000) euros to a Real Estate Investment Company Limited by Shares (REICT),...

25 Aug 2022

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Acquisition of Greek citizenship by holders of “Golden Visa”

Posted by Niki Plyta

in Immigration Law, Special topics

Ministerial Decision no 130181/6353/07.03.2018 added Golden Visas to the list of accepted residence permits, which can lead to Greek citizenship through naturalization. The Golden Visa cannot in itself lead to the acquisition of Greek citizenship but the following requirements must be met. The general rule for acquisition of Greek citizenship is that it is based on the jus sanguinis (right of blood), which means that in principle it is self-righteous, acquired by birth, as it is specifically described in article 1 of the Greek Citizenship Code. Provided that a foreign citizen has no such connection to the country, so to establish citizenship through...

22 Aug 2022

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Greek Citizenship through ancestry

Posted by Niki Plyta

in Immigration Law, Special topics

Regarding the matter of acquiring Greek citizenship through ancestry, it is stressed that Greek citizenship is based on the principle of jus sanguinis (right of blood), according to which the person's nationality at birth is the same as that of his or her natural parents. The right to Greek citizenship and further the conditions and procedures for its exercise are regulated by the "Greek Citizenship Code" (Greek Law 3284/2004, as this law has been amended and is in force). According to the provisions of article 1 the acquisition of Greek citizenship is in principle self-righteous, as it is acquired by any...

23 Jun 2022

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Issuance of residence permit to financially independent persons

Posted by Niki Plyta

in Immigration Law, Special topics

Under Article 20 Α of Law 4251/2014 and by decision of the General Secretary of the Region, a two-year residence permit is granted to a third-country national provided that the third-country national has obtained a special visa and is in possession of sufficient resources corresponding to a stable annual income to cover the living expenses, which may be renewed every two years subject to the fulfillment of the other requirements provided for in the applicable law. The amount of the sufficient resources is laid down in a Joint Ministerial Decision pursuant to para. 7 of Article 136 of the aforementioned...

21 Jun 2022

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Extension of short-term legal stay of non-EU citizen

Posted by Niki Plyta

in Immigration Law, Special topics

A non-EU citizen, who entries Greece from any third country outside EU, for touristic reasons, can stay legally until at the most 90 days during a period of time of 180 days. This rule applies either a visa (type C) must be issued or not (cases of permitted stay without the obligation to issue a visa). However, there are cases when an extension of the above time limit is permitted. These are cases of force majeure or of serious humanitarian reasons, which prevented the non-EU citizen from leaving the territory of Greece (or any other Member State, as the EU Code...

25 Jan 2022

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Conditions and procedure for the issuance of “digital nomads visa”

Posted by Niki Plyta

in Immigration Law, Special topics

[manual for implementation of immigration and social integration codes and related legislation - special cases of schengen visa– case B16 – “Digital nomads visa” - November 2021] According to what is provided in case ie’ of paragraph 1 of article 18 of Law 4251/2014, as amended and currently in force a national visa may be granted to third country nationals, who are self-employed, freelancers or employees, and work remotely using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) whose employers or clients are located outside Greece (digital nomads). The visa is be granted following the appearance in person and an interview. This national visa...

14 Jan 2021

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Granting and renewal of residence permits for investment activity (Article 16 of Law 4251/2014)

Posted by Niki Plyta

in Immigration Law, Special topics

C.1. Third country nationals who have made an investment in one of the following categories are permitted to enter and reside in Greece. A capital contribution amounting to a minimum of four hundred thousand euros (400,000) to a company with registered office or an establishment in Greece, with the exception of portfolio investment companies and – without prejudice to subparagraph b – real estate investment companies, for the acquisition of shares in a share capital increase or bonds that are, at the time of issue, admitted for trading on regulated markets or multilateral trading mechanisms that operate in Greece. The...

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