Surge In Chinese Applications For The Greek Golden Visa

Beautiful Greece

As of February 2025, 6,520 residency permits have been granted to Chinese nationals under Greece’s Golden Visa Program, according to data from the Ministry of Migration.

The latest figures indicate that Chinese nationals remain the leading beneficiaries of the Hellenic Republic’s Residency-by-Investment scheme, Schengen.News reports.

Following the Chinese, Turkish investors have received 1,471 permits, Lebanese investors 798, and Britons 595.

Furthermore, the Ministry’s statistics show increased interest from investors in Iran, the United States, and Israel.

The most popular option of the scheme remains real estate investment. According to a report from Tovima, wealthy foreign investors often opt for luxury homes, seaside villas, and historically significant properties.

Affluent internationals are drawn to the Athenian Riviera, while central areas like Kolonaki remain popular due to their history and modern amenities.

Foreigners seeking upscale residences choose Athens’ northern suburbs such as Kifisia, Ekali, and Marousi. Islands like Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, and Paros are also favored for holiday homes. According to a report from Tovima, the Peloponnese has attracted interest from investors looking for luxury vacation properties.

Greece’s Residency-by-Investment Program offers residency in exchange for financial investments through various options, drawing numerous wealthy foreigners annually.

In 2024 alone, 9,289 applications for the Golden Visa Program were submitted accounting for €2.32 billion in real estate investments.

Last year, Greece implemented several changes to its Golden Visa Program, including raising the minimum investment amount to €800,000 in some of the country’s most popular areas.

Greece also introduced new requirements to tackle the country’s housing crisis.

However, Greek authorities previously announced an extension for certain investors, allowing them to complete their transactions under the old regulations until February 28, 2025.