Greece Business investor permit

Third-country nationals who set up and run a Greece-seated business with an investment of at least EUR 500,000 (≈ $559,000) can receive a 5-year renewable permit by ministerial decision. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What you must show and pay

• An investment of at least EUR 500,000 (≈ $559,000) · Minimum investment in a business seated in Greece that has positive effects on national development and the economy; if the investor is a foreign legal entity, up to 3 third-country nationals (board members, holders of at least 33% of the Greek company, managers or legal representatives acting without pay) can receive permits. ¹
• A fee of EUR 2,000 (≈ $2,230) · Residence permit fee (EUR 16 (≈ $18) extra for the card). ^{1 2}

Requirements

• The applicant is a third-country national. ^{1 2}
• The investment has positive effects on national development and the economy. ^{1 2}
• If the investor is a foreign legal entity, up to 3 third-country nationals can receive permits. ^{1 2}
• They are board members, holders of at least 33% of the Greek company, managers or unpaid legal representatives. ^{1 2}
• A business investment of at least EUR 500,000 (≈ $559,000) in a business seated in Greece. ^{1 2}
• Residence permit fee: EUR 2,000, (≈ $2,230) plus EUR 16 (≈ $18) for the card. ^{1 2}
• A decision of the Minister of Migration and Asylum, on a proposal of the Directorate of Direct Foreign Investments, characterises the investment and confirms a permit is expedient. ¹
• Up to 10 third-country executives of the investment bodies can enter on E.1, E.2 or E.4 permits, depending on the size of the investment. ¹

Stay

• Initial permit valid 5 years and renewable for equal periods while the investment continues or operates; absences from Greece do not prevent renewal.
• Initial permitted stay: 60 months.
• Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Nationality

Third-country nationals (citizens of non-EU states). Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

Work

The permit states the holder's professional capacity.

Family

Spouse or partner under a cohabitation pact, unmarried common children under 21, the investor's or spouse's custody children under 21, the spouses' direct ascendants and adult children without legal capacity who live with and are supported by the investor can obtain family permits that expire with the investor permit; children turning 21 get an independent 3-year permit. Your spouse or partner may work in Greece without a separate permit.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

1. Law 5038/2023, Migration Code (Government Gazette A 81/01.04.2023) · Ethniko Typografeio (Government Gazette) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2023-04-01
2. Golden visa programme (investment in a listed real property) · National Registry of Administrative Public Services (mitos.gov.gr) · checked 2026-10-10
3. Migration Code, art. 95 (duration of investor permits and family members), consolidated text · Taxheaven legal text repository (consolidated Migration Code, Law 5038/2023) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2026-02-06
4. Migration Code, art. 89 (rights and obligations of family members: access to dependent employment), consolidated text · Taxheaven (Law 5038/2023 consolidated text) · checked 2026-10-12
5. Law 5275/2026, Government Gazette A 17 of 6 February 2026 (amendments to the Migration Code) · National Printing House (Ethniko Typografeio) · checked 2026-10-12
6. Migration Code, art. 144 (long-term resident status: conditions), consolidated text · TaxHeaven (consolidated Law 5038/2023) · checked 2026-10-11
7. Migration Code, art. 143 (long-term resident status: scope), consolidated text · TaxHeaven (consolidated Law 5038/2023) · checked 2026-10-11
8. Naturalisation of non-ethnic-Greek aliens (Politografisi Allogenon Allodapon) · Ministry of Interior, National Registry of Administrative Public Services (mitos.gov.gr) · checked 2026-10-11