Greece · Investing
Greece Strategic investor permit
Investment needed: from €20M ≈ $22.3M
Residence permit for strategic investors (type B.1)
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Strategic investor permit is an investing route for Greece. Applicants need an investment from €20M ≈ $22.3M. You can stay 5 yrs, renewable. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Money needed
- from €20M ≈ $22.3M
- Government fees
- €2,000 ≈ $2,230
- First stay
- 5 yrs
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee €2,000 ≈ $2,230; investment from €20M ≈ $22.3M. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government fees€2,000 ≈ $2,230
- EUR 2,000 (≈ $2,230)Residence permit fee for type B permits.
Invested and held€20M+ ≈ $22.3M · +4 more
- EUR 20,000,000 (≈ $22,300,000)One strategic category: fast-track strategic investment above EUR 20,000,000 (≈ $22,300,000) with at least 30 annual work units (AWU).
- EUR 20,000,000 (≈ $22,300,000)Strategic Investments 1 in certain sectors (agri-food, research and innovation, biotechnology, creative industries, robotics, AI, medical tourism, waste management, space, digital transformation, cloud computing).
- EUR 30,000,000 (≈ $33,500,000)Strategic Investments 2: above EUR 30,000,000 (≈ $33,500,000) with at least 50 AWU.
- EUR 40,000,000 (≈ $44,700,000)Strategic Investments 1: above EUR 40,000,000 (≈ $44,700,000) with at least 75 AWU.
- EUR 75,000,000 (≈ $83,800,000)Strategic Investments 1: above EUR 75,000,000, (≈ $83,800,000) no job condition.
RenewalRenewable
The first permit is valid 5 years and renews for equal periods while the investment continues; absences from Greece do not prevent renewal.
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence
Long-term resident status needs 5 years of continuous legal residence and income at least the annual minimum wage (plus 10% for dependants); absences under 6 consecutive months and 10 months in total are allowed.
CitizenshipAfter 7 years of residence
Naturalisation needs 7 years of legal residence for holders of investor permits (a listed title), plus Greek language and history tests and proof of economic integration.
Ministry of Interior, National Registry of Administrative Public Services
Presence rulesAbsence limits
Absences from Greece are not an obstacle to renewing an investor permit.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports
What you'll need
Who can apply3
- The applicant is a third-country national.
- The applicant is a board member or shareholder of the foreign legal entity that carries the strategic investment under art. 2(2) of Law 4864/2021.
- Up to five third-country members of the board or shareholders can receive a permit.
What you must show2
- The investment is classified as strategic, from above EUR 20,000,000 (≈ $22,300,000) with 30 annual work units for fast-track projects.
- Residence permit fee: EUR 2,000 (≈ $2,230).
Steps2
- A decision of the Minister of Migration and Asylum, on a proposal of the General Directorate of Strategic Investments, confirms the investment is strategic.
- The same decision confirms that a permit is expedient.
After you arrive1
- The permit states the holder's professional capacity.
What happens at day 183
How Greece decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
5 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- More than 183 days in any 12-month periodPresence in Greece for more than 183 days in total makes a person tax resident from the first day of presence.
- Foreign-source income
Greek tax residents are taxed on worldwide income, including foreign-source income, at progressive rates from 9% to 44% (scale applied from tax year 2026); residence follows the main home, habitual abode or centre of vital interests, or presence over 183 days.
All tax rules for Greece Tax records checked
Full official text
Up to five third-country members of the board or shareholders of a foreign legal entity carrying out a strategic investment under Law 4864/2021 can receive a residence permit by ministerial decision. 1 2 3 4 5
What you must show and pay
- An investment of over EUR 20,000,000 (≈ $22,300,000) · One strategic category: fast-track strategic investment above EUR 20,000,000 (≈ $22,300,000) with at least 30 annual work units (AWU). 6 1
- An investment of over EUR 20,000,000 (≈ $22,300,000) · Strategic Investments 1 in certain sectors (agri-food, research and innovation, biotechnology, creative industries, robotics, AI, medical tourism, waste management, space, digital transformation, cloud computing). 6 1
- An investment of over EUR 30,000,000 (≈ $33,500,000) · Strategic Investments 2: above EUR 30,000,000 (≈ $33,500,000) with at least 50 AWU. 6 1
- An investment of over EUR 40,000,000 (≈ $44,700,000) · Strategic Investments 1: above EUR 40,000,000 (≈ $44,700,000) with at least 75 AWU. 6 1
- An investment of over EUR 75,000,000 (≈ $83,800,000) · Strategic Investments 1: above EUR 75,000,000, (≈ $83,800,000) no job condition. 6 1
- A fee of EUR 2,000 (≈ $2,230) · Residence permit fee for type B permits. 1
Requirements
- The applicant is a third-country national. 1
- The applicant is a board member or shareholder of the foreign legal entity that carries the strategic investment under art. 2(2) of Law 4864/2021. 1
- Up to five third-country members of the board or shareholders can receive a permit. 1
- The investment is classified as strategic, from above EUR 20,000,000 (≈ $22,300,000) with 30 annual work units for fast-track projects. 6 1
- Residence permit fee: EUR 2,000 (≈ $2,230). 1
- A decision of the Minister of Migration and Asylum, on a proposal of the General Directorate of Strategic Investments, confirms the investment is strategic. 1
- The same decision confirms that a permit is expedient. 1
- The permit states the holder's professional capacity. 1
Stay
- Initial permit valid 5 years and renewable for equal periods while the investment continues or operates.
- 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.
Official sources
- Law 5038/2023, Migration Code (Government Gazette A 81/01.04.2023) · Ethniko Typografeio (Government Gazette) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2023-04-01
- Law 4864/2021, art. 2 (categories and criteria of strategic investments), consolidated text · Taxheaven legal text repository (Law 4864/2021) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2021-12-02
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Categories, criteria and incentives of Law 4864/2021 on strategic investments (Article 2 residence permit column) · Ministry of Development, Greece (Investment Portal) · checked 2026-10-11
- Migration Code, art. 144 (long-term resident status: conditions), consolidated text · TaxHeaven (consolidated Law 5038/2023) · checked 2026-10-11
- Migration Code, art. 143 (long-term resident status: scope), consolidated text · TaxHeaven (consolidated Law 5038/2023) · checked 2026-10-11
- 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
Strategic investor permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic investor permit | Needs an investment from €20M ≈ $22.3M | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Golden Visa · €350k mutual fund | Needs an investment of €350k+ ≈ $391k | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Golden Visa · €350k alt. fund | Needs an investment of €350k+ ≈ $391k | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Golden Visa · €500k REIC | Needs an investment of €500k+ ≈ $559k | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Golden Visa · €500k VC fund | Needs an investment of €500k+ ≈ $559k | 5 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Strategic investor permit?
An investment of over EUR 20,000,000 (≈ $22,300,000). One strategic category: fast-track strategic investment above EUR 20,000,000 (≈ $22,300,000) with at least 30 annual work units (AWU). An investment of over EUR 20,000,000 (≈ $22,300,000). Strategic Investments 1 in certain sectors (agri-food, research and innovation, biotechnology, creative industries, robotics, AI, medical tourism, waste management, space, digital transformation, cloud computing). An investment of over EUR 30,000,000 (≈ $33,500,000). Strategic Investments 2: above EUR 30,000,000 (≈ $33,500,000) with at least 50 AWU. An investment of over EUR 40,000,000 (≈ $44,700,000). Strategic Investments 1: above EUR 40,000,000 (≈ $44,700,000) with at least 75 AWU.
How long can I stay on the Strategic investor permit?
Initial permit valid 5 years and renewable for equal periods while the investment continues or operates.
Can I work on the Strategic investor permit?
The permit states the holder's professional capacity.
Can I bring my family on the Strategic investor permit?
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.
Who can apply for the Strategic investor permit?
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.
Does the Strategic investor permit lead to permanent residence in Greece?
Time on the Strategic investor permit counts toward permanent residence in Greece, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the Strategic investor permit counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 7 years of residence.
How are Strategic investor permit holders taxed in Greece?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Strategic investor permit. The standard rules apply: Greek tax residents are taxed on worldwide income, including foreign-source income, at progressive rates from 9% to 44% (scale applied from tax year 2026); residence follows the main home, habitual abode or centre of vital interests, or presence over 183 days.
More in Greece
Investment visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 9 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Law 5038/2023, Migration Code (Government Gazette A 81/01.04.2023) · Ethniko Typografeio (Government Gazette) · checked 2026-10-11
- Law 4864/2021, art. 2 (categories and criteria of strategic investments), consolidated text · Taxheaven legal text repository (Law 4864/2021) · checked 2026-10-11
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Categories, criteria and incentives of Law 4864/2021 on strategic investments (Article 2 residence permit column) · Ministry of Development, Greece (Investment Portal) · checked 2026-10-11
- Migration Code, art. 144 (long-term resident status: conditions), consolidated text · TaxHeaven (consolidated Law 5038/2023) · checked 2026-10-11
- Migration Code, art. 143 (long-term resident status: scope), consolidated text · TaxHeaven (consolidated Law 5038/2023) · checked 2026-10-11
- 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
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.