The Golden visa scheme in Greece remains the most popular and best property investment scheme in Europe requiring a minimum investment of 250,000 euros for permanent residence permit.
According to latest statistics from Helenic immigration office of Greece, a total of 2,316 golden visas has been issued to foreign property investors (main applicants).
On close look at data tables, reveals city of Piraeus overtakes Athens for the most number of residence permits issued under Greece golden visa scheme.
- Chinese (349) and (54) Egyptians have bought properties and received residence permits in Piraes.
- A large number of Russians (123) have bought properties in Polygyros, Corfu (46) and Thessaloniki (40).
- A large number Chinese bought properties in Athens (344), Piraes (349) and Pallini (283), Chania (51)
- Turks bought properties in Athens (65), Piraeus (63), Thessaloniki (41), Pallini (31) , Corfu (46)
Why so many golden visas issued in Piraeus?
According to Greek reporter, The concession of Greece’s biggest port and one of the largest in Europe, the Piraeus Port Authority, to China’s Cosco has been the biggest Chinese investment in the Mediterranean country. The deal for 67% stake of the Piraeus port was signed in July 2016, with the Chinese shipping giant promising investments of 500 million euros to “turn Piraeus into the biggest transport center in the Mediterranean.”
Another reason is residential apartments in small greek cities outside of Athens are much cheaper costing around 40 to 50 thousand euros, and it makes sense to buy four or five apartments to meet the golden visa requirement of 250K euro ceiling.
Top Cities for Golden visa
| City | Total |
| Piraeus | 599 |
| Athens | 500 |
| Pallini | 482 |
| Polygryos | 159 |
| Chania | 116 |
| Thessaloniki | 114 |
| Corfu | 58 |
| Ermoupoli | 49 |
The chart explains golden visa market share by country
| Piraeus | Athens | Pallini | Polygryros | |
| China | 349 | 344 | 218 | 2 |
| Russia | 19 | 5 | 41 | 123 |
| Turkey | 63 | 65 | 31 | 1 |
| Egypt | 54 | 6 | 40 | – |
You can download golden visa statistics data table here in excel format.
According to the latest Bank of Greece data, net Foreign Direct Investment inflows during 2017 reached € 3,590.5million, vs. € 2,774.2 million during 2016, an increase of 29.4%.
According to Enterprise Greece, Greek tourist arrivals are set to reach historic highs again this year, with some 30 million visitors expected in 2018. Greece’s hospitality real estate sector — buoyed by five consecutive years of record visitor numbers — is attracting intense interest from foreign investors with a record number of new properties coming online.
In May, the luxurious Ikos Dassia hotel opened in Corfu, this spring the iconic Astir Palace on the Athens Riviera will debut as the Four Seasons Astir Palace — the first Four Seasons hotel in Greece.
On Crete, Russian investors are pursuing a €400 million mixed hotel, resort and property project, while Kerzner International and Dolphin Capital recently
announced a €150 million resort project on the island of Kea.
