Residence permit in Greece

Greece joined as a member of the European Community in 1981 and is now a member of the European union’s 17-member eurozone. Greece began to experience remarkable economic growth in 1990’s due to massive investment, trade, entrepreneurship, and EU aid after severe economic stagnation suffered in the 1980s. The country has achieved a prosperous and stable nation, with a high standard of living by the early 21st century. During the 1980s an influx of immigrants began, transforming Greece from an immigrant-sender into an immigrant-receiving country.

Notwithstanding the current crisis, Greece remains an attractive investment location offering a wide array of opportunities that take advantage of the country’s position and unique competitive advantages. Greece is a direct gateway to more than 140 million consumers in the Eastern Mediterranean and Southeast Europe, a region with a GDP of around 1 trillion Euros. Being the heart of diverse emerging markets, Greece provides access to populations with a strong demand for consumer goods, energy, tourism, infrastructure modernization, technology and innovation networks, and light manufacturing.

Also, Greek banks and companies have a strong foothold in the markets of neighboring states. Investors realize that Greece has a combination of characteristics that are unmatched in Europe. Greece is a leading global tourism destination, possesses highly educated and multilingual human capital and an emerging regional energy hub.

• Visa-free entry to all countries of the Schengen.
• The agreement is practically not limited in time.
• There is no need to stay in Greece for a specified period.
• The right to obtain the permanent residence after five years from the date of obtaining residence permits.
• The whole family has the right to live in any country in the Schengen area during the period when the residence permit is valid.
• The right to purchase or register his own business.
• The right to apply for citizenship after five years from the date of obtaining permanent residence.
• The right to educate his/her children in educational institutions of the Schengen countries.

• Own real estate or have at their disposal the Engagement Agreement signed with a Realtor or Lawyer on the purchase of real estate in Greece, the cost of which is more than 250,000 EUR according to notaries act
• Own rental commercial real estate for tourist purpose in Greece and the Lease Agreement concluded not less than for 15 years;
• Do not have any criminal record in the past and not included in the Greece Undesirable Persons Catalog.
• You are not required to live in Greece for successful extension of the residence permit.

• Financially independent persons can be obtain residence permit by:
• Having a stable income above 2000 EUR per month that allows them to live in Greece without applying to the country’s social security system
• The person must not have a criminal record in the past and are not entered in the Greece Undesirable Persons Catalog.
• Financially independent individuals has the right to be accompanied by family members who receive a residence permit as family members of the economically independent applicant. (only the spouse and children under the age of 18 years are considered).

• Have a stable income (from 2000 EUR per month), which allows them to live in Greece not applying to the country’s social security system
• Did not have a criminal record in the past and are not included in the Greece Undesirable Persons Catalog.
• A financially independent person has the right to be accompanied by family members (only the spouse and children under the age of 18 years are considered), who receive a residence permit as family members of the financially independent applicant.

• The visa registration at the nearest diplomatic embassy of Greece;
• Applicant must submit an application for a residence permit to the Immigration Department of Greece. The presentation of an application and the obtaining of a residence permit can be made either by Greek Attorney basing on the Power of Attorney certified by a Notary and an Apostille, or directly by the Applicant. Biometric data is provided personally by the Immigration department in other to obtain the residence.

The following documents must be submitted to acquire visa:

• Valid travel passport or other travel documents with a valid visa that is recognized by Greece.
• Prerequisite: A passport must be valid for at least three months after visa expiring, have at least two blank pages and be published during the last decade.
• Certificate of no criminal record.
• Health certificate issued by a private or public medical institution that is recognized by the State of which the applicant is national, where it will be indicated that the applicant does not suffer from the disease dangerous to public health, according to the international standards of the World Health Organization, or other illness requiring quarantine to protect public health.
• The proof of possessing a monthly income of 2000 EUR per month.