2/10/2025
Greece's "Golden Visa" program continues to show steady growth, with a compound annual growth rate of 25% from 2018 to 2024. In 2024, the program set a new record, receiving 9,289 applications from primary investors. This figure represents a 10% increase compared to 2023.
However, the number of pending applications, including renewal requests, continues to rise. By December 2024, their total reached 49,301, which is 76% more than in December 2023 (27,964). Primary applications account for 82% of all cases under review, while renewal applications make up 18%.
Among the applications currently being processed, over 12,000 were submitted by primary investors, while 28,000 were submitted by their family members awaiting residence permits (RP).
The fourth quarter of 2024 saw a significant surge in applications. While the average monthly number of applications was 683 in the first three quarters, this figure rose to 1,048 in the fourth quarter. December 2024 stood out in particular, recording the highest monthly volume of applications in the past two years. Meanwhile, the rejection rate remains low at approximately 2%.
Currently, 16,307 active "Golden Visas" have been issued, including 12,729 initial visas and 3,578 renewals.
Top Nationalities Receiving "Golden Visas"
Chinese citizens remain the primary participants in the program, accounting for 56% of the total visas issued (both initial and renewed). Turkish investors rank second, holding 8% of initial visas and 5% of renewals. Lebanese citizens follow in third place, with 5% in each category. Russians hold 4% of all active "Golden Visas," but their renewal opportunities are limited due to the suspension of application acceptance from Russian citizens since 2022.