Why Investors Should Not Ignore Greece’s Golden Visa Program.
There are several ways to gain residence in the European Union (EU), including obtaining a wealth visa, which obliges applicants to change their tax residency, open a business, or marrying a EU national. These strategies work for those who plan on moving abroad. However, many people want to obtain residency for other purposes, such as to facilitate interaction with foreign banks, travel freely across the EU, or as a safety precaution in case of an urgent need to emigrate (this being one of the major motives among Turkish, Iranian, Russian, and Chinese nationals).
A good option in such cases is the so-called “Golden Visa,” which is a residence permit issued to buyers of real estate or other assets above a certain value. This is the easiest and quickest way to obtain a residence permit. The most accessible immigration programs in the EU are those offered by Latvia, Portugal, Spain, Greece, and Malta.
Latvia, the leader in the number of residence permits issued, was extremely popular with investors until, in 2014, the country’s parliament voted to increase the investment threshold. Spain and Portugal have always been popular among affluent immigrants, while Malta, which introduced its own Golden Visa program in August 2015, is only beginning to grow in popularity.
Greece lags behind the other countries in terms of residence permits issued because of the lack of trust in the Greek economy, prompted by the country’s sovereign debt crisis.
However, Greece’s economy is starting to look better – unemployment has been decreasing since 2013, and, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the country’s GDP will grow by 2.8% in 2017.
According to Tranio experts, Greece offers the most beneficial terms for investors for a number of reasons.
1. Low Investment Threshold
Greece offers the cheapest residence for investment. Applicants must buy one or several properties totalling at least €250,000. The same amount is specified in the Latvian program, but, under its conditions, investors must pay a 5% non-refundable fee, which increases the investment threshold to €262,500.
In Malta, a mandatory condition, along with buying (from €270,000 or €320,000 depending on the location) or leasing (from €50,000 or €60,000 in 5 years) a property, is to invest €250,000 in public bonds and pay a €30,000 fee. Therefore, the minimum investment amount is €330,000.
A residence permit in Portugal can be obtained by purchasing a property worth €350,000, if built over 30 years ago or located in areas of urban regeneration, or €400,000, if situated in low population density areas. More liquid properties must cost at least €500,000. Spain offers the same starting price in its program.
2. Opportunity to Buy Several Properties or Participate in a Large Project
The programs of Greece, Spain, and Portugal allow the purchase of several properties to meet the minimum investment threshold. Latvia allows this only in small cities, with the exception of the popular Riga and Jūrmala, while Malta only allows investing in one property. The Greek and Portuguese programs also allow collective investments, provided that the applicants’ investments are not less than the established threshold values.
3. Low Prices and Growth Potential
The price of real estate in the centers of large Greek cities, which average €1,300 per square meter, is the lowest among the five countries – almost twice as cheap than Spain and Malta, and 1.5 times cheaper than in Portugal.
The price difference between Greece and Latvia is not so significant (about 10%), but the price growth potential is higher in Greece. According to official data, real estate in Greece is 44% cheaper compared to its 2008 peak, while in Latvia it is 27% cheaper. It should be noted that since the global financial crisis, property prices in Latvia have already experienced volatility (associated with the activity of Russian buyers). Property prices in Spain are approaching peak levels, while prices in Portugal and Malta have already exceeded pre-crisis figures by 2% and 10% respectively.
4. Rental Income
Golden Visa holders often do not need the purchased real estate and, instead, lease it to compensate for the investment. In Greece, Latvia, Spain, and Portugal, investors are free to do so, while Malta prohibits the lease of such properties during the first 5 years of ownership. In this case, the most lucrative scenario for owners of property in touristy locations would be to rent out their properties for short-term contracts, as this type of lease returns higher yields compared to long-term rentals.
According to World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) statistics, Greece outnumbers Portugal twice and Latvia by 10 times in terms of international tourist arrivals. International tourists visit Spain approximately three times more often, but thanks to a difference in prices per square meter, Greece yields a higher investment profit: about 5% after tax and management company expenses. While rental rates for flats in Athens oscillate between €50 and €70 per night, and between €70 and €90 in Barcelona or Lisbon, real estate prices in these cities differ by almost three times: the average price per square meter is €1,265 in the center of Athens, €3,317 in Lisbon, and €4,399 in Barcelona.
Therefore, Tranio believes that the most reasonable choice for investors wishing to obtain a Golden Visa would be to buy tourist apartments in central Athens for short-term leases. This allows investors to obtain the visa and secure a “safe haven” asset, but also a potential income of 5% in foreign currency.
Golden Visa requirements in Greece, Latvia, Portugal, Spain, and Malta
| Greece | Latvia | Portugal | Spain | Malta | |
| Minimum property value (€) | 250,000 | 250,000 | 350,000 | 500,000 | 300,000
(5-year lease + bond investments) |
| Minimum transaction costs (€) | 17,600 | 17,600 | 32,700 | 31,000 | 400 |
| Visa costs and fees (€) | 500 | 12,700 | 5,700 | 100 | 30,000 |
| Property type | Any | Any, except for undeveloped land | Any | Any | Residential only |
| Opportunity to buy several properties | Yes | In certain locations only | Yes | Yes | No |
| Opportunity to take out a mortgage | Yes
(complicated in practice) |
Only for the part of the value that exceeds the minimum threshold | Yes | Yes | Only for the part of the value that exceeds the minimum threshold |
| Need to apply personally | Yes (one visit to the country is enough) | ||||
| Need to reside in the country | No | Need to spend 1 week in the country during the first year, and 2 weeks during each of the next 2 years. | No | ||
| Tax residency | When living over 183 days per year in the country | ||||
| Visa validity | 5 years, renewable every 5 years | 5 years, renewable every 5 years | 1 year, renewable twice for 2 years | 1 year, renewable every 2 years | Indefinite |
| Asset holding period | As long as the holder needs residence | 5 years | As long as the holder needs residence | 5 years | |
| Visa issuance period | 8 weeks | 3 weeks | 1 to 6 weeks | 6 to 7 weeks | 12 to 16 weeks |
| Family members´ eligibility for residence | Spouses, children under 21 years of age, parents | Spouses, children under 18 years of age, dependants | Spouses, children under 18 years of age, dependants | Spouses, partners, children under 18 years of age | Spouses, children, parents, grandparents |
| Right to work | No (investment activity only) | Yes | |||
| Permanent residence | After 5 years if the investor spends at least 183 days per year in the country | After 5 years | After 5 years if the investor spends at least 183 days per year in the country | The Golden Visa is already a permanent residence permit | |
| Citizenship | After 10 years of permanent residence (period of holding a Golden Visa is not taken into account) | After 10 years of permanent residence | After 6 years | After 10 years of permanent residence | Cannot be granted |
Sources: Discus Holdings, Enterprise Greece, Henley Global, Tranio, Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain, Foreigners and Borders Service of Portugal, Latvian Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.
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