Greece Proposes Changes to Backdated Golden Visa Permits

Greece plans to introduce new legislation in January 2026 to address long-standing issues related to backdated Golden Visa residence permits, as well as to simplify renewal and family reunification procedures.

Addressing Backdated Residence Permits

Under the proposed change, the five-year validity period of Golden Visa residence cards would be calculated from the date of issuance, rather than from the original application filing date.

At present, residence permits are often issued months or more than a year after submission but are backdated to the application date. As a result, applicants may receive physical residence cards with significantly reduced validity periods.

The proposed reform would ensure that newly issued residence permits carry the full five-year validity from the moment the card is issued.

No Impact on Residency or Citizenship Timelines

The proposed change affects only the validity period printed on the residence card.

Time toward permanent residency (five years) and citizenship (seven years) will continue to be calculated from the date legal residence begins, not from the issuance date of the physical permit.

As a result, eligibility timelines for naturalisation remain unchanged.

Additional Procedural Updates

The bill is also expected to simplify administrative procedures for:

• Golden Visa renewals
• Family reunification applications

The aim is to reduce procedural steps and shorten processing times.

As of mid-2025, the Golden Visa program had more than 49,000 pending applications, although processing volumes have increased during the year.

Legislative Outlook

The proposed legislation is likely to pass once submitted to Parliament. Greece’s ruling New Democracy party currently holds a parliamentary majority.

Further details are expected once the draft bill is formally introduced.