Greece Launches €250,000 Startup Golden Visa

Greece has launched a new Startup Golden Visa, allowing non-EU investors to obtain residency by investing €250,000 in early-stage companies listed on the country’s national startup registry.

The initiative aims to strengthen Greece’s growing innovation and venture-capital ecosystem while linking residency to measurable job creation and economic activity.

Program Overview

• Minimum investment: €250,000 in a registered Greek startup
• Ownership cap: Investors may hold up to 33% of company shares or voting rights
• Permit duration: Initial 1-year residence permit, renewable every 2 years
• Investment period: Minimum 5-year holding requirement
• Job-creation rule: The startup must create at least two full-time jobs within the first year and maintain these positions for five years

Investors must maintain their shareholding throughout the required period. If the startup ceases operations or fails to meet job-creation targets, the investor must reinvest in another qualifying company within two months to retain their residency.

All funds must originate from abroad and pass through regulated EU banking channels in compliance with anti–money laundering standards.