Greece Start-Up Golden Visa: €250,000 in an Elevate Greece Company

Greece offers a residence permit for a non-EU investor who puts at least €250,000 into the capital of a start-up registered in the Elevate Greece National Registry of Start-ups. An individual's shares must not exceed 33% of the company, and the company must create at least two new jobs in the first year (Eurofast, 22 May 2025, and other firms' summaries). It is a different product from buying property: you buy shares in an early-stage company. Sources differ on the legal basis, the start date and the length of the permit, so confirm them before you invest.

The core terms most sources agree on

• Amount: at least €250,000 invested in the capital of a company registered in the Elevate Greece registry. Eurofast adds that the funds may come from relatives' bank accounts.
• Share cap for an individual: the shares obtained must not exceed 33% of the capital.
• Company structure: if the investor holds through a Greek legal entity, the third-country citizen holds all its shares; if through a foreign legal entity, at least 33% of the capital. One law-firm summary adds that a permit can be granted to up to three third-country citizens for a foreign entity.
• Jobs: the company must create at least two new jobs within the first year after the investment; Eurofast states this as a condition for renewal.
• Family: the permit can cover the investor and family members.
• Decision: the permit is granted by a decision of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.
• Renewal: the investment must remain held and certified and the conditions still met; absences from Greece do not affect renewal (Eurofast). One summary says holders may reinvest in another eligible start-up or in other eligible investments to keep the permit.

Where sources differ

Point	What the sources say
Legal basis	Most cite Article 44 of Law 5162/2024; Eurofast refers only to "the new Law"; one source cites a different law number, which appears to be an error.
Start date	One source says 1 January 2025, another says implementation began in late 2025; a later source says the 2026 immigration-code overhaul (Law 5275/2026) formalised the route.
Length of the permit	Eurofast: an initial one-year permit, then two-year renewals. Other sources describe a five-year permit.
Fees	One source lists a €2,500 application fee; we could not confirm it officially.

The Ministry of Migration's Golden Visa page and the Elevate Greece platform are the places to confirm the current rules.

How it differs from the property route

• What you own: shares in a company, not a flat. A start-up share can lose value, and it is harder to sell than a property.
• Conditions after the investment: the company has to create jobs, and you have to keep the investment held.
• No size or area rules: the 120 m² rule and the single-property rule apply to property, not to this route.
• Number of users: the IMI Daily report on applications says most new applications now use the property conversion route; see the figures.

Questions to ask before investing

1. Is the company on the Elevate Greece registry today, and can I see the registry entry?
2. How will my stake stay at or below 33%, and what rights do those shares carry?
3. What is the plan and the track record for the two jobs in the first year?
4. What is the permit length and renewal path, confirmed by the ministry in writing?
5. What happens to my permit if the company fails or I sell the shares?

To compare with the property routes, start with which Golden Visas still exist in Europe and the Greek programme.

Sources: Eurofast, "Invest in Greece: changes in Golden Visa with investments in start-ups" (22 May 2025); law-firm summaries (CEE Legal Matters and others) as described. Informational, not legal or investment advice.