Greek Golden Visa in Numbers 2026: Applications, Backlog and Active Permits

In the first seven months of 2026 Greece received 3,086 new Golden Visa applications, 39% fewer than the 5,028 filed in the same months of 2025, while the backlog of pending files fell to 29,273 (IMI Daily, 27 August 2026, using Migration Ministry statistics for the application counts). This page collects the main figures in one place and explains what they do and do not show.

New applications

Period	Applications	Change
2024 (full year)	9,372	record
2025 (full year)	7,021	−25% on 2024
January–July 2025	5,028
January–July 2026	3,086	−39% on the same months of 2025

Monthly filings in 2026 ranged from 392 to 497, about 440 on average. The author of the IMI Daily report expects 2026 to end "somewhere north of 5,000" applications; that is a projection, not an official figure.

The backlog

At the start of 2025 more than 52,000 files were pending, counting investors and family members. By the end of July 2026 the number was 29,273, a fall of roughly 44%. Decisions have been exceeding new applications every month since spring 2025. Waiting times used to exceed 18 months; see how long the visa takes now for what applicants report today.

Active permits

At the end of July 2026 there were 34,278 active investor permits, up from 22,001 in June 2025. Chinese investors hold just over half of them (IMI Daily). If you are a Chinese citizen, see the guide for Chinese citizens.

Which route is used

Most new applications now come through the €250,000 commercial-to-residential conversion route. The report gives no percentage. The standard levels are €800,000 in high-demand areas such as Attica and €400,000 elsewhere, with a 120 m² minimum for built property; the conversion route has no minimum size. All the conditions are in the €250,000 route explained and thresholds by area.

What these numbers do not tell you

• Approval rate. The sources give applications, backlog and active permits, not the share of files approved or rejected.
• People versus files. The backlog counts investors and family members together, so it is not the number of investors.
• The future. The new National Housing Policy Strategy 2026–2035 was published in the Government Gazette on 17 August 2026 and proposes a portfolio route; it needs legislation first (IBA). The government has also announced a plan to raise the transfer tax for non-EU buyers; read what is known.

What it means for a buyer

1. A shorter queue means fewer months of waiting, but processing time still depends on a complete file: use the documents checklist.
2. A conversion project is only as good as its paperwork: see what to ask the developer in the €250,000 route explained, and compare developers in our developers ranking.
3. Work out the full cost for your family in the calculator.

Sources: IMI Daily, "Greek Golden Visa Applications Down 39% in 2026 as Backlog Nearly Halves" (27 August 2026); IBA, "The Greek Golden Visa after the 2024–2026 overhaul" (September 2026). Informational, not legal advice.