The Greek Golden Visa for UK citizens
After Brexit, UK citizens without a permit can stay in the Schengen area for no more than 90 days in any 180. The Golden Visa gives the right to live in Greece without that limit; the rest depends on taxes and documents.
What stays the same
- The same thresholds: €800,000, €400,000 and €250,000, depending on the area and the type of property.
- A five-year permit, renewable, with no minimum stay in Greece.
- One property, and a ban on short-term letting on platforms such as Airbnb.
What matters to UK citizens
The 90/180 rule
Without a permit UK citizens can be in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180. A Greek residence permit lets you live in Greece for longer; the same 90/180 rule applies in other Schengen states. Sources differ on details, so see travelling in Europe with the Golden Visa.
Tax residence
The Golden Visa needs no presence in Greece, so by one source most holders remain UK tax resident; other sources point to the option of becoming Greek resident. Actual residence decides: does the Golden Visa make you a tax resident.
Tax on a sale
By one source (a property-management firm's page), UK residents pay UK capital gains tax on selling Greek property, with credit for Greek tax paid. In Greece, capital gains tax for individuals is suspended until 31 December 2026: the law tracker. Confirm with a UK tax adviser.
Money and documents
Banks and lawyers ask for the origin of funds: statements and sale contracts. Criminal-record certificates and family documents are translated into Greek and certified under the rules of the issuing country. See source of funds and the documents checklist.
The rules of the programme are the same for citizens of all countries outside the EU and the EEA. Entry, the transfer of funds and the preparation of documents differ. Before a deal we check the details against current law.
Investment thresholds
- €800,000€800,000 is the threshold for the most sought-after locations: Attica with Athens, Piraeus and the Athens Riviera, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and islands with more than 3,100 residents.
- €400,000€400,000 is the threshold for all regions of Greece except the most sought-after ones: the mainland outside Attica and Thessaloniki and small islands with up to 3,100 residents.
- €250,000€250,000 is the reduced threshold. It applies anywhere in Greece, including central Athens, but only to two kinds of property: premises converted to residential use and listed historic buildings being restored.
For Russian citizensFor Turkish citizensFor Chinese citizensFor Ukrainian citizensFor US citizensFor Israeli citizensFor Lebanese citizens
Let us review your case
Leave a request: we check the origin of funds and the entry route and select a property for the threshold.
Where to start on your own
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Does a British citizen need a permit to live in Greece for more than 90 days?
Yes. After Brexit, without a permit you can be in the Schengen area for no more than 90 days in any 180. The Golden Visa is one way to get a Greek residence permit; there are others, such as the digital nomad visa: digital nomad visa.
Does the Golden Visa let me live in other Schengen countries?
No. The permit is Greek: in other Schengen states you can stay up to 90 days in any 180, and for a long stay you need that country's status.
Will I become a Greek tax resident?
Not automatically. The Golden Visa needs no presence in Greece, and tax residence depends on where you live and your centre of interests. Decide with a tax adviser.
Which threshold should I choose?
It depends on the area and the type of property: €800,000 in Attica and other high-demand zones (from 120 m²), €400,000 elsewhere, €250,000 for converted non-residential property and restoration. Check the threshold finder.