Chinese nationals account for almost half of Greece's golden visas
As of June 2026, Chinese nationals hold 11,921 of the 32,702 active permits; applications since January 2022 totalled just over 41,000.
Nearly half of Greece's active investor residence permits under the so-called "golden visa" scheme are held by Chinese nationals, official figures show. As of June 2026 there were 11,921 permits issued to Chinese citizens, representing 47.7 percent of the total active permits.
The Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum records a total of 32,702 active residence permits granted through the golden visa programme, not counting investors' family members. Turkish nationals are the second-largest group with 4,543 permits, followed by Lebanese with 1,145. Other nationalities among the ten most-represented include Iran, the United Kingdom, Israel, Egypt and the United States; Armenians and Serbs occupy the bottom of the list with 258 and 224 permits respectively.
Application trends and approval rates
Applications for new or renewed golden visas submitted between January 2022 and June 2026 exceeded 41,000. Roughly 77 percent of those applications have been approved, about 22 percent remain under review, and approximately 1 percent were rejected. Authorities and market participants report that requests for new permits have almost halved recently.
The programme grants a five-year residence permit to foreign nationals who invest in Greek real estate. The initial minimum qualifying investment was €250,000, but following changes in 2024 the threshold was raised in parts of the country to €400,000 and to €800,000 in the most sought-after cities and islands.
Observers point to the 2024 increases in minimum investment thresholds as a likely factor behind the slowdown in new applications, alongside shifts in international demand and changing real estate market conditions. The concentration of nearly half of existing permits in one nationality also highlights how dependent the scheme has been on particular investor flows.
For Greece, the evolution of the golden visa programme carries implications for the property market, local planners and immigration policy as authorities weigh how to balance foreign investment with housing affordability and regional development goals.
Photo: mike lane / Alamy / Profimedia
