Obtaining a Greek Golden Visa Through Buying Real Estate on Samos

🏛️ Greek Golden Visa – Your Gateway to Europe Through Real Estate

The Greek Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment programme that grants non-EU citizens and their families a 5-year renewable EU residence permit in exchange for a qualifying real estate investment in Greece. The permit is valid for as long as the property remains in the investor's ownership — and it covers travel across all 26 Schengen Area countries without additional visa requirements.

Samos Housing is the leading real estate agency on Samos Island and assists international buyers through every step of the Golden Visa purchase process — from property selection to legal coordination and permit application. Browse our Samos properties currently for sale.

💰 Golden Visa Investment Thresholds

The minimum investment thresholds for the Greek Golden Visa were updated by the Greek government under the law revised in September 2024. The applicable threshold depends on the location and type of property:

Property type & location	Minimum investment
Residential or commercial property — Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, and islands with population over 3,100 inhabitants (including Samos)	€800,000
Residential or commercial property — most other regions of Greece	€400,000
Commercial building converted to residential use — anywhere in Greece	€250,000
Restored listed buildings or protected monuments — anywhere in Greece	€250,000

The property purchased must have a minimum area of 120 m². The investment must be funded from outside Greece. Both new-build and resale properties qualify.

💡 Don't Forget — Build Your Own Golden Visa Villa on Samos

There is a frequently overlooked route to reaching the €800,000 threshold that many buyers miss: purchasing a plot of land and building a new villa through Samos Housing. The combined value of the land purchase plus the construction cost counts towards the Golden Visa threshold — meaning you end up with a brand-new, fully custom villa built to your exact specification, rather than buying an existing property.

🏗️ Land price + Construction cost = €800,000 or more → Golden Visa qualifying investment ✅

Samos Housing manages the entire process in-house — from identifying the right plot in our listings, to architectural design, building permits, and full construction management. As a result, you have a single trusted point of contact from land purchase through to key handover. Learn more about the Samos Housing construction service →

✅ Key Benefits of the Greek Golden Visa

⏰ 5-year renewable EU residence permit — renewed indefinitely as long as the property is retained
✈️ Visa-free travel across 26 Schengen countries — Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Covers your entire family — spouse, children under 21, and parents of both spouses included
🌍 No minimum stay requirement — you do not need to live in Greece or on the property to maintain your visa
🏥 Access to Greek healthcare and education — full access to public services for all permit holders
🇬🇷 Path to Greek citizenship — after 7 consecutive years of uninterrupted residency, permit holders may apply for Greek citizenship
💼 Property retains full rental income rights — you may rent your property throughout the year and generate income while holding the visa

🌟 Why Samos for a Golden Visa Investment?

🔑 €250,000 entry point still available — commercial-to-residential conversions on Samos qualify at the lower threshold, making Samos one of the most accessible Golden Visa locations in Greece
🏗️ Build your own villa — land + construction through Samos Housing can qualify at the €800,000 threshold, giving you a fully custom new-build property
📈 Strong rental yield potential — tourism season runs May to October with high short-term rental demand in Pythagoreio, Kokkari, and Potokaki
✈️ Direct international flights — Samos International Airport serves Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and Scandinavia throughout the season
🛡️ Zero crime rate — Samos is consistently one of the safest locations in Europe
☀️ 300 days of sunshine per year — average annual temperature of 22°C with some of the cleanest seas in the Mediterranean
💰 Significantly lower property prices — compared to Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, and Corfu, Samos offers outstanding value per square metre

📋 Documents Required for the Greek Golden Visa Application

🛂 Valid passport (with at least 12 months validity remaining)
🏠 Signed property purchase agreement or notarial deed
💸 Proof of transfer of investment funds from outside Greece
📄 Greek tax identification number (AFM)
🏦 Greek bank account statement
🩺 Comprehensive health insurance policy covering Greece
⚖️ Clean criminal record certificate from country of residence
📊 Certified property valuation report (Samos Housing provides this service)

Samos Housing coordinates the full application process including legal due diligence, notary, tax registration, and permit submission on behalf of international buyers. A certified property valuation report compliant with Golden Visa requirements is available directly through Samos Housing.

❓ Greek Golden Visa – Frequently Asked Questions

💰 What is the minimum investment for the Greek Golden Visa?

The standard threshold is €800,000 for residential and commercial properties on Samos and all Greek islands with a population over 3,100 inhabitants. A reduced threshold of €250,000 applies to commercial buildings being converted to residential use and to fully restored listed buildings anywhere in Greece — including Samos.

⏰ How long is the Greek Golden Visa valid?

The Greek Golden Visa residence permit is valid for 5 years. It is renewable indefinitely, with no limit on the number of renewals, for as long as you retain ownership of the qualifying property.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Can I include my family in my Greek Golden Visa application?

Yes. The Greek Golden Visa covers the main applicant, their spouse or civil partner, children under 21 years of age, and the parents of both spouses — all under a single application and a single qualifying investment.

🌍 Do I need to live in Greece to maintain my Golden Visa?

No. There is no minimum stay requirement. You can reside anywhere in the world and still renew your Greek Golden Visa, provided you continue to own the qualifying property.

💼 Can I rent out my Golden Visa property?

Yes. You retain full rights to rent out your property on a short-term or long-term basis while holding the Golden Visa. Many Samos Housing clients use their investment property as a rental income asset during the May–October tourism season.

🇬🇷 Can the Greek Golden Visa lead to citizenship?

Yes. After 7 consecutive years of uninterrupted legal residency in Greece, Golden Visa holders may apply for Greek citizenship, which includes a full EU passport. Note that the residence permit alone does not constitute citizenship.

🏗️ Can I build a new villa on Samos and use it for the Golden Visa?

Yes. Purchasing a plot of land and constructing a new villa through Samos Housing is a fully qualifying Golden Visa investment route, provided the combined value of the land and construction reaches or exceeds €800,000. Samos Housing manages both the land acquisition and the full construction process in-house. Learn more about our construction service →