Chinese investors continue to lead the way in Greece's Golden Visa program, a residence-through-investment scheme that offers non-EU citizens a path to temporary residency in the country.
According to the ministry of migration and asylum, Chinese nationals accounted for 54.7% of all applications submitted between August 2023 and August 2024.
Turkish investors hold the second-largest share, followed by British and American applicants, who have seen a significant increase in recent months.
The majority of Golden Visa permits are issued for property purchases. American investors currently hold seventh place on the list, while Israeli investors have shown a surge in interest, likely driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Real estate experts believe that delays in the approval process have limited the number of Golden Visa applications.
However, they anticipate a significant increase in applications in the coming months, despite the recent hike in the minimum investment threshold for certain regions.
The Golden Visa program has been a valuable source of foreign investment for Greece. However, the recent changes to the requirements may impact its appeal to some investors.