Greece Golden Visa filings down 35.8%, property inflows up

First-time applications for Greece's Golden Visa fell 35.8% year on year in January to August 2026, dropping to 3,426 from 5,333 a year earlier, the Bank of Greece said in its October Financial Stability Review. The figures, reported by Insider.gr and Euro2day on 23 October, come from an August 2026 Ministry of Migration and Asylum note.

Despite fewer permit filings after property thresholds rose, net foreign direct investment in Greek real estate climbed 9.5% year on year to about €1 billion in the first half of 2026 (as of 23 October 2026, per the Bank of Greece). That followed a 25.3% drop in 2025, partly linked by the central bank to tighter Golden Visa rules. Apartment prices rose 5.5% in the second quarter of 2026, taking the central bank's index to 114.2, above its 2008 peak of 101.7. The Bank of Greece noted early cyclical systemic risks in housing, though not yet a financial-stability concern, and urged faster steps to boost supply.

As of 7 October 2026, Greece's Golden Visa property tiers are €800,000 in Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and larger islands, €400,000 elsewhere, and €250,000 for completed commercial-to-residential conversions and restored listed buildings. Euro2day noted that buying may rise ahead of a proposed 15% transfer tax for non-EU tax residents from 1 July 2027 (draft bill, as of 22 October 2026). On 24 October, PASOK opposition leader Nikos Androulakis repeated his call to abolish the Golden Visa, in.gr reported, though New Democracy holds a parliamentary majority.