Starting on January 1, 2025, citizens of third countries will have the opportunity to apply for a Greek Golden Visa by investing in Greek startup companies or equity mutual funds. According to a new draft tax law currently under public deliberation until November 19, foreign investors can obtain a Golden Visa by making investments of at least 250,000 euros in startups listed in the official Elevate Greece register. Alternatively, investors may choose to direct funds into venture capital frameworks, such as equity mutual funds, provided they are willing to invest over 500,000 euros.
Industry sources believe this shift toward startup and venture capital investment is a positive development, already being adopted in other European countries. The move is expected to boost the flow of international private investment into the Greek market, diversifying sources of economic growth.
This initiative reflects Greece’s effort to shift investments from the real estate sector to more productive ventures, particularly in innovation-driven startups. The government aims to encourage greater economic diversification and foster entrepreneurship.
Greece’s Golden Visa program has already attracted substantial investment, with 1.3 billion euros in real estate investments in 2022, 2.54 billion euros in 2023, and an expected 3 billion euros by the end of this year. However, of the 8,516 Golden Visa applications submitted to date, only 1,802 have been approved. Read more on News.gtp.gr, link here.
