South African nationals can apply for the Greece Golden Visa as third country nationals. The investment thresholds changed substantially in recent reforms, so the current tier matters. This page sets out the position and points you to the official authority.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
The Greece Golden Visa is open to nationals from outside the EU and the EEA, which includes South African nationals. There is no nationality bar specific to South Africa. Applicants must hold a clean criminal record, carry valid health insurance and prove a lawful source of the invested funds.
Because this route grants residence rather than citizenship, it does not by itself raise South African dual citizenship questions. Even so, confirm the current requirements and document list with the official authority before you apply.
The headline route is qualifying real estate, now priced on a tiered basis by location, with a higher tier for high demand areas and a lower tier elsewhere, alongside a minimum property size. Reform also added or kept narrower options such as conversions of commercial property to residential, restoration of listed buildings, and a startup investment route. Several capital routes such as bonds and shares also exist.
Greek rules now prohibit using Golden Visa property for short stay rentals. We do not name or recommend firms. To compare vetted advisors who handle Greek cases, use Get Matched and ask for a written scope and fee first.
Timing depends on the route, property selection and the completeness of the file. Applicants commonly obtain a temporary status while the application is processed, with the residence permit issued for a fixed term and renewed while the investment is held.
Allow extra time to legalise South African source documents, police certificates and translations. Confirm current processing expectations with the official authority.
The dominant cost is the qualifying investment itself, set by the tier and route you choose. On top of that sit government application fees, residence permit charges per family member, taxes and duties on property, and the usual costs of legalisation, translation and professional help.
Use the table as a checklist of cost lines rather than a quote. Verify each current figure and tier with the official authority before acting, since the thresholds were recently changed.
| Cost line | Indicative amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying real estate investment | Confirm the current figure with the official authority | Tiered by location after the reform |
| Government application and permit fees | Confirm the current figure with the official authority | Charged per main applicant and per dependant |
| Property taxes and duties | Confirm the current figure with the official authority | Apply on real estate routes |
| Legalisation and translation | Varies | Apostille and certified translation of South African documents |
| Professional fees | Varies | Independent of investment and government costs |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Hellenic Republic publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
Yes. The route is open to nationals from outside the EU and the EEA, including South Africans, subject to clean record, health insurance and lawful source of funds checks. Confirm the current rules with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.
The real estate thresholds were reformed into a tiered system based on location, so the amount depends on where you buy. Confirm the current tier for your target area with the official authority rather than relying on older figures.
Greek rules now prohibit using Golden Visa property for short stay rentals. Confirm the current restrictions with the official authority before buying.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
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