Capital flows where it finds certainty. In an era when the UK projects losses of 16,500 millionaires this year and Spain shutters its golden visa program entirely, Greece stands apart.
The numbers tell a story of transformation: 1,200 millionaires chose Greece in 2024 alone, drawn by a rare convergence of political stability, economic momentum, and strategic access to European markets.
The Foundation of Growth
The Golden Visa program, introduced in 2013, requires that non-EU nationals invest a minimum of €250,000 in Greek real estate to secure residency. What began as an emergency measure during the financial crisis has evolved into a cornerstone of Greece’s economic renaissance.
The country now hosts 64,700 millionaires, including 105 ultra-high-net-worth individuals with assets exceeding $100 million. This represents a 14% increase over the past decade, a period that aligns precisely with Greece’s record growth figures and improved investment climate.
Beyond Property Lines
The economic ripple effects extend far beyond property transactions. Greece’s startup ecosystem reached a valuation of $8.2 billion in 2024, powered by over one billion dollars in annual capital inflows.
The country registered 63,000 new businesses last year, an 11% increase from 2023 and a 50% surge since 2020. Venture capital funding rose 32% in 2024, reaching $400 million, as 33% of that capital flowed specifically to AI companies.
Christina Georgaki, a specialist in foreign direct investment (FDI) and member of New Democracy’s Political Committee, observes that wealthy newcomers have brought “industry-specific acumen, new business networks, and vital capital” that have changed the lives and opportunities of families and businesses across the country. Her work navigating investment migration reveals a pattern: investors increasingly move to Greece with intergenerational benefits in mind, seeking not just favorable tax treatment but long-term stability for their families.
Where Tourism Meets Returns
Greece’s tourism sector, one of its strongest natural assets, creates exceptional conditions for Golden Visa real estate investors. The country’s position as a premier Mediterranean destination translates directly into rental yields that outperform much of Southern Europe.
Properties in Athens, Thessaloniki, and island locations benefit from sustained demand throughout extended tourism seasons. This is not speculative opportunity but established market performance, year after year, driven by millions of visitors seeking what Greece offers: history, coastline, and consistent Mediterranean climate.
The Architecture of Advantage
The Greek government’s tax framework reinforces this appeal. Greece’s non-domiciled tax regime offers substantial benefits for high-net-worth individuals relocating their tax residency, while foreign pensioners can access a flat-rate tax of 7% on all foreign-sourced income for 15 years.
The Golden Visa itself provides a gateway to European markets, offering residency rights and access to 27 EU member states. American investors, who accounted for 36% of foreign investment in 2023, recognize Greece’s position under the New Democracy administration as uniquely business-friendly at a time when other European nations retreat from similar programs.
Greece’s digital transformation amplifies its attractiveness. The Gov.gr platform now processes over 1.4 billion digital transactions, while AI-powered systems streamline property registration and cadastral services.
At least 13 globally recognized universities are preparing to open campuses in Greece, addressing what Georgaki identifies as one of the first questions from any newcomer wishing to establish financial activity in the country: workforce capability and skill sets.
When Stability Becomes Strategy
The timing matters. As Italy doubles its flat tax on foreigners to €200,000 and geopolitical uncertainty pushes global elites to reassess their bases of operation, Greece offers what many markets cannot: genuine stability paired with growth momentum.
GDP is projected to increase 2.3% in 2025, driven by exports, investments, and private consumption.
This is not merely a story of tax advantages or residency permits. It represents a fundamental shift in how international capital views Southern Europe.
Formerly stagnant neighborhoods now experience surges in development and employment. The startup sector attracts backing from Sequoia, Andreessen Horowitz, and Alibaba. Cadence acquired Greek technology firm BETA CAE for $1.2 billion, one of Europe’s largest tech acquisitions in 2024.
Building for Generations
Georgaki frames the transformation in terms of national duty: bringing back the millennials and Gen Zers who were forced to leave during the crisis, creating conditions where Greece’s best minds can live, work, and raise families at home. The Greek Golden Visa program, alongside broader reforms in education, taxation, and digital infrastructure, forms part of this vision.
Over 40,000 Greek higher education students currently study abroad, the highest proportion among EU nations relative to population. The goal is to reverse that flow.
The Question Every Investor Must Answer
For investors evaluating where to allocate resources, the fundamentals are clear. Greece combines a €250,000 entry point, favorable tax treatment, access to 27 EU member states, and an economy growing faster than the Eurozone average.
The country has moved from crisis to opportunity, from uncertainty to momentum. What remains is the question every serious investor must answer: where else in Europe offers this particular combination of value, growth, and strategic positioning?
The millionaires who moved to Greece in 2024 understood something essential. They recognized that prosperity requires more than returns; it demands a foundation of political stability, economic coherence, and long-term vision.
Greece, under consistent governance and with clear policy direction, now provides that foundation. The Golden Visa is simply the mechanism through which international capital accesses what the country has built.
Georgaki & Partners Law Firm specializes in Golden Visa applications, tax residency planning, and foreign direct investment in Greece. For inquiries regarding Greek residency and investment opportunities, contact the firm at info@georgaki.com.
Article written by Christina Georgaki, originally published on IMI