Greece is planning to change its Golden Visa rules in January 2026. The new law will help investors get the full 5-year time on their residence cards and make the application process much faster.
Minister of Migration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, announced this plan recently. The goal is to modernize the Greek immigration system and fix a common problem that investors face regarding the expiration dates of their permits.
Solving the "Backdated" Permit Problem
Currently, there is a technical problem with how Greece calculates the time on a residence card. This is called “backdating.”
- The Problem: When you apply for a Golden Visa, it can take 12 months or more to process. Right now, the 5-year clock starts on the day you apply. If it takes a year to get your card, the card already has 1 year “used up” when you receive it. You only get 4 years of actual use.
- The Solution: The new law will change the start date. The 5-year clock will start on the day the card is issued (printed). This ensures every investor gets a full 5 years of residency on their physical card.
No Delay for Citizenship
Some investors were worried that this change would make it take longer to become a citizen. However, experts clarify that this is not the case.
- Permanent Residency: You can apply after 5 years of legal residency.
- Citizenship: You can apply after 7 years of legal residency.
The clock for these 5 or 7 years still starts on the day you officially begin living in Greece, not the date on the card. This means the new rule helps you have a valid card for longer, but it does not make your path to a passport any slower.
Faster Family Applications
The 2026 bill also aims to cut “red tape” (difficult paperwork). It will simplify the steps for:
- Renewing your visa after 5 years.
- Family Reunification (bringing your spouse or children to Greece).
Because the government has a majority in Parliament, this bill is very likely to pass and become law in early 2026.
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