Recent changes to the immigration laws in Greece so as to further promote foreign investments into the country have also seen the Ministry of Interior simplify the entry of foreign nationals wanting to invest in Greece via one main programs relating to EU permanent residence.
Aliens Law, Special Issues – Permit for 2 Years +
Issuance of a residence permit to economically independent person
Pursuant to the law and decision of the Secretary General of Decentralized Administration, a residence permit for two years is granted to a third-country national, if he / she has a special visa and has sufficient resources at a fixed annual income level to cover subsistence costs and may be renewed every three years, provided that the other conditions laid down by law are met. The residence permit for family members expires or is renewed at the same time as the sponsor’s permit.
The following procedure as described, is in accordance with the Law and is necessary to be completed. Critical & Important to be completed by a qualified lawyer in the relevant Greek Services.
PROCEDURE
FIRST STAGE – Issuance of a national type D visa by the competent Greek Consular Authority.
The person concerned is present in person at the Greek Consular Office of his country or country where he is legally resident and submits the following general and specific supporting documents. This process also includes an interview. The national entry visa issued shall have a maximum validity of one year.
General supporting documents
1) Application for a long-stay visa + recent color photograph of the applicant.
2) Passport with a validity period which must exceed three months the end of validity of the visa, which contains at least two blank pages and has been issued within the previous decade.
3) A copy of a criminal record of foreign authorities certifying the criminal situation of the applicant in his country of residence. In cases where the applicant proves to be resident in a country other than his or her country of origin, for more than a year before the application for entry visa, the Consular Authority may additionally request the presentation of a criminal record by the foreigner’s country of nationality as the country of residence does not require a criminal record from the country of nationality to issue a residence permit. If there is a final judgment, irrespective of the sentence, and in order to verify the relevance of the offense on grounds that pose a threat to public order and security, a specific reasoning is required, and the Consular Authority shall weigh parameters such as the gravity of the offense, the generally degrading behavior of the third-country national.
4) A medical certificate from a recognized state or private body showing that the third-country national is not suffering from a disease which, according to international data and the World Health Organization (WHO), may pose a risk to public health.
5) Travel insurance, valid for at least one year, covering the costs that may be incurred in the event of medical return, emergency medical care and / or emergency hospital care.
Special supporting documents
Evidence that he / she owns sufficient resources of legal origin at a fixed annual income level to cover subsistence costs without providing dependent employment or self-employed economic activity. The amount of sufficient resources is set at € 2,000 per month (ie € 24,000 per year), as evidenced by a foreign pension, bank account, or any other legitimate proof.
The above data must demonstrate:
(a) the stability of the applicant’s income
b) the minimum income level per month (€ 2,000) and c) the legal origin of the income.
SECOND STAGE – Issuance of a two – year residence permit
Immediately after entering the country with the national visa, and before its expiry, the alien is required to submit to the competent Greek authority a request and the necessary supporting documents for the issue of the residence permit.
General supporting documents
1) Duplicate application form + three (3) color recent photographs with the technical specifications required for passport photos + digital photos in CD format in JPEG2000 graphics format.
2) Exact photocopy of a valid passport with the applicable valid entry visa.
3) Fees (and any other expense, any taxes, taxes, other expenses and such as will be determined by applicable law at any time).
4) Insurance policy fully covering his health care and hospitalization during his stay in the
Special supporting documents
Evidence that he / she owns sufficient resources of legal origin at a fixed annual income level to cover subsistence costs without providing dependent employment or self-employed economic activity. The amount of sufficient resources is set at € 2,000 per month (ie € 24,000 per year), as evidenced by a foreign pension, bank account, or any other legitimate proof.
The above data must demonstrate:
(a) the stability of the applicant’s income
b) the minimum income level per month (€ 2,000); and
(c) the legal origin of the income.
DURATION – RENEWAL OF A RESIDENCE LICENSE
The residence permit for economically independent persons is valid for two years and is renewed every three years as often as required, provided that the economic and other conditions of the law continue to be met. The residence permit for family members expires or is renewed at the same time as the sponsor’s permit. Periods of absence from the country do not impede the renewal of the residence permit. The cost of renewal is the value of parables, with taxes and similar renewal fees, which they do not correspond to those of the initial deposit.
