The latest analysis from Astons reveals that Greece’s Golden Visa programme has seen a bigger increase in applications from US citizens than from any other Western nation in the past 12 months.
Astons has looked at migration data from the Greek government and found that US applications for Greek Golden Visas have increased by 52.6% in the past 12 months, and 13.3% since the start of 2025.
On both counts, this is the largest increase among all Western nations, with UK applications increasing by 46.6% annually, and 10.8% since the start of the year.
The only countries from which applications have seen a greater increase than the US are Turkey and Israel.
Turkish applications for Greek Golden Visas have increased by 99.1% annually and 31.8% since the start of 2025, while Israeli applications have increased by 91.5% and 19.5% respectively.
Whilst the process of obtaining any Golden Visa can be complicated, the experts at Astons have condensed the application process into five key stages to help steer investors in the right direction.
Initial Setup: Sign a service agreement with Astons, pay initial fees, and select a property with a preliminary agreement and deposit.
Documentation: Prepare and notarize personal documents and powers of attorney; obtain a Greek tax number.
Property Finalization: Complete tax and government fee payments, sign the final property agreement via a Greek lawyer, and pay the remaining balance.
Visa Application: Submit the residence permit application, receive a temporary permit, and attend a biometric appointment in Greece.
Approval & Delivery: Receive Golden Visa approval within 2–3 months, pay remaining service fees, and have residence cards delivered securely by Astons.
Astons Business Development Director, Denis Kravchenko, commented:
“Among the European countries that continue to offer Golden Visa programmes, we are seeing Greece be the prime choice for US residents who want to gain residency outside of North America and, perhaps more specifically, within the European Union.
The motivations for doing so are wide and varied. For many, the impulse is personal – they see the opportunities that Greece and Europe offer to them and their families, from a quality education system through to a liberal society and freedom of movement within the Schengen area.
For others, the motivation is economic. Greece provides great opportunities for financial investment, whether that’s the high-performing real estate market, attractive tax regime, or the great support given to businesses both small and large.
After a prolonged period of economic difficulty, Greece has emerged as a land of genuine promise. The government is actively investing in widespread modernisation and urban development that gives an enthusiastic welcome to foreign and expat investors. When you look around the world, there aren’t too many nations that you can say this about, and all indicators show that Greece is benefitting greatly from this open and progressive way of thinking.”
