I say to my clients that the best thing for them is to come here again and again to see their property, to make the best choice and be really close to their investment. However, you can visit Greece just twice.
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How can I complete the Greek Golden Visa application in my home country?
I am interested in the Greek Golden Visa program and am wondering if the application process could be completed from my home country. Although I understand that this is a serious investment decision, I would like to know what the key procedures are if I have to be physically present in Greece.
Answers
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In order to complete the process, you will need to come at least once to Greece with a visa in order to give your fingerprints to the responsible immigration office. To speed up and not have you enter twice, you can make a power of attorney signed at the Greek embassy of your interest.
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The Greek Golden Visa process is fast and takes approximately 60 days, from finding a suitable investment (the right property based on the investor's desires) and completing the acquisition on behalf of the investor to submitting the residency permit application and receiving it upon issuance. Most steps of the process can be completed in the investor's home country through a special consular power of attorney. The exception is the submission of the residency permit application and receiving of the permit, which must be signed and concluded in Greece, in front of either the relevant authority or notary. This means that the investor should visit Greece at least once in order for the process to be completed. Of course, this visit will be arranged for signing the relevant POA and submission of biometric data at the same time, in a specific pre-scheduled appointment with the authorities.
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At least one trip to Greece is required in order to provide the biometrics data for the issuance of the residency permit. Or it can be two visits if you want to have a closer look at the property you are buying. For the procedures that have to run in Greece as well as for the signing of the purchase agreement, you can provide a power of attorney (POA), notarized and apostilled or authenticated at the nearest Greek consulate of your place of residence. But before you do so, you need first to obtain from the Greek consulate a visa for traveling to Greece, which should be valid for all periods needed in order for your attorney in Greece to run the process and obtain the residency permit. This document is required in order the notary public, who is required to execute the purchase of property agreement, can verify that you have a valid visa for traveling and staying in Greece. Even if you are not physically present before the notary and you are represented by an attorney, you need to declare residency in Greece, which can be the residence of your attorney or other representative in Greece, in order to obtain a Greek tax registration number. The number is a prerequisite for buying real estate property in Greece. If you do so, the notary is obliged to check that you have a valid visa in place. A visa connected with the purpose of investing in real estate in Greece is different from the general travel visa for tourism (which can also be a valid visa for acquiring a property in Greece but does not suffice for the application to obtain the long-term residency permit. In order to obtain it, you will need, in addition to the general documents that are common for all types of visas (i.e., passport, health insurance coverage) to provide to the Greek consulate the following: evidence about the financial capacity to invest at least 250,000 euros, based on bank deposits, or stocks and bonds that can be liquidated at a short notice; a written agreement with a broker or attorney in Greece with the mandate to look for an appropriate property or to run the legal due diligence and provide the necessary transaction support; criminal record; and a health certificate.
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