A property in Greece can serve several purposes: a home for your holidays, a source of rental income, or a qualifying investment for a Greek residence permit. For buyers from outside the European Union, the starting point is understanding which of these goals matters most. Are you looking for a property primarily for holidays and rental income, or is obtaining Greek residency your priority? At Domisi Group, we help you explore property options that match your budget, lifestyle and intended use, while helping you understand the different considerations that apply to each type of purchase.
Non-EU buyers can generally purchase property in Greece and earn rental income, subject to the applicable legal, tax and operating requirements. If your main objective is to own a holiday home that can also generate income when you are not using it, Crete can offer a particularly attractive combination of lifestyle and rental potential. Short-term rentals require the appropriate registration and accommodation declarations, together with compliance with current property standards, and these obligations should be considered before purchasing. It is also important to remember that property ownership alone does not grant Greek residency. Through Crete Holiday Home, our group’s certified holiday rental company, we can explore professional rental arrangements for suitable properties. For selected properties, we can discuss an agreement under which our company rents the property from you for a defined period, providing an agreed fixed rental income. The agreement may also reserve specific periods for your own holidays, allowing you to combine personal use with an organised rental strategy. Availability, rental payments, duration and personal-use arrangements are assessed individually and set out in the contract.
Two properties that can be a useful starting point for your search are Property 1-1249 and Property 1-128. Both are in an attractive location in central Crete and can be considered for personal holidays as well as potential rental use. Construction has already started, giving prospective buyers the opportunity to discuss the current stage of development, the expected completion schedule and the purchase terms directly with our team. As with any property investment, the suitability of each property depends on your personal objectives, financing arrangements and the legal and technical characteristics of the specific property.
For buyers whose primary objective is obtaining Greek residency through investment, the Greek Golden Visa programme offers eligible non-EU investors a renewable five-year residence permit, subject to meeting and maintaining the programme’s requirements. For property investments, the main minimum thresholds are €800,000 in Attica, the Thessaloniki Regional Unit, Mykonos, Santorini and islands with more than 3,100 inhabitants, including Crete; €400,000 in other qualifying locations, including Patras; and €250,000 for specific qualifying conversions to residential use or certain listed-building restoration projects. The €250,000 categories are subject to specific conditions, meaning that purchasing an ordinary home for €250,000, or simply carrying out a standard renovation, does not automatically make the property eligible for the Golden Visa programme.
For standard purchases under the €800,000 and €400,000 routes, the investment must generally be made in one property. Built properties, or properties with a building permit, must generally have at least 120 square metres of main-use space. Because Golden Visa eligibility depends on the exact property, its location, legal status, use, title and other technical and contractual factors, buyers should not rely solely on the asking price or property description. At DomisiWorld, we present properties that can be assessed for Golden Visa eligibility, including options in Athens and Patras. You can browse our Golden Visa property selection, where we continuously add new opportunities. Before committing to any purchase, an independent lawyer should confirm that the individual property and proposed transaction satisfy the applicable Golden Visa requirements.
Another important consideration is whether a property purchased through the Golden Visa programme can also generate rental income. Properties acquired under the current Golden Visa rules cannot be used for ordinary Airbnb-style short-term rentals, and appointing a rental management company does not remove this restriction. Long-term letting is a separate option, while official guidance also recognises certain arrangements involving long-term leases to tourism businesses operating professionally and providing additional services. These arrangements require specific legal and technical assessment and are not available in the same way across all investment categories. For this reason, buyers who want both residency and rental income should decide on their intended rental strategy before selecting a property and should obtain appropriate legal advice to ensure that the proposed use is compatible with the applicable rules. Properties 1-1249 and 1-128 are presented as purchase suggestions, and their inclusion in this article does not confirm Golden Visa eligibility.
Greek banks can also consider mortgage applications from non-resident buyers using documented income from their country of residence. Mortgage approval depends on factors such as income, existing financial obligations, creditworthiness and the bank’s valuation of the property. Buyers should also have their own funds available for the required contribution and transaction costs. It is important to keep mortgage eligibility and Golden Visa eligibility separate: approval for a Greek mortgage does not automatically mean that the financing structure satisfies the requirements of the Golden Visa programme. Buyers should therefore discuss the proposed financing structure with the relevant bank and have the investment reviewed by an independent immigration lawyer before proceeding.
A Greek Golden Visa is a residence permit and does not automatically lead to Greek citizenship. Naturalisation generally requires seven consecutive years of actual, lawful residence in Greece, together with the required language skills and evidence of economic and social integration. Consequently, owning a property or holding a Golden Visa while continuing to live abroad is not, by itself, sufficient to meet the requirements for Greek citizenship. Buyers considering Greece as a long-term destination should therefore distinguish between the right to hold a residence permit and the separate requirements that apply if their ultimate objective is naturalisation.
Whether you are looking for a holiday home in Crete, an investment that can potentially generate rental income, or a property that may qualify for the Greek Golden Visa, the right starting point is your budget and the way you intend to use the property. Different objectives can lead to very different property choices, particularly when residency requirements, rental restrictions, financing and personal use are taken into account. The Domisi Group team can introduce available properties, discuss potential rental opportunities and help you connect with independent legal and banking advisers so that you can assess the purchase from both an investment and practical perspective.
Information reflects the framework reviewed on 1 October 2026. Property eligibility, programme requirements, rental restrictions, financing conditions and transaction terms should be confirmed before purchase with independent legal and tax advisers.
