Capital flows from abroad in the first 3 months of the year amounted to €511 million

The first quarter of 2026 ended with a 43.4% year-on-year increase in foreign direct investment in the real estate market, although during the same period, applications for a residence permit through the “Golden Visa” program fell by 52.2%.

This demonstrates that the Greek real estate market continues to attract international buying interest, even without the additional incentive of securing a residence permit.

Essentially, foreigners who are now investing their capital are not doing so because of the prospect of a “Golden Visa,” but because they truly want to acquire a property in Greece.

According to data from the Bank of Greece, capital flows from abroad during the first three months of the year amounted to €511.6 million, or 43.4% higher than the €356.8 million in the same period of 2025. 

Meanwhile, requests for a “Golden Visa” (which requires the purchase of real estate) were limited to 1,677, compared to 3,507 in the same period of 2025. 

In fact, last year’s first quarter is not so representative. That’s because there had been a surge in requests, due to the completion at that time of the deadline that investors had for securing a residence permit with the old, lower investment limits. 

Even so, this year’s development is considered significant, especially if it continues in the coming months. 

Market sources point out that foreigners buying property in Greece are interested in both luxury homes in Attica and on the islands, as well as newly built holiday homes costing €400,000-600,000, in various regions of the country. 

Although a significant part of demand concerns people outside the EU, such as the US, the Middle East and Great Britain, few are now combining the acquisition of property with obtaining a residence permit, even though the required criteria are met (for example, a minimum investment of €800,000 for Greater Athens, the Municipality of Thessaloniki and the major islands, or €400,000 for the rest of the country).