Family Members’ Rights in the Greece Golden Visa Program: A Comprehensive Legal Guide for 2026

Introduction

The rights granted to Greece Golden Visa family members are among the most important advantages of the Greek residence-by-investment system. A qualifying investment made by one principal applicant may support individual Greek residence permits for several eligible relatives without requiring each family member to make a separate real estate or financial investment.

Under the current Greek Migration Code, the principal investor may generally be accompanied by a spouse or legally recognised partner, unmarried children below the statutory age limit and the direct ascendants of both spouses or partners. Each eligible person receives an individual residence permit linked to the legal status of the principal investor.

The family residence framework is governed primarily by Article 95 of Law 5038/2023. The provision states that holders of investment residence permits under Articles 96 to 100 may be accompanied by qualifying family members, who may receive family-reunification residence permits expiring at the same time as the principal investor’s permit. The statute expressly includes spouses or civil partners, unmarried children under 21 and the direct ascendants of both spouses or partners.

The family benefits of the program should not, however, be confused with European Union citizenship. A Greek Golden Visa permits lawful residence in Greece and short-term mobility within the Schengen Area, but it does not automatically grant a Greek passport, unrestricted residence in another EU Member State or automatic access to Greek citizenship.

Family members must submit their own residence permit applications, provide biometric data and maintain valid passports and health insurance. Their residence status is generally dependent on the continued validity of the principal investor’s Golden Visa unless they later acquire an autonomous residence right.

This legal guide explains:

• Which relatives qualify as family members;
• The rights of spouses, partners, children and parents;
• What happens when a child turns 21;
• Whether family members can work or study;
• Schengen travel rights;
• The effect of divorce, death and changes in family status;
• Required documents;
• Renewal and loss of residence rights;
• Common legal risks in family applications.

Legal Basis of Family Rights Under the Greece Golden Visa

The Greece Golden Visa is regulated by the Greek Migration Code, Law 5038/2023, which entered into force on 31 March 2024. Property investors generally receive a Type B.5 permanent investor residence permit under Article 100, while the common provisions governing investment residence permits and their family members are contained in Article 95.

The principal investment residence permit is normally issued for five years and may be renewed for additional five-year periods if the qualifying investment continues to satisfy the statutory conditions. Absence from Greece does not prevent renewal of the principal investment permit.

Article 95 provides a special family-reunification mechanism for investors. The family permit is not a co-ownership certificate and does not require the family member to be included in the property deed. It is an individual immigration status derived from the qualifying relationship with the principal investor.

Every family member receives a separate residence card. Consequently, the spouse, children and parents must each complete their own application, fee, insurance and biometric requirements even where all applications are submitted together.

Who Qualifies as a Greece Golden Visa Family Member?

Article 95 defines the categories of family members who may receive linked residence permits.

Spouse of the Principal Investor

The legally married spouse of the principal investor qualifies as a family member.

A marriage performed outside Greece must generally be evidenced by an official marriage certificate issued by the competent authority of the country where the marriage took place. The document must normally be apostilled or otherwise legalised and officially translated into Greek.

A religious ceremony, informal marriage or customary relationship may not be sufficient unless it creates a legally recognised marital status that can be documented and accepted by the Greek authorities.

The Greek authorities may investigate whether the marriage is genuine. False statements, fraudulent documents or a marriage created principally to circumvent immigration law may result in rejection, revocation or non-renewal of the residence permit. The Migration Code permits refusal or revocation where the family relationship is fictitious, fraudulent or no longer reflects genuine family life.

Legally Recognised Civil Partner

A person with whom the investor has entered into a legally recognised civil partnership may also qualify.

Article 95 refers to a partner connected to the principal applicant through a civil partnership agreement. The existence and recognition of the partnership must be proved through an official document.

Where the civil partnership was registered abroad, its legal nature should be examined before the application. Not every private cohabitation agreement or domestic partnership document will necessarily be treated as equivalent to a legally recognised civil partnership under Greek immigration law.

A couple who merely lives together without marriage or a recognised civil partnership should not assume that the partner qualifies as a Golden Visa family member.

Common Unmarried Children Under 21

The unmarried common children of the spouses or civil partners qualify where they are below 21 years of age.

The child must ordinarily be able to prove:

• The legal parent-child relationship;
• The child’s age;
• Unmarried status where requested;
• A valid passport;
• Lawful entry or applicable immigration status;
• Health insurance.

The relationship is normally proved through a birth certificate or equivalent civil-status record.

The statutory limit is below 21, rather than below 18. A 19- or 20-year-old unmarried child may therefore remain eligible for a linked family permit even though the child is legally an adult.

Children From an Earlier Marriage or Relationship

An unmarried child of the principal investor or the investor’s spouse or civil partner may also qualify where the child is under 21.

However, Article 95 requires lawful custody to have been granted to the relevant parent. The principal investor must have lawful custody of their own child, or the spouse or partner must have lawful custody of their child from an earlier relationship.

This requirement is particularly important where:

• The child’s parents are divorced;
• The other biological parent lives abroad;
• Custody is shared;
• A foreign court decision regulates custody;
• The child is expected to move permanently to Greece;
• The other parent has visitation or relocation rights.

The current documentary rules require an officially certified and translated foreign public document establishing both the child’s relationship to the relevant spouse and the child’s legal ability to reside in Greece. This may include a foreign court judgment or a written parental agreement.

Where custody is shared, consent from the other parent may be required. A Golden Visa application should never be used to bypass an existing custody or international child-relocation restriction.

Parents of the Principal Investor

The direct ascendants of the principal investor may qualify.

In ordinary terms, this category principally covers the investor’s parents. Article 95 does not impose an express minimum age or financial-dependency condition on the direct ascendants included in this special investor-family provision.

The relationship must nevertheless be established through official civil-status documents. The investor may need to provide their own birth certificate showing the names of their parents.

Each parent requires a separate residence permit, passport, health insurance and biometric procedure.

Parents of the Spouse or Civil Partner

The direct ascendants of the spouse or recognised partner may also qualify.

This permits the inclusion of both the investor’s parents and the spouse’s or partner’s parents. The statutory wording refers to the direct ascendants of the spouses or partners.

For the parent of a spouse, the documentary chain may require:

1. The investor’s marriage certificate;
2. The spouse’s birth certificate;
3. The parent’s passport and civil-status documents.

The documents must clearly connect the parent to the spouse and the spouse to the principal investor.

Siblings, grandparents, cousins, adult married children and other extended relatives do not automatically fall within the Article 95 categories merely because they are financially dependent on the investor.

Is a Separate Investment Required for Each Family Member?

No separate qualifying investment is normally required for each eligible family member.

The family members’ applications are based on the principal investor’s qualifying investment and residence permit. A single qualifying investment may therefore support residence applications for a spouse or partner, eligible children and qualifying parents.

This does not mean that one residence card covers the entire family. Each person receives an individual permit and must satisfy the personal requirements applicable to that application.

The authorities may examine each family member independently for identity, public-order, security, insurance and documentary compliance.

Duration of Family Residence Permits

The residence permit granted to a family member generally expires at the same time as the principal investor’s permit.

If the principal Golden Visa is issued for five years, a family member applying at the same time may normally receive a permit linked to that five-year period. A family member who applies later may receive a card covering only the remaining validity period of the principal permit. Article 95 expressly provides that the family permit expires simultaneously with the sponsor’s permit.

For example, where the principal investor’s permit has three years remaining when a parent applies, the parent should not automatically expect a new independent five-year period.

At renewal, the family permit generally follows the legal status of the principal investor. The qualifying investment must remain in force, and the relevant family relationship must continue unless the family member has acquired an autonomous residence right.

Residence Rights in Greece

A valid family residence permit allows the holder to reside lawfully in Greece during its period of validity.

The family member may establish a home in Greece, enter into ordinary contracts and complete administrative procedures subject to the rules applicable to third-country nationals.

The permit does not require the family member to own the Golden Visa property. The property may be owned solely by the principal investor.

The family member’s right of residence remains linked to the principal investor and qualifying relationship unless an autonomous permit is obtained.

Schengen Travel Rights

A valid Greek residence permit generally allows its holder to travel to other Schengen countries for short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period, subject to the ordinary border, passport and entry conditions.

The family member must travel with:

• A valid passport;
• A valid Greek residence card;
• Supporting travel documents where required.

The Greek residence permit does not grant an unrestricted right to live, work or study long-term in France, Germany, Italy, Spain or another Member State.

A stay exceeding the Schengen short-stay limit or employment in another country requires compliance with the immigration law of that country.

Education Rights of Children and Other Family Members

Family-reunification residence permit holders have access to education under Article 89 of the Migration Code. The provision also recognises access to vocational guidance, initial training, continuing training and retraining.

Children may therefore attend educational institutions in Greece, subject to the admission and enrolment rules of the relevant institution.

Access may include:

• Public primary and secondary education;
• Private and international schools;
• Vocational education;
• Language courses;
• Universities and other higher-education institutions, subject to separate admission requirements.

The residence permit does not guarantee admission to a particular private school, university or academic program. Academic qualifications, language requirements, entrance examinations, tuition fees and institutional rules remain applicable.

Families planning to relocate should prepare school records, birth certificates, proof of address, health records and vaccination documentation in advance.

Can the Spouse Work in Greece?

A distinction must be made between the principal investor’s permit and the family member’s permit.

The Type B.5 investor residence permit itself does not grant the principal investor access to employment. Current official administrative guidance expressly states that investor residence permits do not establish a right of access to any form of employment.

Family members, however, receive family-reunification residence permits rather than Type B.5 investor permits. Article 89 generally grants family-reunification permit holders access to dependent employment, together with education and vocational training.

Accordingly, a spouse or another eligible family member may generally have access to salaried employment in Greece under the family-reunification framework.

Nevertheless, the precise permit annotation and proposed activity should be checked before work begins. Particular caution is required for:

• Self-employment;
• Independent professional services;
• Membership of regulated professions;
• Acting as a company director or manager;
• Activities requiring professional recognition or licensing;
• Public-sector positions reserved for Greek or EU citizens.

The statutory right expressly refers to dependent employment. It should not automatically be interpreted as permission for every form of independent commercial or professional activity.

Can Parents Work in Greece?

Parents admitted as family members also hold family-reunification residence permits.

Article 89 does not limit its dependent-employment provision exclusively to spouses or children. However, practical employment eligibility, social security registration, age, qualifications and the precise notation on the residence card should be checked before a parent begins work.

A parent who wishes to carry out self-employed or regulated activity should obtain a separate legal assessment.

Health Insurance and Access to Healthcare

Every family member must have health coverage appropriate for the residence permit application.

The current documentary rules require insurance coverage or qualifying insurance capacity for family-reunification permits and their renewal.

Holding a Golden Visa family permit does not by itself guarantee unlimited free access to every public healthcare service.

A family member may obtain access to Greek social insurance where the necessary legal conditions are met, for example through lawful employment and social security registration. Until such coverage is established, private health insurance may remain necessary.

The insurance policy should be reviewed to ensure that it covers the risks and benefits required for Greek residence permit purposes.

What Happens When a Child Turns 21?

The treatment of children reaching 21 is one of the most important features of the Greek Golden Visa family framework.

Article 95 provides that eligible children who reach the age of 21 may receive an autonomous residence permit for three years. The initial application requires the previous family-reunification residence permit.

Through the analogous application of Article 90(5), the autonomous three-year permit may be renewed for one further three-year period. After that period, it cannot continue indefinitely under the same child-based category. The holder must seek a change to another qualifying residence category under Article 12.

The potential timeline may therefore be summarised as follows:

• Before 21: linked family-reunification permit;
• At 21: autonomous three-year permit;
• First renewal: a further three years;
• After the second three-year period: change to another qualifying residence category is required.

The autonomous permit provides direct access to dependent employment and studies at any level of education.

Families should begin planning before the child reaches the relevant age. Possible future categories may include employment, studies, independent financial means or another status available under Greek law.

Does Marriage Affect an Adult Child’s Eligibility?

The express Article 95 family category covers unmarried children below 21.

A child who marries before reaching the age threshold may cease to satisfy the linked family-member definition. The effect should be assessed before the family-status change is registered or before renewal is filed.

A person who already holds an autonomous permit after reaching 21 may have a different legal position because that permit is no longer directly based on remaining an unmarried dependent child.

Autonomous Rights of a Spouse After Five Years

General family-reunification rules allow a spouse or civil partner, and an adult child in qualifying circumstances, to apply for an autonomous residence permit after five years of residence in Greece where no other independent residence permit has already been granted.

This autonomous permit is distinct from the child-specific Article 95 transition at age 21.

The residence history, continuity of lawful status, application timing and applicable documentary requirements should be reviewed individually.

An autonomous permit can protect the family member from complete dependence on the principal investor’s status, but it is not granted automatically.

Divorce or Dissolution of a Civil Partnership

Divorce does not always produce an immediate automatic independent right for the former spouse.

Under the general autonomous-residence provisions, an independent permit may be available where the marriage lasted at least three years before the divorce proceedings or consensual dissolution, including at least one year spent in Greece. A permit may also be available in particularly difficult circumstances, including domestic violence.

The former spouse may need to provide:

• The family-reunification residence permit;
• Final divorce judgment or notarial divorce document;
• Civil-partnership dissolution record;
• Proof of the duration of the marriage;
• Proof of residence in Greece;
• Evidence of domestic violence or particularly difficult circumstances where relied upon.

A divorce should be reported promptly. Continuing to renew a permit on the basis of a marriage that has legally ended may create serious immigration consequences.

The residence rights of minor children normally follow the parent who has lawful custody, subject to the applicable autonomous-residence rules.

Death of the Principal Investor

The death of the principal investor can affect all linked family permits.

Under the general autonomous-permit provisions, family members may qualify for independent residence where they had resided in Greece for at least one year before the sponsor’s death.

The family should also address the underlying investment.

Where the Golden Visa is based on property, the property may pass to heirs through succession. The inheritance, cadastral registration and continuing immigration eligibility must be reviewed together.

Residence status should not be assumed to continue automatically simply because the property remains within the family.

Can a Family Member Apply Later?

Family members do not necessarily have to apply at exactly the same time as the principal investor.

A spouse, child or parent may apply after the principal Golden Visa has been issued, provided that the family relationship and other eligibility conditions exist at the time of the later application.

The permit granted later will generally expire at the same time as the principal permit rather than creating a new five-year period.

The 2024 documentary decision provides that family members of holders or applicants in the B.5 investor category may enter Greece without first completing the ordinary prior approval procedure for family reunification. They must still comply with lawful entry and residence permit application requirements.

Marriage or Birth After the Golden Visa Is Issued

A family formed after the principal investment may also create new application possibilities.

Where the investor marries, enters into a recognised civil partnership or has a child after obtaining the Golden Visa, the new family relationship should be documented and reported.

The family member may then submit an individual application if the statutory definition is satisfied.

The application should include updated civil-status documents, and the authorities may investigate the authenticity of the new family relationship.

Documents Required for Family Applications

The exact file depends on the relationship, nationality and place where the civil-status event occurred.

A family application commonly requires:

• Valid passport;
• Proof of lawful entry or residence;
• Copy of the principal investor’s permit or application certificate;
• Health insurance;
• Recent photograph;
• Biometric data;
• Government fee and card-production fee where applicable;
• Recent family-status certificate;
• Marriage or civil-partnership certificate;
• Birth certificate;
• Custody judgment or parental consent where applicable;
• Documents proving the parent-child relationship for ascendants.

Foreign public documents generally need an Apostille or consular legalisation and an official Greek translation.

The current documentary framework requires evidence of family relationships and, for non-common children, an authenticated foreign document confirming the right of the child to reside in Greece.

The names, dates and places of birth must be consistent across passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates and application forms.

Renewal of Family Permits

Each family member must submit an individual renewal application.

The current documentary rules generally require:

• Existing residence permit;
• Valid passport;
• Confirmation that the family status has not changed;
• Insurance capacity or a valid insurance policy;
• Proof of relevant tax compliance;
• Applicable fee.

The principal investor must also continue to qualify for renewal.

Renewal may be refused where:

• The underlying investment has been sold or no longer qualifies;
• The principal permit is revoked;
• The family relationship has ended;
• False or fraudulent documents were used;
• The marriage or adoption was fictitious;
• Public-order or security grounds exist;
• Insurance or required documents are missing.

Family members who have already obtained autonomous residence rights may be assessed under the conditions of their independent permit rather than solely through the principal investor.

No Automatic Greek Tax Residence

Receiving a family Golden Visa does not automatically make the holder a Greek tax resident.

Tax residence is determined separately. An individual who is present in Greece for more than 183 days during a twelve-month period may generally be treated as a Greek tax resident from the first day of presence, subject to statutory exceptions. Personal and economic connections may also be relevant.

A spouse who relocates permanently, works in Greece or moves their centre of personal and economic life to Greece should obtain independent tax advice.

The immigration permit and tax position should not be treated as the same legal issue.

Does the Family Permit Lead to Greek Citizenship?

The family permit does not grant automatic Greek citizenship.

Naturalisation is governed by separate legislation and normally requires actual lawful residence, language knowledge, social and economic integration and satisfaction of the applicable citizenship conditions.

Holding a renewable residence card while spending little or no time in Greece should not be treated as a guaranteed citizenship route.

Actual residence histories may differ within the same family. One spouse may relocate to Greece while the principal investor continues to live abroad. Each future naturalisation application will be assessed individually.

Common Legal Risks in Family Applications

Incorrect Assumption About Eligible Relatives

Siblings, grandparents and adult married children are not automatically included in the statutory Golden Visa family definition.

Child Approaching 21

A delayed application may result in the child reaching the age threshold before the linked permit is completed.

Missing Custody Documentation

A birth certificate alone may be insufficient for a child from an earlier relationship.

Unrecognised Partnership

An informal cohabitation agreement may not qualify as a legally recognised civil partnership.

Inconsistent Civil-Status Documents

Different names, dates or transliterations may cause delays or requests for clarification.

Unreported Divorce or Death

A family permit should not continue to be renewed on a factual basis that no longer exists.

Assuming Unlimited EU Mobility

The Greek permit allows Schengen short-stay travel but not unrestricted residence or employment throughout the European Union.

Assuming Every Form of Work Is Permitted

Dependent employment, self-employment and regulated professional activity must be distinguished.

Failure to Plan for Adult Children

A child’s autonomous three-year permit is transitional and cannot be renewed indefinitely under the same category.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which family members can join a Greece Golden Visa investor?

The eligible categories generally include a spouse or recognised civil partner, unmarried children under 21, qualifying children of either spouse or partner under 21 and the direct ascendants of both spouses or partners.

Can both sets of parents apply?

Yes. The statutory definition includes the direct ascendants of the investor and the investor’s spouse or partner.

Is there an age limit for parents?

Article 95 does not state a specific minimum age for direct ascendants under this investor-family category.

Must parents be financially dependent on the investor?

Article 95 does not expressly impose a dependency requirement for the direct ascendants included in the special investor-family definition.

Can a 20-year-old child apply?

Yes, provided that the child is unmarried and the other statutory requirements are satisfied.

What happens when the child turns 21?

The child may apply for an autonomous three-year residence permit, which may be renewed once for a further three years. A different residence category is then required.

Can a married child be included?

The statutory family category covers unmarried children below 21. A married child will generally need a separate legal basis.

Can children from a previous marriage apply?

Yes, where they are unmarried, below 21 and lawful custody has been granted to the relevant parent. Additional custody or parental-consent documents may be required.

Does each family member need to buy property?

No. The family applications derive from the principal investor’s qualifying investment.

Does each family member receive a residence card?

Yes. Residence permits are individual.

Can the spouse work in Greece?

Family-reunification permit holders generally have statutory access to dependent employment. The specific role, card annotation and any professional licensing requirements should be checked before work begins.

Can the principal investor work?

The Type B.5 investor permit itself does not grant access to employment.

Can children attend school in Greece?

Yes. Family-reunification permit holders have access to education, subject to the enrolment requirements of the relevant school or institution.

Can family members travel in the Schengen Area?

They may generally travel for up to 90 days within any 180-day period using a valid passport and Greek residence permit.

Can family members live permanently in another EU country?

No. A Greek residence permit does not automatically create a long-term residence right in another EU Member State.

How long is the family permit valid?

It normally expires at the same time as the principal investor’s residence permit.

What happens after divorce?

The former spouse may qualify for an autonomous permit in specific circumstances, including the required duration of marriage or particularly difficult circumstances.

What happens if the investor dies?

Autonomous residence may be available in qualifying cases, but both the immigration status and the inheritance of the investment must be reviewed.

Conclusion

The rights of Greece Golden Visa family members make the Greek residence-by-investment program particularly valuable for multigenerational families.

A single qualifying investment may generally support residence permits for:

• The investor’s spouse or recognised civil partner;
• Unmarried common children under 21;
• Qualifying unmarried children of either spouse or partner under 21;
• Parents of the principal investor;
• Parents of the spouse or civil partner.

Family members receive individual residence permits linked to the principal investor. Their permits normally expire at the same time as the principal permit and can be renewed while the investment and family relationship continue to satisfy the legal requirements.

The permits provide lawful residence in Greece and Schengen short-stay mobility. Family-reunification permit holders also have statutory access to education, vocational training and dependent employment, although self-employment and regulated professional activities require separate examination.

Children reaching 21 benefit from a special transition to an autonomous three-year permit, potentially renewable for another three years. Families should plan early because this transitional status cannot continue indefinitely under the same legal category.

Divorce, death, custody changes, marriage of a child and disposal of the qualifying investment may materially affect residence rights. None of these events should be handled without reviewing both immigration law and the related family, succession or property-law consequences.

A legally secure family application requires:

• Accurate identification of every eligible relative;
• Properly legalised and translated civil-status documents;
• Valid custody and parental-consent evidence;
• Separate insurance and biometric compliance;
• Consistent passport and family records;
• Timely renewal and reporting of family changes.

Last updated: August 2026.

This article is prepared for general legal information and SEO publication purposes. It does not constitute individual immigration, family, tax, employment or investment advice. The rights of each family member must be reviewed according to their age, relationship, residence history, documentary position and the Greek legislation and administrative practice in force at the time of application.