Greece Unveils New 250000 Euro Startup Golden Visa for Investors
Greece Unveils New 250000 Euro Startup Golden Visa for Investors - Decoding the New €250,000 Investment Threshold: What Qualifies as a Startup?
So, you're looking at this new Greek Golden Visa, right? The headline number is that €250,000 investment, and honestly, that's a big chunk of change, so we really need to nail down what kind of company actually counts as a "startup" here. Think about it this way: they aren't just looking for any small business you registered last Tuesday; this is specifically aimed at attracting non-EU citizens who want residency by backing something genuinely new. We’re talking about putting that money into an actual Greek startup, which implies some level of innovation or growth potential, not just buying into an established local bakery, you know? I’m trying to pin down the specific legal definitions they’re using, because if it's too broad, we'll see people trying to shoehorn regular small business investments into this slot, which defeats the purpose. This whole structure is designed to trade that quarter-million-euro seed money for five years of residency, so the government needs some confidence that the funds are going toward something that might actually scale or bring in new tech or jobs. We gotta figure out if they mean pre-revenue tech firms or if they'll accept a slightly more mature, but still high-growth, operation—that distinction matters a ton for anyone planning their capital deployment.
Greece Unveils New 250000 Euro Startup Golden Visa for Investors - Navigating the Strict Ownership and Job Creation Requirements of the Startup Visa
Look, getting that €250,000 Startup Golden Visa isn't just about wiring the money and waiting for the passport stamps; the follow-up requirements are where things get sticky, honestly. We're talking about ownership here: you and the Greek founders have to collectively hold onto at least 75% of the equity, which tells me they want to see real skin in the game, not just some shell holding company controlling things from afar. And then there’s the job creation mandate, which isn't just a nice suggestion—it’s a hard line demanding a minimum of ten full-time equivalent positions within the first two years after you get the green light. You have to prove where that cash is actually going, too; auditors are apparently zeroing in on immediate transfers to personal offshore accounts, so that money needs to hit R&D or scaling operations, period. Maybe it's just me, but that detail about only counting jobs filled by people with Greek or EU social security numbers feels like a genuine hurdle for companies that might rely on international remote talent initially. Plus, if you try to shuffle the deck and drop below a 51% ownership stake within the first three years, expect an automatic review of your whole status—they’re definitely watching that equity structure closely. This isn't like other investment visas where debt instruments count; this has to be direct equity, meaning the commitment is far less liquid and far more deeply tied to the startup's actual daily grind.