US Interest In Greece’s Golden Visa Is On The Up

As politics in the US continue to heat up, it looks like Americans have their eyes set on this side of the Atlantic, but closer to the Med.

In fact, new research from Enness Global reveals a sharp increase in American applications for Greek golden visas, with a new policy on the horizon that can help drive even more demand over the coming year.

According to the research, by December 2025, a total of 578 golden Greek golden visas had been issued to American nationals, up from 388 a year earlier. That’s a 49% increase in 12 months.

But this increase isn’t just unique to the US. Across the board, demand for Greek residency was on the up. In fact, the total number of golden visas approved was up by 60% across all nationalities, showing that Greek residency is still very much in demand.

US Interest Has Been Building For Some Time

If you take a closer look at the stats, you can see that American interest in Greek residency has been building slowly, rather than just peaking over night.

Enness Global’s research shows that it wasn’t just one month that saw this increase, but a cumulative growth in the number of applicants which rose month-by-month in 2025, increasing from 369 in October 2024 to 578 by the end of the year.

On average, this increase was around 3.4% every month, showing that it wasn’t just one political or economic decision that enticed people over, but a slow increase in appeal.

Not Just Property Investment Driving Interest

Until now, one of the big appeals of Greece’s golden visa programme is that it allowed international investors to qualify by buying real estate for a minimum of €250,000 (one of the lowest in the EU).

But in 2026, a new route is looking to launch. According to Enness, investors will be able to get residency in exchange for investing a minimum of €250,000 into startups listed on the Elevate Greece registry. These startups are from a number of sectors, including real estate, finance and defence.

This move, which pulls the golden visa route away from real estate and into business investment, is a huge pull for investors that are looking to grow businesses abroad. Through this route, they are able to diversify their portfolios by backing companies in Greece whilst gaining residency at the same time. Win-win.

Greece’s Rebound

If you would have asked any investor just 10 years ago whether they wanted to invest in (or live in) Greece, they probably would have laughed you off.

The country had been suffering from a financial crisis since 2009, and the government was in a lot of debt. This caused a sovereign debt crisis that forced the country to reassess the country’s fiscal policies as a way of drawing in new investors.

Now, just 15 years later, their golden visa is one of the most popular in Europe, and both property and startups are drawing in vast amounts of money from abroad.

In fact, Greece is estimated to have attracted around 1,200 new millionaires in 2024 alone – showing just how successful its financial policies were at drawing in investment.

A combination of its low barrier to entry, access to the Schengen Zone and easy visa process helped the company move from a post-crisis economy and into a real hotspot for wealth.

What This Means For US Investors

Islay Robinson, CEO of Enness Global, commented on the findings

“US demand for Greece’s Golden Visa has grown steadily over the past year, and the consistency of applications suggests this isn’t a passing trend.

“What makes Greece stand out is the combination of accessible entry thresholds, improving economic conditions, and lifestyle appeal. The introduction of a startup investment route strengthens the programme further, particularly for business-led investors who want residency tied to economic participation rather than just property ownership.”

The Rise Of Golden Visas

As residency-by-investment programmes across Europe continue to draw in international investors, Greece’s decision to include investments in its golden visa offering could spur many other countries to do the same.

For US investors that want a mix of EU residency and investment diversification, the Greek golden visa could just be the new ‘golden ticket’.