Yes. The Greece Golden Visa is built for families. A single qualifying investment covers you, your spouse, your children, and the parents of both you and your spouse, and adding them does not raise the minimum amount you have to invest. That last part is what makes the program stand out. Whether you apply alone or bring three generations, the investment threshold stays the same.
Below is exactly who qualifies, the conditions attached to each person, what it costs to add them, and the rights they get once approved.
Who counts as family under the Greece Golden Visa?
The program follows what many call a three-generation rule. In one application you can include your spouse or registered partner, your unmarried children, and the parents of both spouses. Siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, and in-laws are not covered.
Here is the full list at a glance.
| Family member | Can they be included? | Key condition |
| Spouse | Yes | Legally married, including same-sex spouses |
| Registered partner | Yes | Partnership must be registered in Greece |
| Children under 21 | Yes | Must be unmarried and dependent |
| Children 21 to 24 | Yes, by renewal | Unmarried and enrolled as a student |
| Parents of the investor | Yes | No proof of financial dependence needed |
| Parents of the spouse | Yes | No proof of financial dependence needed |
| Siblings, cousins, in-laws | No | Not covered by the program |
The single most useful thing to know: the investment amount is the same whether you apply solo or add your entire eligible family. More people does not mean more money invested.
Your spouse or registered partner
Your legally married spouse can be included, full stop. Since Greece passed marriage equality in February 2024, this includes same-sex spouses on equal terms.
If you are not married but in a partnership, you can still qualify, but the partnership has to be legally registered, either in Greece or before a Greek consular authority. An informal or unregistered relationship does not count. A partner you simply live with, without that registration, cannot be added.
A spouse’s residency is tied to the marriage. If the marriage ends, that status can be lost, so this matters if circumstances change during the five-year permit.
Your children, and the question of turning 21
Unmarried children under 21 can be included in the main application with no extra conditions. They get the same five-year residence permit as you, the right to live in Greece, and access to public schools and universities. The one hard rule is age: a child must be under 21 when you apply, and they must be unmarried. If a child marries, they stop being a dependent and drop off the permit.
The common worry is what happens when a child grows up. Here is how it works.
- Under 21: included automatically in the family application, no strings attached.
- Age 21 to 24: the child moves to their own residence permit, separate from the investment. They can keep renewing it up to age 24, as long as they stay unmarried and are enrolled as a student.
- After 24: the investment-linked route ends. Any further stay follows ordinary immigration rules, not the Golden Visa.
So a 19-year-old you add today is covered through university, up to 24, provided they keep studying. This transition sits in Greek immigration law (Law 4251/2014 and its later amendments), which is why the 21 and 24 markers show up so consistently.
Planning tip for parents of teenagers: many families gift the qualifying property to the child once they come of age. The adult child then becomes the main applicant, and the parents can be added back as dependents. It keeps everyone covered for the long run under one investment.
Parents of both spouses, with no dependency test
This is where Greece is more generous than most European programs. You can include your own parents and your spouse’s parents in the same application. All four grandparents, if they are living, can be covered by your one investment.
There is no requirement to prove that your parents depend on you financially, and there is no minimum age for them. A retired parent living comfortably on their own can be included on the same footing as one who relies on you. Many competing programs either exclude parents or demand proof of financial dependence, so this is a real point of difference. You can confirm the family scope and the current investment routes on Henley & Partners’ Greece program page.
Each parent receives their own five-year residence permit. They are not required to live in Greece to keep it. Many families use the permit purely for visa-free visits and the option of a European base, rather than a full move.
What documents prove the family relationship?
Every family member you add has to prove how they are related to you, and the paperwork is where most applications slow down. The relationship documents are the ones that trip people up, so it is worth getting them right early.
- Spouse: a marriage certificate. For a registered partner, the partnership or cohabitation agreement.
- Children: a birth certificate for each child, showing the link to you.
- Parents: birth or marriage records that establish the parent-child relationship. No proof of financial dependence is needed.
Some countries issue a single certificate of family status that lists everyone at once, and Greek authorities accept that in place of separate certificates. Every document issued outside Greece must be apostilled under the Hague Convention, then translated into Greek by an accredited translator. Translations from online services or unaccredited translators are rejected, so this is not a corner to cut.
Alongside the relationship papers, each family member needs their own valid passport, passport photos, a clean criminal record certificate from their home country, and private health insurance valid in Greece. A small mismatch, like a name spelled differently across two documents, can cause a delay, so consistency across the whole file matters.
Does adding family cost more?
The investment stays the same, but each person carries small government and admin fees. These are minor next to the investment itself, and they are what separates “the same investment” from “completely free.”
- Main investor: a government application fee of €2,000 for the five-year permit.
- Each adult dependent: a processing fee in the region of €150 per person. Children under 18 are generally exempt from this fee.
- Residence card issuance: a small per-card charge on top, paid for each family member.
- Health insurance: private cover is required for each person, priced per head, until they register with the public system.
On top of these, expect the usual paperwork costs: certified translations into Greek, and apostille certification for documents issued abroad, charged per document. None of it changes the core point. The capital you invest does not go up because your family is larger.
What rights do family members actually get?
Approved family members receive the same core rights as the main applicant. Their permit runs for five years and renews alongside yours, as long as you keep the qualifying investment.
- Live in Greece for as long as the permit is valid, with no minimum stay required to keep it.
- Travel visa-free across the Schengen Area, up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
- Enroll children in Greek public schools and universities, or choose international schools.
- Register with the public health system, and use private healthcare too.
- Become eligible to apply for Greek citizenship after seven years of residence, though that route requires real physical presence in the country.
There is one clear limit. The Golden Visa does not grant the right to take a standard salaried job in Greece. Family members can study and live freely, and they can own and run a business, but paid employment in the local labor market needs a separate work permit.
How the family application works, step by step
Applying as a family is one file, not several. Everyone’s documents go in together, which keeps the process simple and means the permits are issued as a set. Here is the shape of it.
- Prepare documents. Gather passports, relationship certificates, criminal record checks, and health insurance for every member, all apostilled and translated.
- Make the investment. Complete the qualifying purchase or investment, which can be handled remotely by a lawyer holding power of attorney.
- Submit the application. File for the whole family at once, usually through your legal representative.
- Give biometrics in Greece. Every applicant has to appear in person to provide fingerprints and a photo. This is the one step nobody can skip or delegate.
- Collect the permits. Once approved, the five-year residence cards are issued for each family member and can be couriered abroad by your lawyer.
Biometrics are the catch worth planning around. Appointment slots in busy areas like Athens can be limited, and you may need to travel on short notice when one opens up. Processing itself commonly runs a few months for a clean file, though complex cases can take longer. While you wait, family members receive a certificate that lets them stay in Greece.
Can you add family members later?
Yes. You do not have to include everyone at the start. The cleanest approach is to apply as a family from day one, so all documents are filed together and everyone gives biometrics in one trip. But life moves on, and the program allows for that.
If you marry after getting your permit, or have a new baby, you can add them through a family reunification process. The same applies to a parent you were not ready to include at first. Their permit is then linked to your existing residency and investment. For the current legal detail and forms, the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum is the governing authority.
Conclusion
Yes, the Greece Golden Visa allows family members, and it does so broadly. One qualifying investment covers your spouse or registered partner, your unmarried children under 21, and the parents of both spouses, with no dependency test for parents and no rise in the minimum amount. Children can hold status up to 24 while studying. Aim to file as a family from the start, keep the investment in place, and every permit renews together on the same five-year clock.
Frequently asked questions
Can I include my parents in the Greece Golden Visa?
Yes. You can include your own parents and your spouse’s parents in the same application. There is no minimum age and no need to prove they depend on you financially. Each parent receives their own five-year renewable permit.
What happens to my child’s residency when they turn 21?
At 21 they move to their own residence permit, separate from the investment. They can renew it up to age 24 if they stay unmarried and are studying. After 24, any further stay follows ordinary immigration rules.
Does adding family members increase the investment amount?
No. The minimum investment is the same whether you apply alone or with your whole eligible family. The only extra costs are small government fees per person, health insurance, and document translation and certification.
Can my same-sex spouse be included?
Yes. Since Greece introduced marriage equality in February 2024, same-sex spouses are included on the same terms as any other spouse. A registered partner also qualifies if the partnership is legally registered in Greece.
Do family members have to live in Greece to keep the permit?
No. There is no minimum stay requirement to hold or renew the residence permit. Physical presence only becomes necessary if a family member later wants to apply for Greek citizenship, which needs seven years of real residence.
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