1. What Law 5275/2026 Is

Law 5275/2026 entered into force on 6 February 2026 and consolidates and amends the Greek Immigration Code. Alongside updating Golden Visa provisions, it transposes EU rules on a single application procedure for combined residence and work permits. In short, it is a modernisation of how residence applications are processed, rather than a change to the headline investment amounts.

For applicants the message is reassuring: the routes and thresholds that make Greece attractive remain in place, while the administrative experience around them is being improved.

2. Faster, Auto-Allocated Processing

The most tangible change is automatic allocation. Applications are no longer tied to the applicant location or a single office; the system assigns each case to the migration office with the smallest pending backlog. This applies to both first applications and renewals, and is designed to cut waiting times that had built up under heavy demand.

For investors planning around school years, tax residency, or family timelines, more predictable processing is a meaningful improvement. Document completeness remains the biggest variable within your control, which is where a local team adds the most value.

3. Permit Validity and Renewals Made Clearer

The law confirms that the five-year validity of the permit runs from the date the residence card is issued, removing earlier ambiguity about start dates. Renewal conditions are also eased and benefit from the same auto-allocation speed-up.

The core renewal principle is unchanged: you must continue to hold the qualifying investment. A Golden Visa property cannot be sold while retaining the residency it supports. Existing permit holders should prepare renewal documents early and track timing with a local team.

4. Family Scope and Documentation

The Golden Visa continues to cover three generations: the main applicant, spouse, the parents of both spouses, and children under 21, with no age limit on parents and no need to prove financial dependency. Law 5275/2026 emphasises that family documentation should be complete at the point of submission, which makes early, organised preparation more important than before.

5. The EUR 250,000 Startup Route (Law 5162/2024)

Separately from Law 5275/2026, a EUR 250,000 startup and strategic-investment option was introduced earlier by Law 5162/2024. It requires a viable business plan, evidence of job creation, and approval by the competent investment-screening authority. The policy intent is to channel some investor capital into the real economy and innovation rather than only into real estate.

This route suits investors who want operating-business exposure in Greece. Implementing ministerial decisions define the detail, so applicants should confirm current requirements before committing.

6. What It Means for International Applicants

For new applicants, 2026 is a favourable moment: stable thresholds, faster processing, and a clearer permit timeline. For existing holders, the renewal path is smoother but still depends on maintaining the qualifying investment. In every case the practical risk sits in execution — title due diligence, fund flow, document completeness, and timing.

OULANG INTERNATIONAL operates directly in Athens with in-house teams and independent lawyers, managing the process end to end from property selection and due diligence to application and renewal. The aim is local execution you can verify, not remote subcontracting.