Greece’s Golden Visa programme has seen a bigger increase in applications from US citizens than from any other Western nation in the past 12 months, research from Astons has found.
US applications for Greek Golden Visas have increased by 52.6% in the past 12 months, and 13.3% since the start of 2025.
Denis Kravchenko, business development director at Astons, said: “Among the European countries that continue to offer Golden Visa programmes, we are seeing Greece be the prime choice for US residents who want to gain residency outside of North America and, perhaps more specifically, within the European Union.
“The motivations for doing so are wide and varied. For many, the impulse is personal – they see the opportunities that Greece and Europe offer to them and their families, from a quality education system through to a liberal society and freedom of movement within the Schengen area.
“For others, the motivation is economic. Greece provides great opportunities for financial investment, whether that’s the high-performing real estate market, attractive tax regime, or the great support given to businesses both small and large.”
The only countries from which applications have seen a greater increase than the US are Turkey and Israel.
Turkish applications for Greek Golden Visas increased by 99.1% annually and 31.8% since the start of 2025, while Israeli applications have increased by 91.5% and 19.5% respectively.
Kravchenko added: “After a prolonged period of economic difficulty, Greece has emerged as a land of genuine promise.
“The government is actively investing in widespread modernisation and urban development that gives an enthusiastic welcome to foreign and expat investors.
“When you look around the world, there aren’t too many nations that you can say this about, and all indicators show that Greece is benefitting greatly from this open and progressive way of thinking.”