Greece is preparing major reforms to its Golden Visa program, planned for January 2026. The changes aim to fix issues with backdated residence permits, streamline renewal and family reunification procedures, and reduce a large backlog of pending applications, while keeping pathways to permanent residency and citizenship unchanged.

Legislative Reform Announcement

Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris announced that Greece will propose new legislation in January 2026 to overhaul the Golden Visa program. The initiative is part of a broader immigration reform that began earlier this year with stricter laws against illegal entry.

Backdated Residence Permit Issue

A key focus of the bill is changing how residence card validity is calculated. Instead of being backdated to the application filing date, cards will now be valid from the date of issuance, addressing long-standing delays for applicants living in Greece.

Impact of Current System

Currently, lengthy processing times — sometimes over a year — can result in residence cards with less than the intended five years of validity. Thousands of applicants were affected, with a backlog exceeding 49,000 pending applications as of July 2025.

No Effect on Citizenship Timeline

The reform does not change the calculation of time toward permanent residency or citizenship. Legal residency, which counts toward the five-year permanent residency or seven-year naturalization requirements, continues to be calculated from the date of Golden Visa application approval.

Streamlined Processes and Expected Approval

The bill also seeks to simplify renewal and family reunification procedures by reducing administrative steps. With the ruling New Democracy party holding a parliamentary majority, the legislation is expected to pass, improving efficiency and clarity for investors.

Summary

The proposed legislation will ensure that Golden Visa residence cards are valid for the full five years from the date of issuance, resolving problems caused by backdated permits. Legal residency calculations for permanent residency and citizenship remain unaffected, starting from the date of application approval. The reforms also aim to simplify renewals and family reunification, reduce administrative delays, and improve efficiency for applicants. Given the parliamentary majority of the ruling party, the bill is expected to pass.