Short answer:
Chinese investors are one of the dominant groups in Greece’s Golden Visa program, driven by their desire to gain access to Europe, diversify their investments, and own property in a relatively stable country. This demand is having a particularly significant impact on urban investment areas.
When examining the breakdown of Golden Visa investors, we find a wide range of buyers from around the world, but one group stands out above the rest—the Chinese. According to data from the Greek Ministry of Migration, from 2014 to 2022, the highest number of Golden Visa applications came from Chinese nationals, totaling 6,159 approved applications. In percentage terms, Chinese nationals accounted for 62.8% of all approved Golden Visa applications, with Turks (6.4%), Lebanese (4.5%), Egyptians (2.9%), and British nationals (2%) following far behind.
In 2023, a record number of applications was recorded: by the end of November, 7,752 applications for a Golden Visa in Greece had already been submitted, a 78% increase compared to 2022, with the largest absolute increase coming from Chinese investors (+2,001).
Even in 2025, Chinese nationals remained the dominant group in the Golden Visa program, both in terms of the number of valid visas and new applications. Approximately 56% of all valid visas were held by Chinese investors.
One of the reasons for the “Chinese rush” was Greece’s relatively effective handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which made real estate investments in Greece particularly attractive, especially for the Chinese, who were among the first to endure lockdowns and travel restrictions. The study also notes that Greece ranks 12th in terms of priority for real estate investment by Chinese companies.
What attracts Chinese buyers to purchase real estate in Greece?
Aside from attractive housing prices, there is a much more fundamental reason why Chinese citizens are flocking to the Golden Visa program: the restrictions on money and capital imposed by the Chinese government. This reality raises the question of whether it is worthwhile for Chinese investors to buy an apartment in Greece. “The policies implemented by Chinese President Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012 have focused on fighting corruption and tightening restrictions on taking money out of the country, which has led people to seek ways to alleviate their predicament,” explained Dr. Uri Sela, head of the Department of East Asian Studies at Tel Aviv University, in an interview with Globes. “Daily life for China’s affluent class was good, but in recent years some of them feel that the money they have accumulated is at risk,” he added. European residency, not to mention a future European passport, is therefore highly appealing to the Chinese because of the option to move their money out of China, which is under a dictatorial regime. Other reasons driving Chinese investors to the Golden Visa program include the freedom of movement within Europe and concerns about air pollution in their home country.
