For Turkish Buyers

Buying Property in Greece as a Turkish Citizen

Independent Greek legal counsel for Turkish buyers. We verify the property before any money leaves Turkey — title, planning, encumbrances and price — and set out the source-of-funds and Golden Visa requirements clearly, in English.

The market is full of agents who present themselves as Golden Visa specialists. Only an independent lawyer, acting for you and taking no commission on the sale, can confirm what you are actually buying.

Verify the property before the money leaves Turkey.

For Turkish buyers, two things matter most and both are legal, not commercial. First, the property: that the title is clean, the building is legal, and the seller can actually transfer what is offered. Second, the money: that the lawful source of funds transferred from Turkey is documented, and that the price is paid bank-to-bank, never in cash — because cash payment can invalidate a Golden Visa application.

Hellenic Law Firm acts for the buyer, never the seller, and takes no commission on the sale. We examine the property and the transaction before you are committed, and we report in writing, in English — verbal assurances carry no legal weight.

We advise on the Greek-side requirements only, and coordinate with your own adviser in Turkey on documentation. We do not give Turkish tax, banking or foreign-exchange advice.

What Turkish buyers should know first

A few points come up in almost every Turkish file we review. Knowing them before you commit prevents most of the difficulties.

Source of funds from Turkey

The lawful origin of the money should be documented — tax declarations, salary, rental income or similar. The price must be transferred bank-to-bank (EFT/SWIFT); cash payment can invalidate a Golden Visa application, and the transfer records form part of the file.

The €250,000 route is over-marketed

Many listings are advertised as "250K Golden Visa eligible." In law the €250,000 threshold applies only to specific change-of-use conversions and listed-building restorations, under strict statutory conditions — and it can be used only once per property. Marketing is not a legal opinion; eligibility must be verified.

The thresholds, precisely

€800,000 for Attica, the Regional Unit of Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and islands with a population of more than 3,100 residents; €400,000 for other regions; €250,000 only in the qualifying cases above. The applicable threshold must be confirmed for the specific property.

Residence is not citizenship

A residence permit does not, by itself, grant Greek or EU citizenship. Greek citizenship is a separate legal process requiring, among other conditions, actual residence over a number of years. Greece does not offer citizenship by investment.

What we examine before you commit

A focused pre-purchase legal review of the specific property, drawn from the checklist we apply to every Turkish file. The output is a written legal note in English. The fee is fixed and quoted upfront.

Title & ownership

Clean, transferable title; the ownership chain; co-ownership shares; inheritance, liquidation or expropriation risk; cadastral (ΚΑΕΚ) registration.

Building & zoning

Building permit (oikodomi adeia), whether the structure matches what was authorised, any unlegalised construction (αυθαίρετο), and zoning-change risk.

Encumbrances

Mortgages, liens, seizures or third-party claims registered against the property that would pass to or obstruct a buyer.

Threshold category

Which Golden Visa threshold genuinely applies to this property — including independent verification of any claimed €250,000 conversion eligibility.

Payment & source of funds

Bank-to-bank transfer route confirmed, transfer records prepared for the file, and Greek-side source-of-funds requirements addressed. No Turkish tax or FX advice.

Use restrictions

Short-term-rental (Airbnb) limits on Golden Visa properties, long-term rental structuring, and the sequencing rules if you later change properties.

The process, step by step

Many steps may be managed through a notarised Power of Attorney, subject to acceptance by the competent notary, authority, bank or registry. The biometric appointment for the residence permit, where a Golden Visa is sought, requires physical presence in Greece.

01

Power of Attorney

Signed before a Greek consulate in Turkey or a Turkish notary with Apostille, authorising the firm to act on defined matters.

02

AFM & bank account

Greek tax number obtained and a Greek bank account opened, so the price can be transferred bank-to-bank with documented source of funds.

03

Due diligence

Title, building, cadastre, encumbrance and threshold-category checks completed and reported in writing — before any funds move.

04

Deed & application

Notarial deed signed and the acquisition registered. Where residency is sought, the Golden Visa application follows, with one visit for biometrics.

Send a property for legal review

Tell us about the property you are considering in Greece. A supervising partner will review the details and respond personally, usually within one business day, to confirm scope and the fixed fee for a written pre-purchase legal note.

There is no obligation, and nothing here creates a lawyer–client relationship until terms are agreed in writing. Legal services are provided in English; initial enquiries may be sent in any language.

Sensitive documents: please do not send identity documents or contracts through this form. After initial contact, we provide access to the Secure Client Portal for confidential document exchange. Documents are not exchanged by WhatsApp.

Or contact us directly

Phone: +30 210 363 6035

WhatsApp: +30 697 827 6455 (first contact and scheduling only)

Email: [email protected]

By submitting this form you agree that Hellenic Law Firm may contact you regarding your enquiry. Submissions are reviewed under Athens Bar Association confidentiality. We do not share your details with third parties.

Common questions from Turkish buyers

Can Turkish citizens buy property in Greece?

Yes. Turkish nationals may buy and own property in Greece. The purchase process — due diligence, notarial deed and registration — is the same that applies to other non-EU buyers. The key practical points concern documenting the lawful source of funds transferred from Turkey and ensuring the price is paid by bank transfer, not cash.

What is the Golden Visa investment threshold?

€800,000 for Attica, the Regional Unit of Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and islands with a population of more than 3,100 residents; €400,000 for other regions; and €250,000 only in specific qualifying cases such as change-of-use conversions and listed-building restorations, subject to statutory conditions. The €250,000 route is frequently over-marketed; eligibility must be verified for each specific property by an independent lawyer.

How must the purchase price be paid?

By bank-to-bank transfer. Cash payment can invalidate a Golden Visa application. The lawful source of the funds transferred from Turkey should be documented — for example through tax declarations, salary or rental income records. We advise on the Greek-side requirements only and coordinate with your own adviser in Turkey on documentation.

Does buying property lead to Greek or EU citizenship?

No. A residence permit, including one obtained through property investment, does not by itself grant citizenship. Greek citizenship is a separate legal process; naturalisation requires separate statutory conditions, including actual residence over a number of years. Greece does not offer citizenship by investment.

Can a Turkish buyer complete the purchase without staying in Greece?

Many steps may be managed through a notarised Power of Attorney, subject to acceptance by the competent notary, authority, bank or registry. A Power of Attorney can be signed before a Greek consulate in Turkey or before a Turkish notary with an Apostille. The biometric appointment for the residence permit requires physical presence in Greece.