Golden Visa turns 10 – and what a decade it’s been

It was a networking lunch at a modern taverna in the downtown Athens district of Kolonos, bringing together a building contractor, two buyers, an architect, a journalist and an intermediary, from Lebanon, Syria and Sweden, while also including two Greeks. "Forget Kolonaki," one of the Greeks resonded to a comment by one of his fellow diners, a Syrian looking to buy a property that would secure him a Golden Visa, referring to the upscale Athenian neighborhood. "Kolonos is on the rise and you can find all sorts of good opportunities here." "It's 500,000 euros for the city center, but €250,000 for Piraeus or the Riviera," added the Lebanese realtor, referring to the market name for Athens' southern coast.

T., the Syrian - who watched his business turn to rubble in August 2020 - represents a new wave of Golden Visa clients. These are individuals from places such as Syria,...