Turkey citizenship vs Greece Golden Visa
A recoverable real-estate residency in the EU versus direct Turkish citizenship.
Greece’s Golden Visa is an EU residency permit from a real-estate purchase (tiered, roughly €250,000–€800,000 depending on the area), with citizenship possible only after about seven years of residency. Turkey grants citizenship and a passport directly from a US$400,000 property, with no residency requirement.
Residency or citizenship?
Greece offers EU residency through real estate — attractive for Schengen access and a European base — but it is not citizenship. Greek citizenship requires roughly seven years of residency plus integration criteria. Turkey delivers a passport directly, in months, without living there.
Greece’s thresholds are now tiered by location, with higher minimums in prime areas such as Athens, and lower minimums elsewhere. Turkey’s threshold is a single US$400,000 valuation.
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Turkey vs Greece at a glance
| Feature | Turkey | Greece Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Outcome | Citizenship + passport | EU residency |
| Minimum investment | from US$400,000 | from ~€250,000–€800,000 (tiered) |
| Schengen access | Visa-free/▾ varies (verify) | Residency = Schengen travel |
| Timeline to passport | ~Months | ~7+ years residency |
| Residency requirement | None | Required for citizenship |
Programme rules for every country change frequently; figures here are indicative for 2026 and must be verified against official sources at the time you apply.
Which suits you?
Choose Greece if a European residence base and eventual EU citizenship justify a long timeline. Choose Turkey if you want a passport quickly, a recoverable asset, the E-2 pathway, and no relocation. Some families hold Turkey now and pursue an EU residency later.
Common questions
Not directly. The Golden Visa is EU residency; Greek citizenship requires roughly seven years of residency and integration criteria. Turkey grants citizenship directly.
It is tiered by area — roughly €250,000 to €800,000 in real estate as of 2026. Verify the current bands for your target location before committing.
Last reviewed: May 2026
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