Helen Loverdou

Thinking out of the box for your best representation

Welcome to our law firm.

 

Helen Loverdou, attorney at law for over a decade in Athens, Greece, provides a full range of legal services to businesses & individuals. She is also a respected Lawyer for Residence Permit in Greece & Golden Visa.

Our office is specialised in Civil Law and has accumulated a strong knowledge in the field of Property Law.

With the assistance of our associates, each expert in their domain, we are able to offer our clients the best representation possible, even in the most complex cases. 

 

Our aim is to provide the most efficient legal counsel, always thinking out of the box. 

 

 

News & Publications

Golden Visa Program in broadened 

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According to the Greek Legislation, applicable in June 2019, the criteria of the ”Golden Visa” program are broadened.

The Greek State will be able to grant a five-year residency permit to non-EU nationals, provided that they deposit at least €400.000 into Greek Banks or invest at least €400,000 into Greek companies.

The non-European citizens will have to deposit their capital in a Greek Bank for at least twelve months with a fixed order for renewal, before being able to get the residency permit. The residency permit will also be given to a non-EU citizen when he or she buys Greek bonds of a minimum value of €400,000 through a Greek bank. The bonds’ duration will have to be at least three years.

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Residence permit to business men/ company owners

 

Do you own a company abroad? Are you a business man?

Our Firm is proud to present a new program concerning Residential Permit in Greece, for you and your family, easy, fast and at low cost!

 

Residence permit to financially independent persons

 

A 2 year residence permit is granted to a third-country national who in possession of sufficient resources corresponding to a stable annual income to cover the living expenses.

The sufficient resources must be equal to the minimum amount of 2.000 euros per month (24.000,00 euros per year). The applicant may be accompanied by family members.

 

​Civil Partnership & Resident Permit

 

Residence permit is issued to 3rd country nationals who are partners of EU citizens in Greece provided that there is evidence & documents that prove their relationship. Civil partnerships, first legislated in 2008, is  extended to same- sex couples.

According to the Greek Law 4387/2016, persons entering into a civil union, regardless of their gender, enjoy the same rights with married couples, concerning social insurance and benefits of the social security system and welfare legislation

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5 Year Residence Permit in Greece for Investors with deposit at 400.000 euros

Imminent New Golden Visa Program in Greece beyond the property sector, for investors with deposits of at least 400,000 euros in a time deposit at a Greek bank.

The Golden Visa entails a five-year residence permit that allows holders and their families to stay anywhere in the European Union.

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​5 Year Residence Permit in Greece 

Buying Immovable Property Valued at €250.000

 

Introduction

 

According to the Greek Law 3386/2005 & 4251/ 2014 for the “Codification of Legislation on the Entry, Residence and Social Integration of Third-Country Nationals on the Greek Territory”, the Greek government gives the option to third-country nationals and their family members to issue a five-year residence permit in Greece on the basis that they own immovable property in Greece.

 

Once the non-EU citizen is granted a residence permit in Greece, then, he is allowed to live in Greece, exit and re-enter Greece without a visa and travel to all Schengen countries without further documentation other than his passport and his Greek residence permit.

The legal provisions:

 

     “1. By virtue of a decision of the General Secretariat of the Prefecture, a residence permit shall be issued for five years to third-country national who has obtained a special visa, when required, and has the full ownership, use and possession of immovable property in Greece……. The above residence permit shall be renewed for the same duration, provided that the immovable property remains as above to the applicant’s ownership, use and possession …and that the other requirements of the law are being met. The minimum value of the immovable property,..…. is determined at €250,000.00. By virtue of a joint decision of the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Minister of Finance the above value of the immovable property can be adjusted, and will be evident by the value of the property stated in the purchase contract.

 

      2. The above third country national may be accompanied by his family members, to whom an individual residence permit shall be issued, which shall expire together with the resident permit of the person supporting them.”

 

On the basis of the above, the special requirements of the Law, for issuance of a residence permit on the grounds that someone owns immovable property in Greece, are the following:

 

     1. A special visa from the Greek consulate/embassy in the country of origin.

 

     2. Ownership of immovable property in Greece of a minimum value of €250.000,00.

 

Proceedings and documentation in the country of origin

Applying for a special visa

 

Before any proceedings in the Greek territory, it is necessary to obtain a special visa from the Greek embassy/consulate in the country of origin. The applicant should appear in person before the embassy/consulate officials and be interviewed briefly by the staff in relation to the purpose of his/her application.  Moreover, the following documents should be submitted:

 

          a. Passport which will be valid for at least three months after the expiration of the visa, with at least two blank pages, issued within the last decade.

 

          b. Certificate of the criminal record of the applicant by the competent authorities of the country of origin.

 

          c. Medical certificate by a recognized public or private institution, proving that the applicant does not suffer from a disease capable of being dangerous to the public health according to the international standards of the World Health Organization.

 

          d. Travel insurance, valid for at least as much as the validity duration of the issued Visa.

 

          e. Evidence of the purchase of the immovable property, such as copy of the contract of purchase of the property or properties of minimum value of 250.000,00, certificate issued by the Notary Public that the contract fulfils the requirements of art. 36A of law 3386/2005, certificate of registration issued by the competent Land Registry.

 

If the procedure of purchasing the property has not started or has not been completed yet, the following documents, evidence of the intention or buy property, shall be provided:

 

     1. Certificate issued by recognized A Class bank or official financial institution which will certify that the third national has bank accounts or other securities (especially bonds or shares), for the financial cover of the investment, which amounts to a minimum of €250.000,00.

 

     2. Copy of agency agreement with law or real estate agency office.

Moreover, the applicant should not be listed as a persona non-grata and there should be no reason to be considered a threat to public health, public order, national security and international relations.

Proceedings and documentation in the Greek territory

 

 

Applying for the permit:

 

Although the third-country nationals may apply for a residence permit until the expiration of their special visa, it is recommended that they apply as soon as possible after their arrival in Greece. Furthermore, the following documents should be submitted:

 

Documentation for 1st issuance (5 years):

 

     1. Application form in two (2) copies.

 

     2. Three (3) recent coloured photographs.

 

     3. True copy of valid passport or equivalent travel document recognized by Greece, together with valid visa.

 

     4. Health Certificate issued by a Greek state hospital, certifying that the applicant does not suffer from any disease which, according to the international standards and the World Health Organization (WHO), could pose a risk to the public health.

 

     5. Copy of the contract for the purchase of immovable property or properties, of minimum value of 250.000,00.

 

     6. Certificate issued by a Greek Notary Public that the purchase contract meets the requirements of art. 36A of law 3386/2005

 

     7. Certificate of Registration of the contract, issued by the competent Land Registry.

 

     8. Certificate that the applicant have applied to a medical insurer for full coverage of his medical care and expenses.

 

Procedure after the submission of necessary documentation: 

 

After the submission of the necessary documentation, the competent Greek authorities provide the applicants with a certificate of receipt (blue paper with photo) proving that that they have submitted all necessary documents for initial issuance or renewal of resident permit.

 

Upon the receipt of the above certificate, the third-country national is permitted to stay in Greece until the authorities reach a final decision on his application for the resident permit. The third-country national is allowed to travel to his homeland and return more than once, according to a decision of the Ministry of Citizen Protection.

Family members.

 

The third-country national, who owns or intends to purchase immovable property in Greece, may be accompanied by his family members, according to article 54 par.1 of Law 3386/2005. The family members obtain an individual residence permit which expires together with the residence permit of the person who supports them.

 

Renewal of the residence permit:

 

The above residence permit shall be renewed for the same duration (five years), provided that the immovable property remains as above to the applicant’s full ownership, use and possession and that the other requirements of the law are being met.

 

Change of purpose of existing residence permit obtained by financially independent person.

 

A third-country national, who has already been granted a residence permit as a financially independent person, has the right to apply for the renewal of his residence permit for five years as owner of immovable property in Greece, provided that the requirements of Art.46A of Law 3386/2005 are being fulfilled.

Areas of Practice

Immigration Law​

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Family Law​

 

Inheritance Law​

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Corporate Law​​​​​

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Property Law ​​​

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Arrangement of Debts

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Enforcement Auctions