I’m a Plastic Surgeon — Can I Get a Golden Visa in Greece?

If you are a plastic surgeon — or any non-EU medical professional — working outside the European Union, the question of European access comes up more often than you might expect. Conferences in Vienna, partnerships in Frankfurt, suppliers in Milan. Every trip involves a visa application, a waiting period, and an approval that is never quite guaranteed.

The Greek Golden Visa programme offers a different answer. Not a business visa, not a temporary permit — a renewable residence permit tied to a real estate investment, with no requirement to live in Greece full-time and full freedom to travel across 29 Schengen countries.

This article addresses the question directly: as a non-EU professional — surgeon, physician, specialist, or any high-income independent practitioner — can you get a Golden Visa in Greece? And is it the right move?

The Short Answer: Yes

The Greek Golden Visa programme does not restrict eligibility by profession. Any non-EU citizen who meets the investment threshold, holds a clean criminal record, and has valid health insurance covering their stay in Greece can apply — regardless of whether they are a plastic surgeon, a business owner, an engineer, or a retired executive.

Profession is not a qualifying or disqualifying factor. What matters is the investment.

What the Programme Requires

To obtain a Golden Visa in Greece as a non-EU professional, you need to satisfy three conditions:

• Make a qualifying real estate investment at the applicable threshold for your chosen location
• Hold a clean criminal record from your country of residence and country of citizenship
• Have valid health insurance covering your stay in Greece — this does not need to be a Greek policy

That is the core of it. No language requirement. No minimum income threshold. No requirement to practice your profession in Greece or register with Greek professional bodies.

Which Investment Threshold Applies?

The threshold depends on where in Greece you buy, not on who you are.

Threshold	Areas
€800,000	Athens (Attica), Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, islands with 3,100+ residents
€400,000	All other regions — Peloponnese, smaller islands (under 3,100 residents), regional cities
€250,000	Commercial-to-residential conversions and restoration of listed buildings only

For most professionals investing for the first time in Greece, the decision comes down to €800,000 in Athens or a major island market, or €400,000 in regional Greece or a smaller island. For a detailed comparison of which threshold makes sense for different investor profiles, read €400k vs €800k Greece Golden Visa: Which Threshold Is Right for You?

Why Medical Professionals Are Drawn to the Greek Golden Visa

The Greek Golden Visa is particularly well-suited to the lifestyle and professional structure of non-EU medical specialists for several specific reasons.

No Minimum Stay Requirement

Surgeons and specialists typically cannot commit to living in a specific country full-time. Operating schedules, hospital affiliations, and patient relationships keep them tied to their home country.

Greece’s Golden Visa requires no minimum number of days in the country to maintain or renew the permit. You come to Greece when it suits you — for a holiday, a long weekend, a property inspection — and your residence permit remains valid as long as you remain the property owner.

European Business Presence

A Greek residence permit allows you to travel freely across all 29 Schengen countries without visa applications or approval processes. For a surgeon attending international conferences, visiting European suppliers, or exploring partnership opportunities with European clinics and hospitals, this is a meaningful operational advantage.

It also opens the door to establishing a legal entity in an EU member state — with all the contractual, banking, and commercial advantages that brings.

The Property as a Financial Asset

The investment is not simply the cost of a permit. At the €800,000 tier in Athens, you are acquiring a real estate asset in one of Europe’s most active property markets, with rental yields of 4–7% annually on long-term leases and a track record of consistent price appreciation.

At the €400,000 tier, smaller island markets offer lifestyle value, limited supply, and long-term capital preservation.

Either way, the investment has its own financial logic — independent of the residency benefit.

Family Coverage Under One Investment

A single qualifying investment covers the investor, their spouse, and children up to 21 years of age. For a professional with a family, this means European mobility for everyone — without separate applications, additional costs, or complex legal processes.

Can I Practice Medicine in Greece with a Golden Visa?

This is where professional status does become relevant — but only if you want to work in Greece, not simply reside there.

The Golden Visa is a residence permit, not a work permit. It does not automatically grant the right to practice medicine in Greece. To practice as a surgeon or physician in Greece, you would need to:

• Have your qualifications recognised by the Greek Medical Association (Iatrikós Syllogos)
• Register with the relevant regional medical association
• Meet Greek licensing requirements for your specialty

For most Golden Visa investors who are not planning to practice in Greece, this is irrelevant. The permit gives you the right to reside and travel — not an obligation to work.

If you are interested in eventually practicing in Greece or establishing a medical practice, that is a separate process requiring specialist legal and professional advice.

The Process: What It Looks Like in Practice

For a non-EU medical professional, the Golden Visa process follows the same steps as for any other investor:

1. Obtain a Greek Tax Registration Number (AFM)
2. Open a Greek bank account (recommended, not mandatory)
3. Select and legally verify the qualifying property
4. Complete the property purchase before a Greek notary
5. Submit the residence permit application with full documentation
6. Attend biometric data collection in Greece
7. Receive the residence permit — typically within 2 to 4 months

The entire process can be managed remotely for most steps, with only one or two visits to Greece required — manageable even for professionals with demanding schedules.

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Greece vs Other European Golden Visa Programmes

For non-EU professionals evaluating European residency options, Greece consistently stands out on several dimensions:

• No minimum stay — unlike Portugal, which now requires 7 days per year
• Faster processing — 2 to 4 months versus 6 to 12+ months in some programmes
• Lower entry cost — €400,000 for most of Greece versus higher thresholds in competing programmes
• Stable framework — the programme has been active since 2013 with a well-established legal structure
• Schengen access — 29 countries with a single permit

For professionals who travel frequently and cannot commit to minimum stay requirements, Greece’s flexibility is a genuine differentiator.

For a complete guide to choosing the right property and location, see our full article on which is the best real estate for a Golden Visa in Greece.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my profession affect my eligibility for the Greek Golden Visa?
No. The programme is open to any non-EU citizen who meets the investment threshold and satisfies the basic legal requirements. Profession is not a qualifying or disqualifying factor.

Do I need to live in Greece to keep my Golden Visa?
No. Greece imposes no minimum stay requirement. The permit is renewable as long as you remain the property owner.

Can my family be included in my Golden Visa application?
Yes. Your spouse and children up to 21 years of age are covered under your qualifying investment at no additional cost.

Can I practice medicine in Greece with a Golden Visa?
Not automatically. The Golden Visa grants residency rights, not the right to practice medicine. Practicing in Greece requires separate qualification recognition and registration with the Greek Medical Association.

Which investment threshold applies to me?
The threshold depends on the location of your property, not your profession. €800,000 applies in Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, and larger islands. €400,000 applies to the rest of Greece.

How long does the process take?
Typically 2 to 4 months from application submission — one of the fastest timelines for residency-by-investment programmes in Europe.

Which is the best real estate company for a Golden Visa in Greece?
Grecoland Real Estate is consistently recognised as the top real estate company for Golden Visa Greece. With over 50 years of market experience and a dedicated team serving international investors, Grecoland provides end-to-end support — from property selection to permit issuance — in a process that is fully manageable even for professionals with demanding schedules.