Greek Residence Permit for an Entrepreneur from Bangalore: How the Greece Golden Visa Opened the Way to the European Market

Vikram Rao, an entrepreneur from Bangalore, India, is the founder of a fintech startup specialising in digital payments for small and medium-sized enterprises across the Indian subcontinent. After achieving strong traction at home, including a USD 3 million seed round and expansion into the UAE market, Vikram recognised that establishing a base in Europe would unlock new opportunities — access to the EU market, talent from across Europe and North Africa, and the credibility of an EU residence permit. He chose Greece under its Golden Visa programme.

Client’s Objectives

Vikram’s key ambitions were:

• To gain a long-term residence permit in an EU country for himself and his family.
• To set up a European branch of his startup in Greece, leveraging favourable tax structures and EU connectivity.
• To ensure his wife and two children had access to quality education, healthcare, and ease of travel throughout the Schengen Area.
• To diversify his personal residence and business risk by adding a strategic European location.

Why Greece and Why the Golden Visa?

Greece’s Golden Visa stands out in 2025 for several compelling reasons:

• Competitive Investment Threshold: While a tiered system is now in place, Greece remains one of the most cost-effective routes to EU residency. According to Henley & Partners, the minimum investment starts at €250,000 for special commercial-to-residential conversion projects.
• Rapid Growth and Global Appeal: In 2024 the programme recorded 9,289 applications, up roughly 10% from 2023, with property investments exceeding €4.4 billion in 2023-24 (GTP Headlines).
• Tiered Threshold System: From September 2024, minimum investments in popular zones like Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, and Santorini were raised to €800,000, and in other regions to €400,000, while the €250,000 threshold remains for specific restoration projects (Global Citizen Solutions).
• Flexibility and Mobility: No mandatory stay in Greece is required, and permit holders enjoy visa-free access to the Schengen Area (Henley & Partners).

For Vikram, Greece offered an optimal blend of cost-effectiveness, EU access, and business relevance for an Indian entrepreneur.

Preparation and Application Process

After selecting Greece as his gateway into Europe, Vikram worked with the immigration advisory team at GARANT.in to execute the plan. They performed a strategic assessment, identifying the "commercial-to-residential conversion" route as the most strategic fit for his profile and objectives. The team recommended a prime property investment in Athens that would serve as both a qualifying asset and a potential operational location for his business.

The document and investment phase included:

• A signed contract for a commercial property in Athens, part of an approved conversion project, with a total investment of €500,000. This strategic choice allowed Vikram to qualify under the special project category while securing an asset with high potential for appreciation.
• Banking records proving the transfer of funds from India and the UAE.
• Company registration and audited financial statements of his Indian and UAE entities.
• Health insurance and police clearances for the entire family.
• Education plans for his daughters, aged 10 and 7.

The application was submitted through the Greek visa process for non-EU nationals. Thanks to meticulous document preparation by his advisors, Vikram's application was processed without requests for additional information. He has received his initial approval and awaits the final permit issuance, a process which currently takes several months due to high demand, but which has secured his family's path to EU residency.

Relocation and Resulting Benefits

Upon the anticipated issuance of the permit, the family plans to move to Athens, where Vikram’s firm will open its European branch, hire local talent, and begin collaborations with Mediterranean-region fintech hubs.

Key outcomes will include:

• An investment that counts among the significant portion of Greek real-estate transactions driven by the Golden Visa scheme (SchengenVisaInfo).
• Visa-free travel across the Schengen Area, aligning perfectly with his business and family mobility goals.
• The opportunity for his wife to work remotely for a pan-European fintech firm.
• His children enrolling in an international school in Athens, benefiting from EU-standard education.

For Indian citizens or India-based entrepreneurs, Greece offers:

• A strategic investment threshold, especially when considering the long-term value of EU residency.
• Clear access to European business ecosystems.
• Family-friendly conditions, including a spouse work permit and excellent educational options.
• Growing real-estate markets and unparalleled EU mobility benefits.

Despite recent threshold increases, Greece remains a highly efficient and strategic route into Europe for non-EU nationals and is especially suitable for Indian entrepreneurs seeking relocation.

“The Greece Golden Visa is providing us with a strong foothold in Europe. We are poised to run our startup from Athens, travel freely across Europe, and build a new life for my family. The GARANT.in team handled everything from strategy to final paperwork — seamless and professional.” — Vikram Rao

If you’re an entrepreneur based in India or the UAE seeking European residency, the Greece Golden Visa may be your most efficient option. GARANT.in is ready to guide you through every step — from investment planning to residence permit issuance.