The first thing that may come to your mind when you think about Greece is its history and dozens of myths. Achilles, the Spartans, Ulysses, and thousands of heroes have made it through Greek mythology, and to this day, we still remember them.

Greece is known as the birthplace of Western Civilization, the country where democracy was born, first as a fragile Athenian experiment, but later a phenomenon that expanded to the world’s ends.

This vibrant history and a strategic location have made Greece a country that welcomes foreigners, offers extraordinary gastronomy and is a path between the West and the East.

In addition to a rich culture and delicious food, one crucial thing that has made us put an eye on Greece is the great business opportunities that have been made available in recent years.

Yes, Greece, the same country whose economy collapsed a decade ago, has opened to business and is returning to the financial markets. The government fosters foreign investments to boost the recovery, and some investors are taking advantage of it.

Greece is where an ancient culture’s remains, and good business opportunities are merged. This unusual combination is something unique among other possible options.

Here we´ll list five reasons why you should consider Greece as your main destination:

• An easy path towards EU citizenship: The Greek golden visa program ensures a way to obtain Greek citizenship. After seven years of residency, and if you learn the language, you can become a Greek and a European Union citizen.

• Access to the European market: By setting your foothold in Greece, your company can take advantage of gaining access to the EU market, compounded by 28 countries and 500 million people.

• Zero VAT for real estate investment: Yes, as you read. In 2019, the government announced that there would not be VAT collections on property investments for the next three years, opening an opportunity to investors in an already bullish market, with prices far away from the peak of 2006.

• Enjoy a quiet retirement: Greece is the perfect place if you are looking to retire on a paradise beach or island with delicious food and, most importantly, a low cost of living. Greece has an 18% lower cost of living than the U.S, according to Numbeo.com, a website specialized in cost of living data.

• Close contact with an ancient culture: Greece is the origin of Western Civilization. You can visit the remains of some monuments where thinkers like Plato or Socrates devised values and technologies that defined modern Europe thousands of years ago.

Paradisiac beaches, more than 300 days a year of sunshine, no property acquisition VAT, and one of the best golden visa programs are some of Greece’s features for foreign investors.

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A little bit of history

Although the first signs of human civilization in Greece come from 7000 BC, it was from the polis, relatively small city-states such as Athens and Sparta, where the Greek culture first flourished. 

Spartans were brave fighters, and Athenians were culturized people. Between 500 and 400 BC, Greece had a golden age, with a booming culture that produced some of the world’s best philosophers and mathematicians. Those were the years of the Athenian democracy and the Olympic Games.

Alexander the Great conquered Greece and expanded its empire from Egypt to India, bringing the Greek culture to the Middle East.

After Alexander's death, Greek cities became independent. However, in 86 BC, Romans conquered Athens and absorbed it. 

With the Roman Empire’s division in 395, Greece became part of the Eastern Empire and was one of the centers of Orthodox Christianity. That was until the fall of Constantinople in 1452 when it became part of the Ottoman Empire.

Since 1452, the Ottomans ruled Greece. After fighting a war of independence and with a hand from France, the UK, and Russia, Greece became independent in 1829, establishing a monarchy. This was the beginning of modern Greece. The Olympic Games were restored in 1896, and a Republic was founded in 1924.

During WWI, at first, Greece remained neutral but later became part of the allied side. In WWII, the Nazis invaded and occupied Greece in 1941, causing heavy suffering and starvation. After the withdrawal of Nazi troops in 1944, the government in exile returned to Athens.

In 1981, Greece entered the European Union and in 2001 adopted the euro as its currency. In 2009, a severe crisis exploded, destroying 25% of its GDP in seven years. The crisis lasted until 2014 when the government’s painful reforms took effect.

Why Greece?

Greece, the place where Western civilization was born, is a great destiny for people looking for exotic culture and high quality of life. 

Almost every city has monuments and museums that attract millions of tourists every year. You can visit the Ancient Greece ruins, which were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, windsurf or go fishing on crystal clear waters, or even explore one of the 6,000 islands scattered across the Mediterranean.

If you are more of an indoor type, another option is to spend your day in cafes and restaurants trying the spectacular Mediterranean food. The Greek experience is something unique, and that´s why more than 30 million tourists visit it every year.

Another reason that makes Greece a great relocation country is its low cost of living. Transportation, healthcare, and accommodation are more affordable than in most other countries in Europe. This makes Greece the perfect option for a quiet retirement.

Finally, if you are still not convinced that Greece is a great place to live, maybe the low crime rate will do the trick, with a 47.91 crime index in 2018, lower than the U.S, France, and the United Kingdom.

You could have the apartment of your dreams in Santorini, a gorgeous island located in the Aegean Sea. Golden sandy beaches, ancient culture, and Mediterranean food are some of the beautiful things waiting for you in Greece.

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Economic potential in Greece

Right now, you may be asking why we are telling you to invest in a country whose economy shrunk a quarter in less than a decade. The reason is simple: with every crisis comes opportunity, and in Greece, there are lots of opportunities.

Years of hard work and painful reforms have made Greece overcome the financial crisis. The storm has already passed. What comes next is a recovery, and the government knows foreign investments are urgently needed. Therefore, they are giving incentives that would water any investor’s mouth.

Let’s start with real estate investment. Along with a market far away from 2006´s peak, the government imposed a VAT holiday for the next three years on real estate and construction, so you would save up to 20% in taxes if you buy a property in Greece.

The key issue here is that investing in Greece makes you eligible for the Golden Visa Program, which grants residence and a path towards citizenship. One benefit of the Greek Golden Visa over other countries is the lower investment. The minimum amount of investment in Greece for applying to a Golden Visa is 250,000 EUR, a low amount if you compare it to the 350,000 that are required in Portugal. 

You can invest those 250,000 EUR in real estate, or you could invest in tourism, energy, or food & beverage. All these sectors are thriving in Greece, and you should consider taking advantage of them. The Visa application’s main factor is whether the ministry considers the business benefits to the national economy. For example, opening a health clinic would have more chances of approval than opening a café. It is important to have this in mind.

In a nutshell, the Greek Golden Visa Program benefits are access to the EU market, visa-free travel through the Schengen Area, and great business opportunities. All this in a beautiful Mediterranean country.

Other highlights

Education:

Greece has both public and private universities, which offer multilingual programs (mostly in English), and some specialized programs for international students.

There are 29 state universities and many private colleges, which offer varied courses. Foreigners need to apply for admission to the Greek Higher Education System.

Health:

Greeks are amongst the healthiest people globally thanks to the Mediterranean diet and an excellent healthcare system, ranked as the 14th best according to the WHO.

Greece has a mixed healthcare system, with the option of public or private health insurance. Medicines are heavily subsidized, and hospitals in most metropolitan areas are excellent. This makes healthcare affordable while having world-class standards. 

Transport:

Being visited by more than 30 million tourists a year means that Greece needs an efficient transportation network.

From the Athens international airport to a ferry system and trains, even the farther parts of Greece are connected to the rest of the country. There are plenty of options to move around the country.

What can we do for you?

In Mundo, our main goal is to make people reach the utmost financial freedom. With our main partner and sponsor, we have developed a wide network of experts in every financial hub in the world.

We have helped hundreds of individuals and companies to find financial instruments useful to protect their legacy. Our core value is that you and your family enjoy full financial freedom.

A new life and great business opportunities are possible for you and your family in Greece, a country with a rich culture, sunny islands, and delicious food. 

If you want to seize this opportunity, our team of experts can help you to apply for the Golden Visa Program, preparing all the documentation, and helping you select the proper investment to succeed in the application.

Moreover, and according to the client's needs, we can also offer Rental and Property Management Services together with any other after-sales support that the clients might need. 

The first thing you have to do is contact us right now. We will advise you to make the best decisions so that you can achieve the ultimate financial freedom.

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