I obtained a residence permit, invested in a liquid asset, and can once again do business with Europe on equal terms. Most importantly — everything is official, legal and fast.
Peter H.
Entrepreneur , UK
goals
Client Requirements
- Business in the EU
- Capital preservation
Situation
Peter, an entrepreneur from Oxford, has spent over 10 years helping European B2B companies implement CRM systems and automate business processes. His core client base consists of tech companies in Germany, Austria, and Belgium. Before Brexit, everything ran smoothly — contracts signed with a UK legal entity posed no problems.
“We had no trouble signing contracts in pounds — both parties were fine with it. But from 2021, everything changed. One by one, clients started saying: ‘We need a contract with an EU-based company’, ‘Where’s your VAT?’, ‘Paying in pounds has become expensive — we need a euro account.’”
Over 60% of Peter’s income depended on these clients. And even though day-to-day cooperation remained the same, they began to withdraw due to the operational and legal complications brought about by Brexit.
Solution
Peter contacted Astons with a clear request: to restore the ability to work within the EU without relocating permanently.
Our experts suggested the ideal solution — obtaining Greek residency through investment in real estate and registering a company there to rebuild contracts.
Real estate in Greece is a profitable investment: in 2024 alone, the market saw an 8–10% rise in value. As Peter had no plans to relocate and viewed the purchase as an investment, Astons proposed ready, fully furnished properties requiring no extra work and potentially offering 4–5% rental yield. Peter chose a comfortable villa in Hanioti, Halkidiki.
Why This Villa?
- Secluded location, peace and greenery
- Spacious — 131 m², 600 m² plot
- Three floors: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, terrace and sea-view lounge
- Private pool and parking
- Price — €450,000 — fully met the programme requirements
Steps to Obtain Greek residency and Open a Legal Entity with Astons
1. Consultation and audit
Astons thoroughly analysed Peter’s situation, ran a fast-track compliance check and confirmed the possibility of obtaining residency through real estate investment in Greece and business registration.
2. Real estate investment
Once the strategy was agreed, the ideal property was selected — a three-storey villa in Hanioti (Halkidiki). Astons performed legal due diligence, prepared the documents, arranged the 10% deposit (€45,000) and supported the transaction through completion. The purchase was finalised within four weeks.
3. Residency application
After the transaction was registered and all property formalities completed, Astons submitted Peter’s residency application. Two and a half months later, he received a White Paper granting entry and stay rights. He immediately travelled to Greece to provide biometric data, completing the process.
4. Business registration in Greece
Peter’s residence card was delivered remotely via an Astons representative. Once residency was granted, Astons’ lawyers registered the company in his name and issued all supporting documents. A euro bank account was opened and an EU VAT number obtained. This enabled Peter to resume business with clients in Germany and Austria under a new EU-based legal entity.
Comparison of Investment Residency Programmes
| Program |
Investment Threshold |
Processing Time |
Schengen Access |
Physical Presence Requirement |
|
Greece
Residency
|
from €250,000 |
4 months |
None |
None |
|
Portugal
Residency
|
from €500,000 |
18 months |
None |
None |
|
Malta
Residency
|
from €169,000 |
9 months |
None |
None |
|
Cyprus
Residency
|
from €300,000 |
8 months |
None |
None |
|
Hungary
Residency
|
from €250,000 |
4 months |
None |
None |
Expenses
| Property transfer tax (3.09%) |
€13,905 |
| Land registry fee (0.6%) |
€2,700 |
| Notary fees (1.5%) |
€6,750 |
| Immigration fees |
€2,000 |
| Residence card printing |
€16 |
|
Additional Costs:
|
|
| Insurance, translations, notary services |
calculated upon request |
| Astons’ services |
determined on a case-by-case basis |
| Total: |
€475,371 (excluding additional costs). |