Turkey CBI versus the Greece Golden Visa is a citizenship-versus-residence decision. Türkiye's published property route starts at USD 400,000 and can lead to a citizenship application, subject to the President's decision. Greece grants renewable residence, not citizenship, and its mainstream property bands are EUR 800,000 or EUR 400,000 depending on the area.
What is the practical difference between Turkey CBI and the Greece Golden Visa?
Turkey CBI is built around an exceptional naturalisation route after an eligible investment. Greece's Golden Visa is an investor residence permit. That distinction affects the passport outcome, mobility planning, family strategy and the diligence file. A property purchase is only one part of either process.
| Question | Türkiye CBI | Greece Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Core outcome | Citizenship application after eligibility evidence | Five-year renewable residence permit |
| Published property threshold | USD 400,000 | EUR 800,000 or EUR 400,000 for mainstream areas; EUR 250,000 only for defined exceptions |
| Holding rule | Title-deed resale restriction for at least three years | Renewal depends on retaining the qualifying investment |
| Work right from the permit | Citizenship consequences require separate personal advice | The investor permit itself does not give a right to work in Greece |
What does the current Turkey CBI property route require?
The Republic of Türkiye Investment Office states that a foreigner may be eligible, subject to the President's decision, after acquiring property worth at least USD 400,000 with a title-deed restriction against resale for at least three years. Its published alternatives include USD 500,000 routes such as fixed capital investment, bank deposit, government bonds and certain funds. Do not treat the threshold as the whole file: valuation, transfer trail, title-deed wording and the eligibility certificate need to line up.
For a narrower operational issue, review the Turkish CBI and military-service checklist. Tax residence and citizenship are separate questions, covered in our Turkish CBI tax note.
How does Greece's Golden Visa work in 2026?
Article 100 of Greece's Law 5100/2024 sets a five-year investor residence permit with renewal, subject to the statutory conditions. For ordinary property purchases, the in-force bands are EUR 800,000 and EUR 400,000 by area. The mainstream route requires one property and, for built property or property with a building permit, at least 120 square metres of main spaces. The EUR 250,000 figure survives only in limited conversion or listed-building cases. Read the Ministry's consolidated law text before reserving a property.
Which route fits an investor seeking a European base?
Choose Greece when the objective is a renewable Greek residence position and the investment fits the current Article 100 bands. It is not a shortcut to an EU passport, and the permit does not itself authorise employment. Choose Türkiye when a Turkish citizenship route is the intended result and the investor can document a qualifying route and the three-year commitment. Neither programme decides personal tax residence, banking acceptance or family-country nationality rules.
What should be checked before any reservation or deposit?
Start with the end result, then test the asset. In Türkiye, obtain the proposed title-deed and payment structure before committing funds. In Greece, confirm the municipality threshold, property type, one-property and 120-square-metre rules where relevant, then map the notarial and registry evidence against the Ministry Golden Visa filing guidance. A low advertised price is not proof that a route qualifies.
Frequently asked questions
Is Greece Golden Visa citizenship?
No. It is a renewable investor residence permit. Greek naturalisation follows separate rules and is not created by the permit alone.
Can EUR 250,000 buy a standard Greece Golden Visa property in 2026?
No. That figure is limited to specific statutory exceptions. Standard purchase thresholds are EUR 800,000 or EUR 400,000 depending on the location.
Does USD 400,000 automatically grant Turkish citizenship?
No. The Investment Office describes eligibility subject to the President's decision. The property, payment and land-registry evidence must meet the applicable route requirements.
Can either investment solve tax residence?
No. Immigration status, nationality, personal tax residence and company tax residence have different legal tests.
This is general information, not legal, immigration or tax advice. Rules and personal outcomes depend on the file and can change. Corpenza can coordinate citizenship and investor-residence process support after a route-specific review.
