How an Astons Client Secured Greece Residence and Non-Dom Tax Status

In 2024, the UK announced the upcoming abolition of the non-dom tax regime. This meant that, in the near future, foreign income of residents in the country would be taxed on a progressive scale – from 20% to 45%. The news was an unpleasant surprise for thousands of wealthy foreigners who had chosen the UK as their base.

 

One of them was our client Rajiv – an entrepreneur, investor, and heir to a major family business from Mumbai, living in London since 2022. When choosing the UK for relocation, he was also considering the favourable tax treatment of worldwide income. On the eve of the non-dom abolition, Rajiv contacted Astons to find a new European country to live in.

Rajiv manages the family’s assets: from real estate in Dubai and Singapore to private equity in the US. His son attended a private school in Kensington, and his wife ran a charitable project in London. After learning from the news about the UK’s plans to cancel the non-dom regime, Rajiv consulted a tax advisor, who in turn recommended Astons for obtaining a residence permit in another European country with a non-dom tax regime.

Our experts needed to find a country that would minimise tax losses, provide residency for the whole family quickly and reliably, maintain their standard of living, and offer prestigious international education for the son.

During the very first consultation, we decided on the strategy: the Greek Golden Visa. This programme allows the quick acquisition of European residence permits for the whole family, including spouse and children of the investor, as well as both sets of parents.

The country has a favourable non-dom tax regime for new residents, allowing a fixed annual tax of €100,000 on all worldwide income.
In addition, Greece offers a wide choice of luxury real estate, a high standard of living, safety, and culture. A pleasant bonus – the famous Mediterranean climate.

The process was launched immediately. The Astons team selected several properties from our private database in the most prestigious districts of Athens. Rajiv was instantly drawn to a modern residence project in Glyfada – a southern coastal suburb, known as the “Athenian Riviera”.

The residence met all the family’s expectations: four bedrooms and a spacious living room, private pool, garden, terrace, parking, and its own tennis court. The house was under construction in an elite, safe, green area near a yacht club and international schools, just 15 km from central Athens.
The property was priced at €1,150,000 – more than enough to qualify for Greece’s investment programme and obtain non-dom tax status.

What is the Non-Dom Tax Regime in Greece?l

Greece’s non-dom tax regime is a way for wealthy foreigners to become tax residents of the country while not paying tax on their global income. Instead of standard taxation, a fixed rate of €100,000 per year is applied, regardless of income level. The programme is valid for 15 years and also applies to family members (with an additional €20,000 per person).

You can apply for non-dom if you have:

• Not been a tax resident of Greece for 7 of the last 8 years
• Relocated to the country
• Invested from €500,000 in real estate, business, or financial instruments.

1. Consultation and situation audit

Astons experts carried out a comprehensive assessment of the situation and selected the optimal participation format – Greek residence by investment with parallel application for non-dom status.

2. Property selection

The Greek team at Astons offered several premium options. The residence in Glyfada was perfect in terms of location and other features. Growth potential of the property and family comfort were also considered. A prestigious international school with English-language instruction was located nearby.

3. Document preparation and account opening

The Athens team prepared the documentation package and arranged the opening of a Greek bank account. The family made a 10% deposit.

4. Completion of the transaction

The property purchase was completed remotely. Astons experts also helped with paying taxes, government fees, and arranging health insurance.

5. Submitting the residence permit application and support until card issuance

Lawyers submitted the application to the immigration service. The approval process took 4 months. The investor and his family received a White Paper – temporary permission to enter and reside in Greece, issued for the purpose of submitting biometric data. They had to enter the country and receive their residence cards within one year of approval.

Rajiv and his family received their cards and moved into rented apartments near their new home, which was in the final stages of completion. It was important to settle in before the start of the school year and to become tax residents as soon as possible – which requires spending 183 days in the country.

6. Parallel application for non-dom tax status

The housewarming coincided with receiving tax residency status in Greece. Rajiv now pays only a fixed annual tax – €100,000, regardless of the amount and source of his global income.

Property cost: €1,150,000

Associated taxes and fees:

• Property transfer tax (3.09%): €35,535
• Land registry fee (0.6%): €6,900
• Notary fee (1.5%): €17,250
• Immigration fees: €2,150 for the whole family
• Residence card fees (€16 × 3): €48

Additional costs:

• Translation services – €500
• Private health insurance – €1,500
• Astons legal services – calculated individually
• Tax advisor services are billed separately

Total: €1,211,883 (excluding additional expenses).

Thanks to Greece’s non-dom tax status, Rajiv will now pay a fixed €100,000 per year instead of being taxed on a progressive scale.

The Glyfada residence – with a pool, garden and terrace – became a real home. The sea is just five minutes’ walk away. Clean air, privacy, safety. Quality produce, year-round sunshine, Michelin-starred restaurants on the coast. And more open, relaxed people.

The family adapted quickly: the son transferred to an international school with a British curriculum, Rajiv continues to manage his investments through online infrastructure. Two months after moving, Rajiv acquired one of the key symbols of the dream Athens lifestyle – a yacht. Now the family spends weekends exploring the Saronic Gulf islands.

The Greek Golden Visa programme is one of the most flexible and practical in Europe. It suits not only those looking for an alternative to full-time residence, but also those, like Rajiv, who want to shift the centre of their life and tax residency to a country with stable, transparent rules.

That’s why more and more HNWIs are choosing Greece’s investment residence:

• No requirement for permanent residence
• Fast residence permit processing — from 6 months
• Visa-free access to all Schengen countries
• Legal means to retain control over global income
• Non-dom regime: fixed tax of €100,000/year (+ €20,000 for each adult family member), no additional levies, valid for up to 15 years
• Privacy, high-quality healthcare and education
• Seaside living in one of Europe’s most beautiful countries

Astons was named Best Real Estate Agency in Greece by the European Property Awards 2024–2025. We have our own office in Athens with a team of experts who know all the ins and outs of local legislation and the real estate market. We work only with trusted developers and will find the perfect option tailored to your needs—from modern apartments to luxury villas.

Get a consultation with an Astons expert about your case. We will assess your situation, find a personalised solution, and calculate the cost of participation in the immigration programme. For over 35 years, Astons has been helping people worldwide obtain residence permits, second citizenship, or relocate to a new country.