ELLINA IOFIADOU
Legal support in the English, Russian, Kazakh, Greek languages in Greece
Overview of the Services
- corporate finance
- regulatory issues and compliance
- bonds
- financial restructuring
- project finance
- Legal support in the whole real estate purchase process
- Legal support in rental process
- Elimination of legal encumbrances
- Due diligence on properties
- choice of the corporate form
- start-up companies
- corporate governance
- corporate ownership and management
- shareholder agreements
- restructuring
- joint ventures
- drafting shareholder agreements
- legal expertise of commercial agreements
- mergers and acquisitions
- choice of the residency type
- residence permit application and issuance
- residency through investment in real estate and banking products
- Golden Visa
- Digital Nomads
- Financially independent individuals
- EU Blue Card
- international tax restructuring
- tax residency transfer
- double taxation treaties
- cross-border tax issues
- alternative tax regimes
- non-domicile tax regime
- citizenship by descent
- acquiring citizenship through residence
- personalised legal advise on possibilities of acquiring citizenship
- full patronage
ELLINA IOFIADOU - ATTORNEY AT LAW LL.M.
- Member of a Greek Bar Association
- Holder of Law Degree from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
- Holder of LL.M Degree in International Business Law from Tilburg University of the Netherlands
- Expertise in Tax Law in terms of Multi-Jurisdictional Investments
- Vast Experience in supporting international clients from all over the world in initiating and maintaining financial activities in Greece
- Fluency in 4 languages that makes international investment and relocation experience easy, smooth and clear for the clients
Greece offers a competitive program that allows third-countries nationals to acquire European residency through investment.
There are several options for Golden Visa-friendly investment, while the one that gives Greece serious "advantage" compared to other countries with similar programs is the Real Estate acquisition route.
Applicants can invest 250.000, 400.000 euros or 800.000 euros into the real estate in Greece under certain conditions and to apply for a residence permit - Golden Visa - in Greece. This residence permit will allow the applicant himself, as well as his / her spouse, unmarried children under 21 y.o. and parents of both spouses (with one and the same investment) to reside in Greece without any limit or minimum duration, and to travel freely within the EU. This kind of residence permit does not give market access to applicants, however they can still receive income from Greek companies, start up projects, banking products and real estate. The program is also of an interest for families that are willing to relocate to Greece and their children are about to reach the age of 21 y.o. Greece offers an ideal solution for them - children can renew their residence permit for other 3 years - with market access this time - in order to have an opportunity to create tighter connection with Greece and to stay here further on other legals basis - working permit for instance.
Real Estate acquisition process itself, as well Golden Visa application's submission process and all the issues that come inevitably together - especially changes in the investor's tax regime - are issues that require high-quality legal support. It is important that your legal advisor is aware of all the changes in legislation and all the "minor" law requirements that are of the vast importance. For foreign investors, it is also important to ensure that their Greek assets can be operated smoothly and do not affect negatively their financial profile from their home country's legislation perspective.
Moreover, what is important, we can limit the need for you to personally visit Greece or stay here in order to finalise your investment and residency application. Golden Visa legislation allows investors to purchase the Golden Visa-friendly property and to apply for the residency based on it, via the Power of Attorney signed even abroad, and without the need to enter Greece. Everything may be done remotely on your behalf, with the need for you to come only for the required biometrics in the end of the process.
We have extensive experience and expertise in the most complicated Real Estate purchase and Golden Visa cases from all over the world, and will ensure that your investment and relocation will go as smoothly as possible.
To maintain your Golden Visa, you will need to maintain your investment for the period of its validity - 5 years for the beginning, and afterwards for limitless renewals. But you may change your mind anytime - liquidate your investment and get your Golden Visa revoked.
Some more "risky" and complicated investment options are also available, and we will be happy to consult you on them, in case you would like consider them.
"Citizenship via investment" is still not an option of course, but investors actually residing in Greece may apply for citizenship fulfilling the general requirements. An investor that actually resides in Greece for the minimum of 7 years, receives income, pays taxes, speaks Greek and has Greece as the center of his / her vital interests, has a right to submit an application for Greek - the EU - citizenship.
As Golden Visa regime differs from other common types of residence permits, it is important to discuss beforehand all the specific requirements for future citizenship application based on your personal profile. As the practice shows, simply residing in Greece and complying with all the law requirements is not enough for Golden Visa investors in order to be eligible for citizenship - further planning is required. We will be happy to help you plan your future.
If it is your plan, you may consider the below types of residence permits:
- Financially Independent Individuals - if you have at least 3.500 euros stable monthly income and may prove it with certain documentation, you may apply for residence permit with 3 years duration and the right to renewal. You should keep in mind that this type of residence permit requires minimum required residence on an annual basis.
- Digital Nomads - this type is more flexible and simple in procedure and documentation than the previous one, and requires that the same monthly income is acquired by you from your online business activities. It is provided for two years with the right to renewal - on more "strict" conditions.
- Residence Permit types through legal entities - we will be happy to provide you with the extensive and detailed consultation on the requirements if it is your plan. There is quite a space for financial planning.
In practice there are two routes that you will be able to follow - to either make Greece your center of tax interests, or to create activity in Greece and to avoid any impact of it - where possible of course - on your foreign tax status. Both routes may be of interest for foreign investors - it is important to effectively assess which one is suitable for you specifically.
If you want to consider the first option, Greece offers alternative tax regimes for foreign investors and individuals who previously resided abroad. This can be a beneficial "lump sum" tax option for investors, beneficial 7% tax option for individuals receiving pension abroad, or beneficial tax regime for individuals that move to Greece and only start working here.
If you want to avoid any tax impact from your Greece-based activities, it is important that your legal advisor declares everything correctly to the tax authorities from the beginning, and informs you in detail of the impact that cannot be avoided, so that you can plan accordingly.
It is important to assess your whole financial profile, and to consider all the international treaties that may be applicable in your case. Having vast experience in these matters, we will be happy to provide you with full legal consultation and to assist you in planning the next steps.
+ 30 697 024 6400
e.iofiadou@gmail.com
We will be happy to schedule a meeting:
Ampelokipoi, Athens 11523 Greece
