Freedom of Travel in Europe: Why Permanent Residency is Enough

Permanent Residency Gets You Freedom of Travel

Freedom of travel, in Europe, means:

• Visa-free entry to Europe;
  
  
• Easy movement between Schengen countries;
  
  
• The ability to spend time in Europe for business, lifestyle, or personal reasons;
  
  
• Permanent Residency lets you stay indefinitely in your country of investment, if you wish.

You Can Get Freedom of Travel Without Citizenship

The majority of investors do not want or need the right to live permanently in every EU country.

When discussions focus too heavily on citizenship, it is easy to lose sight of the actual purpose of the process: mobility, not relocation.

Given that citizenship processes increasingly require five or more years of continous, physical residence, it is worth considering how much holding another passport truly matters when freedom of travel can be achieved  with just permanent EU residency, typically on a much shorter timescale and with a smaller investment.

How? With EU Golden Visas.

How to Get EU Permanent Residency: The Golden Visa Solution

The Greece Golden Visa grants long-term permanent legal residency in the European Union to you and your family.

It allows:

• Visa-free travel across all Schengen countries;
  
  
• No need to apply for additional visas for short stays in Europe;
  
  
• Under Schengen rules, short stays are defined as up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
  
  
• This allows you to spend significant time travelling freely across Europe, provided the rule is respected.
  
  
• The Greece Golden Visa also offers you and your family the right to reside and study full time in Greece itself through a renewable residence permit.
  
  
• It does not provide the right to live indefinitely in every EU country. No EU residency by investment program currently offers this.

Importantly:

• There is no requirement to relocate to Greece;
  
  
• There is no minimum stay requirement;
  
  
• Aside from a visit to provide biometric data, you can hold a five-year Greek residence permit, renewable for as long as you maintain your investment, without living in Greece at all.
  
  
• The Greece Golden Visa does not provide citizenship, although it does open a pathway towards it.
  
  
• It also does not oblige you to pursue citizenship: you can maintain your residency and all its benefits as long as you want.

When You Should Go for Citizenship

This isn't to say EU Citizenship isn't worth it. 

It definitely is, provided you're willing to commit to the timeframe it'll require from you.

Greek citizenship requires:

• At least seven years of full-time residence;
  
  
• Strong social and economic ties to Greece;
  
  
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Greek language.

Citizenship offers important benefits, including the right to live and work indefinitely anywhere in the EU, voting rights, and the ability to pass citizenship to future generations.

But if you're just looking for freedom of travel? You're better served with EU residency.

On the other hand, EU citizenship can be an excellent long-term objective if you intend to:

• Relocate permanently;
  
  
• Integrate socially and economically;
  
  
• Build a long-term future in a specific EU country.

However, citizenship is not a prerequisite for European freedom of travel and should not be viewed as a first step when travel freedom is the primary goal.

Freedom of Travel: Permanent Residency vs Citizenship

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need EU citizenship to travel freely in Europe?

• No. EU citizenship is not required for freedom of travel. Legal EU residency with Schengen access is sufficient.

What does the Greece Golden Visa allow me to do?

• It grants long-term EU residency and visa-free travel across all Schengen countries for short stays.

How long can I stay in Europe with the Greece Golden Visa?

• You may stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the entire Schengen Area, not per country.

Do I have to live in Greece to keep the Golden Visa?

• No. There is no requirement to relocate to Greece and no minimum stay per year.

When is EU citizenship actually necessary?

• EU citizenship is only necessary if you want the right to live indefinitely in any EU country. It is not required for travel freedom.