Foreign Media: Chinese Investors Are Quietly Changing Athens Through the "Golden Visa"
In recent years, Chinese investors have entered Athens in large numbers through Greece's "Golden Visa" program, bringing significant impact.
Data shows that by June 2025, there were 7,795 Chinese citizens who first obtained this visa, accounting for 47.8% of all first-time applicants, making them the largest group; among the 5,679 people who renewed their visas, Chinese also accounted for 61%.
The program started in 2013, and initially, applicants mainly came from Turkey and Russia, but in recent years, the number of Chinese applicants has surged, with some middle-class and wealthy individuals viewing it as a "backup option."
In addition to purchasing thousands of apartments, Chinese companies such as COSCO Shipping are also operating in the Port of Piraeus, making Chinese restaurants and Northeastern accents common in the city center. Chinese capital has changed the urban landscape of Athens both visibly and invisibly.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1840677907407880/
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