Uglobal Immigration Magazine Volume 2, Issue 1 | Page 13

UGLOBAL.COM There are 13 international schools in Athens, the most popular being British and American schools. Graduates of these schools receive offers from top universities around the world, which shows how successful the teaching is at these campuses. Compared to international schools at many other countries, attending an international school in Greece is competitive in both its teaching quality and low costs. The average tuition fee in Greece is only half the price of an international school in China, for instance. Applicants also face less competition and may have a more diverse and stress-free study environment in Greece. When it comes to passive income, this is a very fortunate and popular by-product of the real estate route. It allows an investor to be minimally involved in the maintenance and upkeep of their investment. Whether that is having a property management company handle your property or hiring people to run your business, the Golden Visa program allows you to be as involved or uninvolved as you wish. In addition to this, investors are allowed to rent out their property or operate their business from the first day, which means there is no time wasted when it comes to gaining your investment back. Golden Visas also help investors’ abilities to move abroad at any given point. This is a very important factor for families that may need an option like a new home in Greece. There is also visa-free travel, an undeniable and straightforward benefit. The visa gives essentially a permanent and unlimited travel permit that’s valid in every Schengen Area country. For travel purposes, this is equivalent to a European passport. FACTORS TO CONSIDER The driving forces behind the desire to have a foothold in Europe are a constant. However, any serious investor must also consider timing. When considering the circumstances of the Greek economy, 2019 is overall in a positive state. Greece is getting ready to move on after the recent exit of the Memorandum. The 10 years of financial turmoil have created a lot of issues. Prices hit rock bottom, especially for real estate. Businesses were shut down. Salaries decreased. Due to this, the Greek state, through its representatives, is more and more engaged to create a friendly environment for foreign investors. The Greek government has taken a proactive role in charting a determined course for Greece that is friendly to investment, promotes growth and welcomes new business. The next decade is poised to experience sustained growth in tourism, information and communication technology, energy, environmental sciences, food, beverage, agriculture, logistics and life sciences. Greece’s exceptional human capital, advanced infrastructure, geostrategic position and potential for economic expansion are attracting investor interest from around the world. 11