Russians Use Fake Same-Sex Marriages to Obtain Residency in Greece

Wealthy Russian citizens have begun using fake same-sex marriages to save money when obtaining a residence permit in Greece. According to the Telegram channel Baza , this scheme became relevant after the Greek parliament legalized same-sex unions in February 2024.

Greece’s Golden Visa program allows foreigners to obtain a residence permit when purchasing real estate worth at least 250,000 euros. By entering into a fake same-sex marriage, two men or two women can buy a single property as joint owners. In this case, both “spouses” gain the right to a residence permit, which effectively halves the cost of participation in the program to 125,000 euros per person.

A crucial condition for implementing this scheme is that at least one of the partners must hold a second citizenship. Since the spring of 2022, Greece has suspended the acceptance of Golden Visa applications from individuals who only hold Russian or Belarusian citizenship. However, family members of the investor can still apply with just a Russian passport.

Lawyers warn that participating in such schemes involves high legal risks. Greek authorities are tightening control over immigration programs and may investigate marriages to check if they are fraudulent. If deception is discovered, violators face the cancellation of their residence permits, fines, and a ban on entering the Schengen Area. At the same time, Russian legal experts note that the mere act of entering into a fake same-sex marriage abroad is currently not grounds for criminal prosecution in Russia or for being added to lists of extremists.