Novak Djokovic Secures 'Golden Visa' in Greece Through Major Investment

12:16 PM, November 12, 2025

Novak Djokovic has showcased his deep affection for Greece by clinching his 101st career title at the Hellenic Championship, now on familiar ground after reportedly acquiring a golden visa in the country. The 38-year-old star's triumph in Athens highlights his growing ties to the nation.

Djokovic was candid about his bond with Greece during the event, especially after his family relocated there a few months prior. "Playing in Athens feels like home," he shared post-quarter-finals. "I've always adored Greece—when we arrived with my family, the excitement was palpable. Serbians and Greeks share so much history, culture, and faith. Athens holds a special place in my heart, without a doubt."

These sentiments have fueled speculation that Djokovic has obtained a golden visa—often dubbed a 'golden passport'—to establish residency in Athens.

According to Serbian outlet Sportal, Djokovic and his family invested in a Greek property to qualify for the visa. The program's entry point requires a minimum £352,000 investment, escalating to £705,000 in high-demand zones like Athens. This makes Greece one of the more accessible options for wealthy individuals seeking such perks, with varying costs across Europe.

The golden visa unlocks visa-free travel across the Schengen Area and comes with no residency obligation or expiration. It covers the holder's spouse, children under 21, and parents of both partners.

Such a high-profile move by one of the world's most celebrated athletes underscores the appeal of the Greek golden visa program. It serves as a testament to Greece’s attractiveness not only for fiscal considerations, but for its excellent quality of life, world-class education opportunities, and vibrant Mediterranean lifestyle that draw global elites.

Yet it wouldn’t be surprising if fiscal considerations also played a role. Djokovic would likely qualify for Greece’s non-dom flat tax regime, which allows newcomers to pay a fixed €100,000 per year on worldwide income (plus €20,000 per family member) for up to 15 years. Participants are not required to declare foreign income, and the flat levy replaces progressive rates that would otherwise reach 44%.

Djokovic is among the world’s highest-paid tennis players, earning nearly US$30 million last year according to Forbes. He is also men’s tennis’ most decorated champion, holding a record 24 major singles titles, 40 Masters crowns, seven year-end championships, and 101 ATP singles trophies. Djokovic spent a record 428 weeks at No. 1 and finished year-end No. 1 a record eight times—numbers that explain why changes in his base of operations draw global attention.

In June, following his French Open semifinal defeat to Jannik Sinner, Djokovic vacationed in Greece with his wife, Jelena. The getaway ignited rumors of a post-US Open relocation for the family. While Sportal notes Djokovic intends to maintain his Monte Carlo base, it reports he'll divide time between locations, bolstered by the visa. Whispers of a property purchase in Greece circulate, though details are unverified.

Monaco to Athens Via Marbella (and Dubai)

Greece does not mark Djokovic’s first long-term residency outside Serbia. In 2020, after winning the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, the then Marbella-based star confirmed he had received the UAE’s 10-year Golden Visa. At the time, he called it “an honour,” citing his longstanding relationship with Dubai’s leadership and the city’s integral role in his training routine, describing it as his second home. Dubai has served as a seasonal base for his preseason preparation and an arena where he has collected multiple titles.

But his principal residence remained in Marbella, Spain, where he relocated in 2020 shortly before the pandemic—after roughly 15 years in Monte Carlo. He had purchased a home in the ultra-private hillside enclave of Monaco soon after turning pro in the mid-2000s and continues to maintain the property, described in Architectural Digest’s 2024 real estate profile as a Mediterranean-overlooking retreat.

Over the years, Djokovic has built a luxury portfolio including apartments in New York’s SoHo and a penthouse in Belgrade. In 2020, he acquired a €10 million Moroccan-style mansion in Marbella, where his family resided until their recent move to Greece.

Golden visas essentially trade significant investments for the right to reside and work abroad. Beyond Schengen access, holders can lease out bought properties for income or draw salaries from Greek firms without uprooting their lives. After seven years, citizenship becomes an option.

On the professional front, Djokovic is mapping his tennis future. After defeating Lorenzo Musetti in the Athens final, he reflected on retirement: "I've always mapped out my career a year or more ahead—my goals, my vision. With every dream realized, I eyed the 2028 Olympics as a motivator to keep going. Retiring under the Serbian flag there? That sounds perfect."