Chania emerges as the clear leader from the results of a survey, carried out by the Regional Observatory on Social Inclusion of the Region of Crete, relating to the take-up of Golden Visas on the island .

Quoting the Regional Authority, the report states that on 16th January 2025 there were 740 investors with permanent residence permits, with two thirds of the investors living in the Regional Unit of Chania (65%), followed by the Regional Units of Heraklion (14%) and Rethymnon (12%).

According to the report: “There is a marked imbalance in the investment residency permits issued in Crete, with Western Crete receiving the majority of investors. This phenomenon may be related to the more intense touristic development of the area, or with available investment opportunities.”

Apokoronas and Platanias the leading municipalities
Apokoronas and Platanias are the two areas of Crete with the largest number of foreign investors, with about half of the total for the island living in these two municipalities. Specifically there are 185 holders of Golden Visas living in the Municipality of Apokoronas and a similar number in the Municipality of Platanias (169). These are followed by the municipalities of Chania (100), Agios Nikolaos and Rethymnon (67), and the municipality of Heraklion (58).

By contrast, the municipalities of South East Crete have minimal investment activity, with the smallest numbers of foreign investors being found in the municipalities of Viannos and Phaestos (1 each).”

Investor profiles
The largest number of permanent investors on the island are from China (27.4%), followed by the United States (14.3%), Russia (13.2%) and the UK (11.5%), while there is also a significant presence of investors from Israel (6.8%). The investors in the Region of Crete come from 48 different countries of origin.

Country of origin
As regards Chania, China remains the primary country of origin with 27%, while also high on the list are investors from the US (17%) the UK (15%) Russia (8%) and Israel (6%). Altogether the research shows that each Regional Unit attracts a different mix of investors’ countries of origin.

Sex
As regards the sex of investors, 64% of investors are men and 36% are women. In the Regional Unit of Chania, a total of 477 permits have been issued, of which 310 were to men and 167 to women.

Age
The average age of investors in the Chania area is distributed as follows:
— Platanias: 47
— Kissamos: 50
— Chania: 53
— Apokoronas: 58

According to the report “The average age of the holders of investment residency permits in the region of Crete is 53 years. The lowest average age is found in the Regional Unit of Heraklion (50 years) and the highest in the Regional Unit of Lasithi (57 years). The ages in the Regional Units of Chania and Rethymnon are around the average for the region.”
(Haniotika Nea, 19/11/25)