Can a Stepchild Be Included in the Greek Golden Visa? Your Spouse's Child from a Previous Marriage (2026)
AVLA REAL ESTATE · GREECE GOLDEN VISA · FAMILY SCOPE
Yes. Your spouse's child from a previous marriage can be included in your Greek Golden Visa application as a family member, provided the child is under 21 and unmarried. The law says so expressly; the one condition is that your spouse holds legal custody, or that the other parent gives written consent.
At a Glance
Legal basis: Migration Code (Law 5038/2023) article 95 §2: the unmarried children under 21 of the investor or of the other spouse count as family members where custody has been legally assigned to that parent.
Age and status: under 21 and unmarried is enough; the child does not have to be under 18.
Custody: where your spouse has sole custody, the court decision suffices. With joint custody, the other biological parent's notarised, apostilled consent is required.
Fees: €0 for a child under 18, €150 for ages 18–20; card €16. Health insurance is taken out separately for each child.
Duration: the child's permit expires with the investor's permit; at 21 it converts into an independent three-year permit.
What the law says
Article 95 of the Migration Code lists four groups who may accompany the holder of an investor permit: the spouse or registered partner; the couple's common unmarried children under 21; the unmarried children under 21 of the investor or of the other spouse, provided custody has been legally assigned to that parent; and the parents of both spouses. The third group describes the stepchild exactly: your spouse's child from an earlier marriage if you are the investor, or your own if your spouse is.
Family members receive a family-reunification permit that ends on the same day as the investor's permit and is renewed with it every five years. When the child turns 21, they receive an independent three-year permit on presentation of the previous one.
What the custody condition means in practice
Sole custody with your spouse: the divorce or custody decision goes into the file with an apostille and a sworn Greek translation. No further consent is needed.
Joint custody: the Greek authorities require the other biological parent's written consent to the child's residence application. A notarised, apostilled and translated consent is sufficient.
The other parent has died: the multilingual civil-status extract showing the death is added to the file.
Child aged 18–20: custody has ended, so no consent is required; a civil-status record showing the child is unmarried and evidence of dependency suffice.
Under the 1976 Vienna Convention, to which Türkiye and Greece are parties, civil-status extracts are issued in multilingual form and need no translation. Court decisions and consents need an apostille and translation.
Costs and documents
Application fee: child under 18 €0; ages 18–20 €150; card €16.
Health insurance: a separate policy for each family member; about €60–85 a year for a child.
Biometrics: a child aged six or over attends once for fingerprints, with a parent; not required under six.
Documents: passport, multilingual birth extract, custody decision or consent (apostilled, translated), insurance policy, passport photos.
The legal fee covers the family file as a whole; adding a stepchild does not add a separate legal fee.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an age-18 limit for a stepchild? No. The limit is 21, and the child must be unmarried. A child aged 18–20 is included with a €150 fee.
If my spouse is not the investor, can my own child from a previous marriage be included? Yes. The article covers the children "of the investor or of the other spouse"; custody must be with you.
What if the other parent refuses consent? With joint custody the file cannot proceed. Custody would need to be transferred to you or your spouse by the family court in your home country.
What happens to the stepchild after 21? They receive an independent three-year permit and can later switch to a work, study or investment permit of their own.
Planning a family file that includes your spouse's child? Let us structure the documents correctly from the start. → WhatsApp: +90 532 318 4567 · info@avlarealestate.com
Related reading: Family Reunification: How to Include Spouse, Children Under 21 and Parents · Greek Golden Visa in a Child's Name
This article is general information; each family file is assessed with the opinion of a lawyer admitted in Greece. Source: Law 5038/2023 (Migration Code) article 95 §2 and article 171.
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