Greece Digital Nomad Visa
In this article
Greece introduced its digital nomad visa in September 2021, and the Ministry of Immigration
and Asylum received about 2918 applications one month later. Of the 2918 applicants, the
Greek ministry approved 1,693, welcoming them as digital nomads to their country. The
nomad visa is an invitation for remote workers to work in Greece while enjoying greek's
late-night culture and the beauty it offers.
Greece has over 9,942 miles of coastline and 6000 islands, all unique in their way. The
beautiful landscape and culture of the people draw foreigners into its borders regularly.
Greece has a stable internet speed for mobile and broadband networks, making remote work
easy and attracting digital nomads.
Digital nomads worldwide are making their way down to Greece to enjoy the benefits of
tourism while working remotely.
Digital Nomad Visa for Greece: A Quick Overview
Covid-19 caused remote work to blossom, as companies needed to keep operations running
while staying safe indoors. Remote work has grown from just working from your house to
working from anywhere in the world, provided you have access to a power supply and
internet connection.
With this recent development, people can travel as tourists to visit locations and
work on their trips. Some countries like Greece created a special visa type for them
called the digital nomad visa, which allows holders to work for an extended period
in the country.
- In September 2021, Greece's Ministers of Migration and Foreign Affairs agreed on the Digital Nomad visa and passed it into law 4825/2021. The nomad visa attracts remote workers and permanent investments to Greece.
- The digital nomad visa allows remote workers, entrepreneurs, and self-employed individuals to stay in Greece and do their business remotely while looking over historic sites and the ocean. The visa is only applicable provided you do not engage in business activity in Greece or have Greek-dependent employment.
- Visitors to Greece on a digital nomad visa are entitled to the right of legal residence.
- Greece is ideal for digital nomads due to its stable internet speeds. Broadband users can get stable speeds upwards of 39.08 Mbps, while mobile networks have up to 92.54 Mbps across the country.
- To obtain a nomad visa, you must earn upwards of €3,500 monthly after tax. To bring a spouse or a cohabitant along, the amount increases by 20%, and 15% for a dependent below 18 years old.
- Greece's digital nomad visa is valid for one year after it has been issued. After that period it expires. However, if you still meet the requirements, you can apply for it again.
- Applying for Greece's nomad visa takes place at the embassy or consulate, where you will submit the necessary documents. Fees and payments can be done online.
Greece Digital Nomad Visa Application: Who Is Eligible to Apply?
The digital nomad visa is ideal for non-EU citizens who plan to stay in Greece longer
than what the Schengen visa or the
ETIAS for Greece allow. The visa was designed for
freelancers, self-employed and salaried employees, provided they do not work for a
company registered in Greece. To qualify for the visa as a self-employed individual,
you must submit documentation proving your corporate purpose and describing your
business activity and address which must not be in Greece.
Employed people must not work for a company registered in Greece and can only work
with clients outside Greece. They must also be able to work remotely using communication
technologies like smartphones and laptops before they are eligible to apply for the visa.
Nationals and foreign residents in any European Union country do not need a nomad visa
to enter Greece, as they have free access to work and live in the EU countries and the
Schengen zone member states.
Greece Digital Nomad Visa Requirements
Financial Requirements
Remote workers must prove they meet the financial requirements before applying for the
digital nomad visa. For the principal applicant, they must prove that they earn more
than a net income of €3,500 monthly. With every dependent you are coming with, the
financial requirement increases.
For a spouse, it increases by 20%, coming up to €4,200, and 15% for a child or
dependent less than 18. For the main applicant and a dependent, it will cost €4,025.
For the main applicant with a spouse and a child, €4,725 monthly income is the
financial requirement.
Document Requirements
The nomad visa is an example of a Type D visa in Greece but has four added document
requirements than the national Type D visa. To apply for the nomad visa,
the applicant must provide:
- A declaration letter.
- Proof of sufficient funds.
- Proof of employment.
- The digital nomad visa fee.
A declaration letter is considered a cover letter and is the most important for the
application process. The letter needs to state that you plan to do remote work in Greece
for a company or clients not registered in the country. Applicants must also include
other relevant details in the declaration document.
The proof of sufficient funds is essential to ensure that the remote worker is
financially buoyant enough to sustain themselves while in Greece. Recent bank
statements, an employment contract that states your salary, company account
statements for self-employed professionals, and any other documents showing your
monthly income can be used to apply for the visa.
Proof of employment is a document that shows that you are gainfully employed and
offer services to companies not registered or operated in Greece. People who run
their company outside Greece can provide their company name, license number,
corporate purpose, and field of activity as proof of employment.
An employment contract and a letter from your employer that states that you can
complete your tasks using mobile devices like laptops and smartphones are required.
The digital nomad visa fee is €75, and the applicant must pay the visa
fee and submit a few documents supporting their application during the process.
Documents Required For The Greece Type D Visa
The nomad visa in Greece is a Type D visa, and these are the
documents required for a Type D visa application:
- The digital nomad visa application form is where you input all your details. Under the "main purpose of journey" section, select "other" and then input "remote work". It separates your application as a digital nomad application.
- A valid passport must have at least two blank pages. The passport must be valid for at least six months after leaving Greece.
- Two passport photos taken on a white background in color. The passport photos must meet the size specifications stated on the official website.
- Proof of accommodation in Greece like documents for owned properties or a rental agreement. The nomad visa is valid for 12 months and requires you to have accommodation for the duration.
- Travel insurance that has to cover all your medical expenses during your stay in Greece. There are no strict requirements for insurance. However, it helps if you use the requirements for Schengen health insurance.
- A return ticket to your home country that proves that you will leave Greece when your visa expires. Providing a booking confirmation for a return ticket can also suffice.
- A valid criminal record certificate shows that you are law-abiding and do not threaten Greece's citizens and its government. The record should be from your home country or a country you have lived in for more than one year without breaks.
- A medical certificate from a recognized medical institution in your country to prove that you are fit and do not have any contagious diseases.
In addition to these, there are Covid-19 regulations for entering Greece. They are
constantly changing though. So, before starting your application process, check out
the current requirements with the embassy.
Stay Requirements
The Greece digital nomad visa allows you to stay for one year doing remote work.
However, to qualify for that, you must provide proof of accommodation like the
documents of owned properties in Greece. A rental agreement that covers the duration of
your stay can also serve the purpose.
How to Apply for a Visa?
The exact visa application steps of the Greece digital nomad visa have been simplified
over the last few months, and with the correct information, you can get the application
done in no time. These are the
steps involved in applying for the nomad visa:
Step 1. Collect the Required Documents.
Prepare all the required documents for the digital nomad visa and the Greece Type D
visa mentioned above. Ensure to have all the documents in one place before starting
the process to prevent stalling.
Step 2. Submit Your Visa Application.
Next, you must submit your application to the consulate or Greece embassy. You can
submit them in person or post mail to their dedicated mailing address or email.
Ensure you put the correct address when submitting to ensure your application
is processed.
Step 3. Wait for Approval.
It usually takes about ten days for the application to be processed and approved or
rejected. If it gets approved, the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum will send
you your digital nomad visa, which you can attach to your passport.
Step 4. Register for Residency Permit.
On arrival in Greece, you need to register for a digital nomad residence permit. To
get your residency permit, you must visit the nearest Aliens and Immigration Department
with your valid passport, visa, and residential agreement or hotel booking confirmation.
You have to carry out this process as soon as you enter Greece.
Where to Apply: Authorities Responsible for the Issuance of the Visa
The authorities responsible for issuing your nomad visa depend on where you apply for
the visa. Applicants in Greece already can get their visa application approved by the
Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum. They need to get their visa issued before the
visa that brought them to Greece expires. For applicants outside Greece, the Greek
consular authority or embassy in your home country is responsible for issuing your visa.
Visa Processing Time: How Long Will You Wait for the Feedback?
Digital nomads applying for the Greece visa would wait about ten days to get a response.
According to Law 4825/2021, if their application gets approved, they will get their visa
sticker to attach to their passport. If it was rejected, you can fix the error and
apply again.
How Much is the Fee for the Greece Digital Nomad Visa?
The Greece digital nomad visa costs €75 per applicant, regardless of their
position as the main applicant, spouse, or dependent child. The fee covers the
processing of the visa irrespective of the outcome, so it is non-refundable. If
your application gets rejected, you must pay the fee again if you reapply.
How Long Is the Greek Nomad Visa Valid for?
The law mandated the digital nomad visa be valid
for 12 months (one year) from the time it was approved. Towards the end of
the initial visa, if you still meet all the requirements like the financial
requirements and your passport is still valid, you can apply for your visa to be
extended by one more year.
While your nomad visa is still valid, you are at liberty to leave Greece when you will.
However, it must not be longer than six months at once.
Two years is the maximum you can stay in Greece with a nomad visa.
Do Digital Nomads Need To Pay Tax In Greece?
Tax and its related regulations are the most significant limitations to the digital
nomad lifestyle worldwide. Do you pay tax to the country where you are or your home
country? In Greece, the 4825/2021 law that permits digital nomads neither exempts
digital nomads from paying tax nor specifies a tax regulation on them.
The nomad visa is valid for 12 months and can be extended to 24, it is therefore
classified as a long stay visa, and it is safe to assume the tax regulations for
long stay visas. The Greece Income Taxation Code Law 4172/2013 states that a tax
resident must pay tax on the income received in a tax year from Greece and abroad.
The next question is who is regarded as a tax resident in Greece. A tax resident is
someone who has stayed in Greece for 183 consecutive days or more within 12 months.
People with physical homes or permanent residency in Greece and those with a working
contract or other interests are considered tax residents. People on trips to Greece for
personal reasons like medical treatments, tourism, or therapeutic visits and stay for
less than a year are not liable to pay taxes in Greece.
Beneficiaries: Are Family Members of a Digital Nomad Eligible for a Visa?
Family members and dependents can be beneficiaries of the digital nomad visa. According
to the law in Greece, family members include the spouse, children of the spouse 18 years
old or less, parents, and dependent family members. To bring family members along, the
financial requirement increases by 20% for spouses and 15% for each child under 18 or
dependents.
The spouse and each dependent still need to pay the €75 application fee, providing all
the necessary documents. Spouses and dependent family members also have to prove that
they are dependent employees with companies outside Greece or are self-employed in
non-Greek establishments.
Living as a Digital Nomad in Greece: Quick Tips
Greece, located in Southeastern Europe, is a beautiful place to visit. It has the longest
coastline in the Mediterranean Basin and over 6000 islands. The Greece digital nomad visa
is ideal for nomads who want to spend time enjoying the beauty of nature while working and
making money. Here are some quick
tips and interesting facts about living in Greece as a digital nomad.
Greece has a warm and inviting Mediterranean climate. It is characterized by hot and
dry summers ideal for a time at the beach, with mild and wet winters.
The internet coverage in most parts of the country is stable, with an average internet
speed of 92.54 Mbps on mobile and 39.08 Mbps on broadband. The stable speed allows
digital nomads to get enough work done while traveling around Greece.
Greece has some of Europe's most modernized transport systems, allowing digital nomads to
move easily from one part of the country to another. There are motorways connecting major
parts of the country. There are also cheap local flights from most islands, ensuring
transportation is as quick as possible. Greece has the longest suspension bridge in Europe
- the Rio–Antirrio bridge, and it connects Peloponnese and Aetolia-Acarnania, stretching
7,382 ft.
The Greece digital nomad visa requires that you have health insurance coverage for the
duration of your stay in the country.
Although Greece's cost and living expenses are relatively lower than in other European
countries, tourist areas are more expensive to visit.
Cost of Living in Greece
Greece has an affordable cost of living, much lower than most other European countries.
Getting accommodation in the city may be a little challenging. Hence, there are co-living
spaces where occupants share basic amenities. Other housing solutions include rental
apartments, Airbnb, and hotels.
Accommodation cost ranges from €335 to €780 per month, depending on the area and size.
Transportation is also low-cost, with train tickets as low as €1.40 and €3.47 taxi fares.
Greek food substances are low-cost and have relatively stable prices allowing the digital
nomad to plan and budget. Cheaper foodstuff and fresh farm produce are readily available
in local markets around the city.
Basic lunch with a bottle of drink cost about €14, and an average cheese pie and cup of
coffee cost €5. An average glass of 0.5-litre beer costs €1.16. On average, the groceries
cost for one person per month is about €205.
Most Popular Destinations for Digital Nomads in Greece
Apart from the culturally important UNESCO world heritage sites in Greece that attract
tourists, holders of the Greek digital nomad visas are more interested in places that
allow them to work. There are several coworking spaces for digital nomads
to work in a fun-themed environment and provide free wifi. Some of the popular examples
include:
Impact Hub—Psirri is a coworking space in Athens, lined with trees that give
it an exquisite outlook. Self-employed people and freelancers commonly use this place
for seminars, meetups, and work. The new digital nomad visa allows foreigners to work
there while in Greece.
Thermi Link in Thessaloniki was launched in 2011 and allows
professionals to network and collaborate on projects.
The Greece nomad visa also allows nomads to work in camps where professionals and nomads
can work together for days, exchanging ideas and collaborating. Nomads can also do
remote work from cafes because most cafes provide free wifi around the city.
Greece Digital Nomad Visa FAQs
Does Greece have a digital nomad visa?
Yes, Greece has a digital nomad visa that allows its holders to work remotely while in Greece provided they meet all the requirements.How do I get a Greek digital nomad visa?
You can get the Greek digital nomad visa by taking the requirements to the local Greece embassy in your home country. The digital nomad visa application.Can I work remotely from Greece?
Yes, you can work remotely from Greece, provided you work for a company or clients that are not registered in Greece. The Greece digital nomad visa allows its holders to work for companies worldwide, provided they do not have Greek roots.Do digital nomads pay tax in Greece?
The Greece digital nomad visa was passed as law 4825/2021, and it does not state any specifics for tax payment. However, a digital nomad planning on staying the duration the digital visa permits or extending it should prepare to pay tax based on the terms of the Greek long-stay visa.Can I apply for the Greece digital nomad visa if I already have another Greece national visa?
The type of Greece national visa you have will determine if you can apply for a Greece digital nomad visa. Holders of a Schengen visa, temporary or permanent residence permit of any other European country can apply for the digital nomad visa in Greece. People with the Greek golden visa or other do not need to apply for the nomad visa because they are already conditional citizens.
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