Move to Greece
Greece Digital Nomad Visa Guide
Greece's Digital Nomad Visa lets remote workers and freelancers who earn their income from outside the country live in Greece legally for an extended period. This guide explains who it suits, what you generally need to qualify, and the tax questions to settle first — with clear flags on the details Greece does not publish in one place, which you should confirm before applying.
Last reviewed July 5, 2026
What the Digital Nomad Visa is
The Digital Nomad Visa is a route that lets non-EU nationals who work remotely live in Greece while earning their income from employers or clients based outside the country. In plain terms, it gives location-independent workers a legal, longer-term way to be based in Greece without taking a local job. It is aimed squarely at people whose work travels with their laptop rather than at those seeking employment in the Greek labour market.
If you only intend to spend a short spell in Greece, you may not need this route at all: many visitors can rely on the standard 90/180 Schengen short-stay rule. The digital nomad route matters when you want to stay longer than that short-stay allowance permits.
Who qualifies
The route is generally intended for two groups: remote employees working for a company outside Greece, and self-employed freelancers or business owners serving clients abroad. The common thread is that your income arises outside Greece and that you can prove your remote working arrangement. You will typically also need valid travel documents, health insurance cover, and a clean record, in line with standard residence requirements.
This route is not designed for people who intend to work for Greek employers or serve the local market. If your plan is to take up local employment, a different residence pathway applies — our complete guide to moving to Greece outlines the broader options.
The minimum income requirement
A defining condition of the route is a minimum monthly income from your foreign work. As a rule, that minimum rises if you bring a spouse or dependents, since you must show you can support them. The point of the requirement is to demonstrate that you can sustain yourself in Greece without relying on the local economy.
Visa vs residence permit
It helps to separate two steps. First, there is typically an entry visa that lets you come to Greece as a digital nomad. Second, once you are in the country and intend to stay longer, you generally apply for a residence permit that authorises your extended stay. The visa gets you in; the permit lets you settle for the longer term.
The precise sequence, timing, and where each step is lodged can vary, so verify the current process for your situation with an official source rather than assuming it mirrors another country's scheme.
Application documents and process
While exact requirements vary and change, applicants are generally asked to provide a valid passport, evidence of remote work (an employment contract or client agreements), proof that you meet the income threshold, health insurance cover, and supporting documents such as a clean criminal record and proof of accommodation. Documents from abroad may need translation and official certification.
Because the documentary list and where you file can differ by consulate and over time, build in time to gather and certify paperwork, and confirm the current checklist before you start.
How long it lasts and renewal
The route generally grants a defined period of stay, with the possibility of renewal if you continue to meet the conditions — chiefly the income requirement and continued remote work from outside Greece. Durations and renewal terms can be revised, so treat the length of stay as something to confirm rather than assume.
Tax implications
Spending real time in Greece has tax consequences. As a general rule, spending more than 183 days in Greece within a 12-month period, or making Greece your center of vital interests, can make you a Greek tax resident — which typically brings your worldwide income within scope of Greek tax, subject to relief under any double-taxation treaty. Holding a digital nomad permit does not by itself decide your tax residency; your presence and ties do.
Greece has also introduced incentives intended to attract people relocating to work in the country, which may reduce tax on certain relocating workers for a period. Whether any such incentive applies to a digital nomad, and on what terms, depends on the current rules and your facts, so treat it as something to explore with an adviser rather than a certainty to plan around.
Cost of living context
Part of Greece's appeal for remote workers is that a foreign income often stretches further there than in many higher-cost countries. How far it stretches depends heavily on where you settle — a central Athens neighbourhood differs from a smaller town or island. Our cost of living in Greece guide sets out the main budget lines, and you can compare your current city against Greek locations with our cost of living comparison calculator.