Residence route
Digital Nomad Visa and residence permit
For people employed or self-employed outside Greece who want to do that work from Greece.
- Permit duration
- D-visa up to 12 months, then a residence permit of up to 2 years
- Headline requirement
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€3,500 a month — source and verification date
Digital Nomad Visa minimum net monthly income
Authorities look for stable income over several months, not a single large deposit. The income must come entirely from outside Greece.
- Where you apply
- Greek consulate in your country of residence. In-country applications were abolished on 5 February 2026.
Last verified 12 September 2026 · 1 day ago · checked by spec-import Every figure on this page was checked against its source on this date.
Governing authority: Ministry of Migration and Asylum
What this route is
It is a permit for people whose work is already somewhere else. You keep your foreign employer or your foreign clients, and Greece gives you the legal right to live here while you do that work. It is not a work permit: it does not let you take a Greek job, and it does not let you invoice Greek clients.
The financial test is the whole gate. You need Digital Nomad Visa minimum net monthly income Authorities look for stable income over several months, not a single large deposit. The income must come entirely from outside Greece. Digital Nomad Visa income uplift for a spouse or partner Roughly €700 on top of the base threshold. Digital Nomad Visa income uplift per dependent child Roughly €525 per child on top of the base threshold.€3,500 a month — source and verification date
20% — source and verification date
15% — source and verification date
What the evidence has to show
Two things, and applications usually fail on the second. First, that the money is enough. Second, that it is reliable. Authorities look for a pattern over several months — contracts, payslips, invoices, bank statements and tax returns — not a balance on a single day. A large deposit made shortly before you apply reads badly, because it reads as borrowed.
You will also need a clean criminal record certificate, private health insurance from an insurer authorised to operate in Greece, proof of accommodation, and evidence of the remote work arrangement itself.
What happens to your tax
Stay Days in Greece that trigger tax residency 183 days or more in a calendar year makes you a Greek tax resident regardless of the other tests. Residents are taxed on worldwide income. Income exempt under the inbound worker regime Maximum duration of the 50% inbound worker exemption183 days — source and verification date
50% — source and verification date
7 years — source and verification date
It is elective and it has a filing window. Miss the window and you lose a full year of it. This is the point at which talking to a Greek tax adviser stops being optional — see the 50% exemption in detail.
At a glance
In one line: For people employed or self-employed outside Greece who want to do that work from Greece. It runs for d-visa up to 12 months, then a residence permit of up to 2 years, and work rights are limited.
| Who it is for | Non-EU remote workers with stable income from foreign employers or clients, who can apply from a Greek consulate before travelling. |
|---|---|
| Financial requirement | €3,500 a month — source and verification dateDigital Nomad Visa minimum net monthly income Authorities look for stable income over several months, not a single large deposit. The income must come entirely from outside Greece. |
| Initial duration | D-visa up to 12 months, then a residence permit of up to 2 years |
| Renewal | Renewable while the income and insurance conditions are still met |
| Can you work? | Limited. Remote work for non-Greek employers or clients only. Employment by a Greek company or income from Greek clients disqualifies you. |
| Family included? | Yes. Family members can obtain their own visas for the same duration but may not work or run a business in Greece. |
| Minimum days in Greece | No stated minimum, but staying beyond 183 days in a year makes you a Greek tax resident |
| Route to permanent residence | Time on this permit can count towards long-term residence, subject to the usual conditions |
| Where you apply | Greek consulate in your country of residence. In-country applications were abolished on 5 February 2026. |
What changed recently
Rule changes in the last two years that affect this route. If you read something elsewhere that contradicts these, check its date before you believe it.
Step by step
Times below are realistic rather than optimistic, and they assume your documents are already in order. The slowest part is usually waiting for a consulate appointment.
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Gather proof of income and the remote work arrangement
Where At home Typically 2–4 weeks
Contracts, payslips, invoices, bank statements and tax returns covering several months. A single large deposit will not satisfy the stability test.
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Obtain a criminal record certificate and arrange health insurance
Where At home Typically 2–6 weeks
The criminal record certificate normally needs an apostille and a certified Greek translation. The insurer must be authorised to operate in Greece.
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Apply for the D-visa at a Greek consulate
Where Greek consulate in your country of residence Typically Around 10 working days once submitted
This step is mandatory and cannot be done from inside Greece. Book early — consulate appointment waits vary widely by country.
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Travel to Greece and secure accommodation
Where Greece Typically 1–2 weeks
Do not sign a long lease sight-unseen. Four to eight weeks of short-term accommodation is the usual approach.
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Apply for the AFM at a tax office
Where DOY (tax office) or remotely through AADE Typically Same day once you have an appointment
Nothing else works without it. Appointments in Athens and Thessaloniki fill weeks ahead.
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Submit the residence permit application and complete biometrics
Where Ministry of Migration and Asylum one-stop office Typically 1–3 months end to end
Must be submitted before the D-visa expires. Biometric registration produces the ADET card.
Document checklist
These are the documents the Digital Nomad Visa and residence permit route asks for. Two columns matter more than people expect: an apostille is a certificate that proves a foreign public document is genuine, and a certified translation must be produced by a translator Greek authorities accept. Both take weeks, and both are the usual reason an application is sent back.
| Document | Apostille | Certified Greek translation |
|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Not required | Not required |
| Criminal record certificateLegalisation rather than apostille where your country is not in the Hague Convention. | Required | Required |
| Proof of remote work arrangement (contracts, invoices) | Not required | Required |
| Bank statements and payslips covering several months | Not required | Required |
| Private health insurance from a provider authorised in Greece | Not required | Not required |
| Proof of accommodation in Greece | Not required | Not required |
What it costs in total
Government fees are the smallest part of the bill. Translation, apostilles, insurance and legal help usually cost more than the permit itself, and they are the costs people forget to budget for.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Nomad residence permit application fee | €1,016 | Residence permit of up to two years |
| Digital Nomad D-visa processing time | 10 days | The end-to-end process typically runs one to three months. |
Budget separately for apostilles and certified translations of every document marked in the checklist above, and for private health insurance where the route requires it.
Who this is wrong for
We are not selling this permit, so we can tell you when it is a bad fit. If any of these describes you, this route will not work and you should look elsewhere before you spend money on it.
- You hold EU, EEA or Swiss nationality. You do not need this permit and cannot use it — you have free movement instead.
- Any part of your income comes from a Greek employer or Greek clients. The income must come entirely from outside Greece.
- You are already in Greece and hoped to apply here. In-country applications were abolished on 5 February 2026.
- Your income is irregular. Authorities look for stable income over several months, not one large deposit before the application.
- You want to take a Greek job later. This permit does not convert; you would need a different route.
- You cannot get private health insurance from a provider authorised to operate in Greece.
What this does to your tax
Staying 183 days or more in a calendar year makes you a Greek tax resident, taxed on worldwide income. Holders who become Greek tax residents may qualify for the 50% inbound worker exemption for up to seven years.
The trigger that catches people is time, not intention. Spending Days in Greece that trigger tax residency 183 days or more in a calendar year makes you a Greek tax resident regardless of the other tests. Residents are taxed on worldwide income.183 days — source and verification date
Read how Greek tax residency is decided and the 2026 income tax scale.
Questions people actually ask
Can I still apply from inside Greece?
No. Under Law 5275/2026, in-country applications for the Digital Nomad residence permit were abolished on 5 February 2026. The route that most blogs still describe — enter visa-free as a tourist, find a flat, then apply at a migration office — is closed. You apply at a Greek consulate before you travel. If a site is telling you otherwise, check when it was written.
What counts as income from outside Greece?
Salary from a foreign employer, or invoices paid by clients based outside Greece. What does not count is employment by a Greek company or fees from Greek clients, and mixing even a small amount of Greek-source income into the picture puts the application at risk. If you are unsure whether a particular client makes you ineligible, ask a Greek immigration lawyer before you file, not after.
How much does a family need?
The base threshold applies to you, with a 20% uplift for a spouse or partner and 15% for each dependent child. We deliberately do not publish a single family total, because sources compute the compounding differently and we would rather show you the arithmetic than quote a number we cannot stand behind. Take the base figure, add the percentages, and expect the consulate to want the higher reading.
What does "stable income" actually mean?
Authorities look at several months of history, not a snapshot. A single large deposit made shortly before the application is the classic failure: it reads as money borrowed to pass a test. Bank statements, payslips, invoices and tax returns covering at least the preceding six months are the evidence that works.
Does this permit let me take a Greek job later?
No, and it does not convert into one. Taking employment with a Greek company while holding this permit breaks its core condition. If you want to keep that option open, look at the work permit or EU Blue Card routes instead — and understand that switching generally means a fresh application with its own conditions.
Will I pay Greek tax?
If you stay 183 days or more in a calendar year, yes — you become a Greek tax resident and Greece taxes your worldwide income. That is not a penalty and it is not avoidable by holding this particular permit. What it does open is the 50% inbound worker exemption, which can halve the taxable portion of your Greek-source employment or self-employment income for up to seven years, if you meet its conditions and file within the window.
Can my partner work?
No. Family members can obtain their own visas for the same duration, but they may not work or run a business in Greece. For a couple where both people work remotely, each of you may be better applying in your own right rather than one as a dependant.
What health insurance is acceptable?
Private cover from a provider authorised to operate in Greece. A policy from an insurer with no Greek authorisation is a common reason applications are sent back, even when the cover itself is generous. Confirm authorisation with the insurer in writing before you buy.