Digital Nomad Visa Greece 2026: The Complete Guide

Updated: 18 August 2026

In This Guide

What Is the Greece Digital Nomad Visa?

Introduced in 2021, the Greece Digital Nomad Visa is intended for third-country nationals who can perform their work remotely using information and communications technology. Applicants may be salaried employees, freelancers, self-employed professionals or business owners, but their employer, clients or business activity must be based outside Greece.

The initial national visa can provide legal residence in Greece for up to 12 months. A qualifying applicant who intends to remain longer can apply in Greece for a Digital Nomad residence permit before the visa expires. The residence permit is valid for up to two years and can be renewed for further two-year periods while the conditions continue to be met.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a Digital Nomad Visa because their position is governed by European free-movement rules. Registration requirements can nevertheless apply when they remain in Greece for longer than three months.

What Changed in February 2026?

Until early 2026, an eligible third-country national who entered Greece with a short-stay Schengen visa or under a visa-waiver arrangement could apply directly in Greece for a Digital Nomad residence permit while that lawful short stay remained valid.

Law 5275/2026 removed that in-country first-application route. The law was passed by Parliament on 5 February and published in Government Gazette A’ 17 on 6 February 2026.

A visa-free visit or ordinary short-stay visa can still permit a qualifying visitor to enter Greece for tourism within the applicable Schengen limit. It cannot now be converted directly into a first Digital Nomad residence permit from within Greece.

Anyone who already holds another Greek residence title, has a pending application or may fall within transitional provisions should obtain advice based on their individual status rather than assuming that the general first-time procedure applies.

Who Can Apply?

An applicant must generally be a non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss national who:

• can work remotely using digital technology;
• works for an employer or clients established outside Greece;
• does not intend to work for a Greek employer or provide services to Greek clients;
• can demonstrate sufficient, stable resources;
• has suitable health-insurance coverage; and
• meets the passport, security and other national-visa requirements applied by the responsible consulate.

A salaried employee will normally need evidence of the employment relationship and confirmation that the work can be performed remotely. A freelancer or self-employed applicant may need contracts, client information, business registration records and evidence showing that the business and its clients are outside Greece.

Minimum Income Requirements

The applicant must demonstrate stable resources of at least €3,500 per month after taxes. Where the resources come from salaried employment or independent services, the threshold refers to net income after tax in the country where the work or services are provided.

The calculations are €3,500 plus 20% for a spouse or partner and 15% for each child. A consulate may require evidence covering the intended period of stay and may specify which combinations of contracts, payslips, bank statements or other records it will accept.

Documents Commonly Required

The precise checklist should come from the Greek consulate responsible for the applicant’s place of main residence. Applicants are commonly asked for:

• a completed national-visa application and valid passport;
• recent passport photographs;
• a declaration describing the intention to live in Greece while working remotely and confirming that no work will be performed for a Greek employer or Greek clients;
• an employment contract, employer confirmation, service contracts or business records showing qualifying activity outside Greece;
• evidence of stable net income, such as payslips, bank statements, contracts or invoices;
• health-insurance coverage valid in Greece;
• a criminal-record certificate and medical documentation where required for the national visa;
• civil-status documents for accompanying family members; and
• the applicable fee and any additional documents requested by the consular authority.

Foreign public documents may require an apostille or other legalisation, depending on the issuing country, as well as an official translation. Applicants should not arrange these formalities until they have checked the consulate’s current instructions.

The Application Process

The ten-day provision should not be presented as a guarantee that every completed case, passport return and relocation arrangement will be finalised within ten calendar days. Appointment availability, document deficiencies, translations and local consular practice can affect the overall timetable. Beginning preparation two or three months before a planned move is sensible, but it is practical guidance rather than a statutory processing period.

Digital Nomad Visa or Residence Permit?

The residence permit is not simply an optional administrative upgrade for someone who remains indefinitely. A person wishing to stay beyond the period authorised by the national visa must secure the appropriate continuing residence status before the visa expires.

Can Family Members Join the Applicant?

A spouse or cohabiting partner and dependent children may accompany the principal applicant, subject to documentation and the increased income requirement. Their status normally follows the validity of the principal holder’s visa or residence permit.

Family members admitted through this route do not receive a right to take employment or conduct professional activity in Greece merely because they accompany the digital nomad. A family member wishing to work should check whether a different status is required.

Tax Residence: The Visa Does Not Decide Your Tax Position

A Digital Nomad Visa is an immigration status, not a tax exemption. Under the Greek Income Tax Code, an individual can be considered a Greek tax resident because their permanent or principal residence, habitual abode or centre of vital interests is in Greece. Presence exceeding 183 cumulative days during any twelve-month period can also result in Greek tax residence from the first day of presence, subject to the statutory exceptions.

Tax residence can bring Greek reporting and taxation of worldwide income, while a double-taxation agreement may affect how taxing rights and credits are allocated. Citizenship, employer location, business structure, social-security coverage and the source of income can all matter.

Read Xpat.gr’s Greek tax guide for expats, but obtain individual cross-border tax advice before relocating or changing tax residence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply after entering Greece as a tourist?

No, not for a first Digital Nomad residence permit under the general procedure applying since 6 February 2026. The correct Digital Nomad national visa must first be obtained from the responsible Greek consular authority abroad.

Can I work for a Greek company?

No. The Digital Nomad route is for remote work connected to employers or clients outside Greece. It does not grant access to Greek dependent employment or Greek-based freelance or business activity.

Can I travel elsewhere in the Schengen Area?

A valid Greek national visa or residence permit generally permits short travel elsewhere in the Schengen Area within the applicable rules, normally up to 90 days in any 180-day period outside Greece. It does not provide a general right to live or work in another Schengen country.

Do I need a Greek bank account?

A Greek bank account is not stated as a condition for obtaining the Digital Nomad Visa, although an applicant must provide acceptable proof of resources. A local account may become useful after arrival. See Xpat.gr’s guide to opening a bank account in Greece.

Will I need an AFM?

Many longer-term residents need an AFM, Greece’s tax identification number, for taxation and everyday transactions. The timing and supporting documents depend on the reason it is required. See our guide to obtaining an AFM and AMKA in Greece.

Do I need to speak Greek?

There is no Greek-language test for the Digital Nomad Visa. Basic Greek can nevertheless make housing, healthcare and administrative tasks easier.

Before You Apply: Practical Checklist

Official Sources

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