Greece’s Tech Visa and Talent Visa: Who Can Apply and What Has Changed

Updated: 14 September 2026

Greece has introduced two new routes for highly qualified professionals from outside the European Union. The Tech Visa allows eligible recruits to begin working for a registered Greek start-up, while the Talent Visa gives certain graduates of internationally ranked universities 12 months in Greece to look for work or pursue a professional activity.

The two national visas were established by Law 5275/2026, published on 6 February 2026. Although their names sound similar, they serve different groups. A Tech Visa applicant must already have an employment contract with an eligible start-up, while a Talent Visa applicant enters Greece to search for suitable opportunities and does not need a job offer before applying.

For a broader overview of employment, remote-work, family, study and investment routes, see our Greece Visa and Residence Permit Guide for Expats.

Tech Visa and Talent Visa at a glance

Who are the visas intended for?

Both routes apply to citizens of third countries, meaning people who are outside the EU framework for freedom of movement. EU, European Economic Area and Swiss citizens already have separate rights to enter, live and work in Greece and do not need either visa.

Greek citizens returning from abroad are also outside the scope of the Tech Visa and Talent Visa. They already have an unrestricted right to live and work in Greece, regardless of where they studied or how long they have lived overseas.

The correct residence route depends on nationality, employment, income and family circumstances. Our complete guide to moving to Greece in 2026 explains how residence rights fit alongside tax, healthcare, housing and the practical arrangements required after arrival.

The Tech Visa

The Tech Visa, officially classified as Z.13A, is a 12-month national visa for highly qualified third-country nationals recruited by start-ups included in Greece’s National Register of Start-ups, known as Elevate Greece.

The word “tech” can be misleading. Eligibility is determined by the employer’s active registration with Elevate Greece, rather than simply by the applicant’s job title or the company describing itself as a technology business.

Who can qualify for a Tech Visa?

The applicant must satisfy the usual requirements for a Greek national visa and the specific conditions created for the Tech Visa. These include:

• The applicant must be a third-country national.
• The employer must be an active member of the Elevate Greece register.
• The applicant must have a dependent employment contract lasting at least 12 months.
• The gross annual salary stated in the contract must be at least 1.6 times the average gross annual salary in Greece.
• The applicant must possess high professional qualifications, demonstrated through a higher-education qualification or qualifying high-level professional skills.
• The applicant must meet the general passport, health-insurance and security requirements for a national visa.

The salary condition is expressed as a multiple of the national average rather than a permanently fixed euro amount. Applicants and employers should therefore confirm the figure being used by the authorities at the time of application.

Can a Tech Visa holder work immediately?

Yes. The Tech Visa itself provides immediate access to dependent employment without requiring the applicant to wait for a separate residence permit. However, that right is limited to the employer named in the application and employment contract.

Can the employee change employer?

A Tech Visa holder cannot change employer during the visa’s validity. If the employment relationship ends, the worker is generally required to leave Greece immediately. The employer must also inform the competent Greek consular authority so that the visa can be withdrawn.

The law provides an exception where the employment ends because the employer has breached the terms of the contract. Anyone facing that situation should obtain specialist advice before taking further action, as the exception does not automatically create an unrestricted right to accept another job.

Can family members accompany the employee?

The worker may be accompanied by eligible family members. They receive corresponding national visas as family members of a Z.13A holder, also valid for 12 months.

Families should confirm the documentation required to prove the relationship and whether a family member will have independent employment rights under the visa issued to them.

What happens after 12 months?

Before the Tech Visa expires, its holder may apply in Greece for an EU Blue Card, classified as an E.1 residence permit, provided that the person continues to work for the same company and meets the applicable Blue Card conditions.

The EU Blue Card is a longer-term residence and employment route for highly qualified non-EU workers. Law 5275/2026 also extended the initial validity of the Greek EU Blue Card from two years to three years.

The Talent Visa

The Talent Visa, classified as Z.15, takes a different route. It allows qualifying third-country nationals to enter and remain in Greece for 12 months while they search for employment or explore a professional activity.

An applicant does not need to secure a Greek job before applying. However, the visa does not itself provide an unrestricted right to work. Once the holder finds employment or decides to begin a professional activity, the person must qualify for and apply for the appropriate residence permit before the Talent Visa expires.

Who can qualify for a Talent Visa?

The wording of the law is more precise than some early descriptions of the scheme. It requires the applicant to be a graduate of a foreign higher-education institution and to hold a postgraduate, doctoral or postdoctoral qualification. The relevant institutions must satisfy the international-ranking requirement established by ministerial decision.

• The applicant must be a third-country national.
• The applicant must hold a degree showing that they graduated from a qualifying foreign higher-education institution.
• The applicant must also hold a Master’s degree, doctorate or postdoctoral qualification from a foreign institution that meets the ranking condition.
• The relevant institutions must appear in at least two of the international university rankings specified by the authorities.
• The postgraduate, doctoral or postdoctoral qualification must have been obtained within the five years preceding the visa application.
• The applicant must demonstrate sufficient financial resources to support themselves during the 12-month stay.

Applicants should not assume that every recognised or accredited university automatically qualifies. The law refers specifically to institutions appearing in at least two approved international rankings. The rankings accepted and the evidence required should be confirmed with the competent Greek consulate before an application is prepared.

Does the Talent Visa provide the right to work?

The Talent Visa permits its holder to remain in Greece while looking for employment or a professional opportunity. It does not itself grant the right to begin working. The holder must first secure the appropriate legal basis for employment or professional activity.

Before the 12-month visa expires, the holder may apply for an appropriate residence permit if they have found qualifying employment or established another lawful basis for residence. This could include an EU Blue Card where the position, qualifications and salary satisfy its requirements.

Does the Talent Visa guarantee employment?

The visa provides time in Greece to look for an opportunity. It does not guarantee a job, professional licence or subsequent residence permit. Regulated professions may also require recognition of academic or professional qualifications before the person can practise in Greece.

How are these routes different from the Digital Nomad Visa and Golden Visa?

Digital Nomad Visa

The Digital Nomad Visa is designed for non-EU citizens who work remotely for employers or clients based outside Greece. By contrast, the Tech Visa is tied to employment with an Elevate Greece start-up, while the Talent Visa allows qualifying graduates to search for employment or professional opportunities within Greece.

A remote worker should not choose the Tech Visa simply because their occupation is technology-related. Likewise, holding an advanced degree does not automatically make the Talent Visa the best route if the person already has an eligible job offer and qualifies for an EU Blue Card or another employment permit.

Golden Visa

The Tech Visa and Talent Visa are routes connected to professional qualifications, employment or the search for work. They do not require the applicant to buy property or make a qualifying investment.

People considering residence through property or another eligible investment should consult the separate Golden Visa Greece 2026 guide, which explains the current investment thresholds, geographical rules and available data on permit holders.

How to apply

Applications for national visas are normally submitted to the Greek diplomatic mission or consular authority responsible for the applicant’s place of legal residence. The authority may request an interview and supporting documents in addition to those specifically required for the chosen visa category.

Obtaining permission to enter or remain in Greece is only one part of the relocation process. New residents may also need a Greek tax number, digital access to public services, social-security registration and other administrative records. Our guide to Greek bureaucracy for expats explains the main systems and the order in which they may need to be approached.

What has changed?

The main change is the creation of two defined entry routes where no equivalent national category previously existed. Registered Greek start-ups can now recruit qualified third-country nationals through a visa that provides immediate access to employment. Meanwhile, certain highly qualified graduates can enter Greece before securing a job and spend up to one year looking for a suitable opportunity.

The reform also creates a possible bridge to the EU Blue Card. For Tech Visa holders, this depends on continued employment with the same start-up and satisfaction of the Blue Card rules. Talent Visa holders must first secure employment that supports an appropriate work and residence application.

These measures show that Greece is creating new legal routes to attract skilled professionals. However, the existence of the visas does not prove by itself how many foreign professionals are choosing Greece or how many applications have been approved. Reliable conclusions about their impact will require official application and approval data.

You may also find these useful

• Greece Visa and Residence Permit Guide for Expats — the main residence routes explained
• Digital Nomad Visa Greece 2026: The Complete Guide — eligibility and the application process
• Golden Visa Greece 2026: New Data, New Rules and Who Holds It — thresholds, rules and holder data
• Moving to Greece in 2026: The Complete Expat Guide — residence, tax, healthcare, housing and everyday arrangements
• Greek Bureaucracy Explained: The Administrative Roadmap for Moving to Greece — the practical systems newcomers need

Sources

Immigration requirements and administrative practice can change. Always confirm the current rules with the competent Greek authority or an appropriately qualified professional before applying. This article provides general information and is not legal or tax advice.