In the balmy summer of 2021, Greece introduced a new Greece digital nomad visa dedicated to digital nomads. This Greece Type D visa is intended to welcome digital nomads across the world to work remotely for up to 2 years if they meet the stipulated requirements. Thanks to the Greek digital nomad visa, digital nomads and remote workers can now live their dream of making Greece their home and enjoying a beautiful life on a gorgeous Mediterranean island.
This new Greece visa, with the help of Greece’s ministers, passed under Law 4825/2021, bestows an opportunity for non-EU citizens to live and work remotely from Greece. Any foreigner, self-employed, remote worker, or freelancer, based outside Greece can easily apply for a digital visa with a few documents. Additionally, he/she needs to supply evidence of a monthly income of €3,500, an employment contract, and a declaration letter stating that he/she won’t work for a local company or conduct any business activity in Greece.
Greece isn’t the only European country to have implemented this Greece national visa program to invite international digital nomads. Countries like Croatia, the Czech Republic, Malta, Portugal, Estonia, and Spain are some of the well-known countries attracting digital nomads and remote workers every year. But, without a doubt, Greece tops the list of the best destinations for digital nomads and dependent employees.
Greece has long been a popular travel destination for travelers and holidaymakers. And now, with gorgeous beaches, UNESCO World Heritage sites, Greek culture, affordable cost of living, Mediterranean food, and the best infrastructure for remote working, it is growing as the hot spot for digital nomads. No wonder thousands of digital nomads and remote workers are already relocating to Greece since 2021.
Greece is known for having 227 islands flanked by an endless coastline and features 250 sunshine days a year. Living in Greece means enjoying a laidback lifestyle and Mediterranean climate all year round.
Whether you are a history buff or an avid adventurer, Greece will always surprise you. As with other digital nomad visas, Greece’s digital nomad visa has specific requirements. If you’re interested in working remotely in Greece, this is your comprehensive guide to working in Greece. This article will help you with everything regarding the digital nomad visa, from how to apply to budget estimation and choosing the best city to live in.
Greece Digital Nomad Visa – Quick Facts
Visa Name: Greece Digital Nomad Visa
Introduced on: September 2021
Length of Stay: 12 months from the date of approval
Renewable: Yes, extendable for a year
Processing Time: 10 working days
Digital Nomad Visa Fee: €75
Family Visa: Yes, Possible
Tax: Income tax applicable
What are the Requirements for the Greece Digital Nomad Visa?
Every digital nomad must meet the following minimum prerequisite to apply for the Greece Type D Visa:
- Valid Passport: Applicant must present a passport valid for the duration of the stay, beyond the issuance of the digital nomad visa. If the passport is found invalid, he/she must renew the passport before submitting the digital nomad visa application.
- 2 Passport Photos: Applicant must provide 2 passport photos in color.
- Proof of Income: Applicant must submit documentation proving his monthly income, no less than €3500 per month. Note that the above-mentioned proof of net income is only for the main applicant, and the amount increases with an additional 20 percent for a spouse and another 15 percent for children.
- Proof of Remote Work: Applicant must present documents of an employment contract working for clients outside Greece. An official letter from the employer also serves the same purpose.
- Clean Criminal Record Certificate: Applicant must present a valid criminal record certificate to apply for a Greece digital nomad visa. This certificate justifies that you pose no threat to the country.
- Proof of Health Insurance: Applicants must purchase a health insurance plan for the duration of their stay in Greece. Your insurance policy must cover all medical expenses for the duration of your stay.
- Address of Accommodations: The applicant must mention the address of accommodation in Greece. He/she can provide a rental agreement or related documents.
- Medical Certificate: Only applicants in good health can apply for a nomad visa. They must obtain a medical certificate of their health status issued by a recognized health organization.
- A Return Flight Ticket: The applicant can either show booking confirmation or a return flight ticket. He/she does not have to purchase the return ticket necessarily. A return flight ticket proves that he/she will be back in his home country after the digital nomad visa expires.
Along with these documents, the applicant must produce a declaration letter stating that he/she won’t work for a company registered in Greece and justify remote work status with relevant documents and details.
Who Can Apply for the Greece Digital Nomad Visa?
A third-country national—whether a freelancer or an entrepreneur or a digital nomad—who wishes to work remotely and live in Greece for a year can apply for the Greece digital nomad visa. Citizens of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA), and the Schengen Area are legally free to work and live in Greece without this specific nomad visa.
A traveler in Greece on a tourist visa can also apply for Greece’s new digital nomad visa. If you have a Greek golden visa, you cannot apply for a digital nomad visa. The applicant’s family members can also apply for a temporary residency permit.
A digital nomad planning to live in Greece must meet the following requirement to be eligible to apply for the Greek Visa:
- The applicant must not be a citizen of the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA), and the Schengen Area.
- The applicant must work remotely using information and communication technologies.
- The applicant must work for a foreign client or company.
- The applicant must have sufficient funds. The monthly income is set at €3,500 per month.
How to Apply for the Greece Digital Nomad Visa
The Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum has made applying for digital nomad visas simpler. The applicant must submit the digital nomad visa application in person to the Greek Consular Authority of their home country or local Greece embassy via email or registered mail. The Greek government will issue the nomad visa within 10 days after submitting the application.
To apply, the applicants need to follow the following 4 exact digital visa application steps:
Step 1: Gather Documents
The first and foremost thing to do is gather all the travel authorization documents and paperwork. Please make sure to collect the following listed documents.
- Valid Passport
- Visa Application Form
- Photos
- Proof of Remote Work
- Proof of Income
- Clean Criminal Record
- Proof of Health Insurance
- Address of Accommodation
- Medical Certificate
Step 2: Submit Application and Pay the Fee
Step 2 is to submit the visa application at your local Greece embassy or Greek consulate. You can either apply in person at the Greece embassy or by submitting the national Type D visa application or do it online. It is a fairly simple process; visit their official website to find the national visa application form and apply. Make sure to fill in the correct information and submit the essential documents. You have to pay a 75€ application fee plus a 150€ administration fee.
Step 3: Wait for Approval
The Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum will issue the visa within 10 working days. However, the government hasn’t officially stated the processing time. So, it may take more than just 10 days. Once the visa is approved, the aplicant is granted to reside in Greece for a year with his digital nomad residence permit. If he/she wishes to extend the existing visa, he/she can do it for an additional 1 year.
Please note that they will attach a visa sticker to your passport after a successful digital nomad visa application. Don’t forget to check it.
Step 4: Register for a Residency Permit
Last but not least, you’ll have to register for a residency permit if your visa is granted. Please bring the documents to apply for the permit: legal residence agreement, visa, and passport. This should be done immediately after you arrive in Greece. You will need to find the closest Immigration Department and submit the application to the official authority as soon as possible.
How Long Is The Greece Digital Nomad Visa Valid For?
The issued Greece nomad visa will be valid for a year. If the applicant wishes to extend the digital nomad visa, the Greek government allows extending the visa for another year. So, the Greece digital nomad visa is valid for a total of 2 years.
How much does the Greece Digital Nomad Visa cost?
The Greek government charges a non-refundable €75 as the application fee to the digital nomads who apply for the nomad visa. If your application gets rejected, they will not refund the fee.
What Are The Financial Requirements For The Greece Digital Nomad Visa?
The applicant is obliged to meet the financial requirements set for the Greece digital nomad visa, failing to which can lead to rejection of the digital nomad visa. The applicant must prove that he/she has a stable income of €3500 per month and can sustain his/her living expenses for the duration of the stay. This indicates that the visa holder will not burden the national social welfare system. If the income comes from dependent employment, the €3,500 refers to net income.
Below is the financial requirement:
- EUR 3,500 per month for the main applicant
- 20% more for a spouse
- 15% more for each child
In a nutshell, the applicant needs to provide documents like bank statements or company account statements to prove a sufficient amount of at least €3,500 per month. If the applicant intends to bring his/her spouse, the minimum amount is €4,200 per month (an additional 20%), and for a child, it is €4,725 per month.
What are the tax implications?
Do digital nomads have to pay tax with Greece’s digital nomad visa? The answer is yes; digital nomads must pay when they become tax residents.
There are 3 tax implications for digital nomads depending on the duration of their stay in Greece:
Tax Exemption
The Greek government will not impose a tax on digital nomads if they stay for less than 183 days. Anyone staying in Greece for less than 6 months is exempt from income tax in Greece. This also means that they cannot avail public healthcare and educational services.
Tax Residency
A digital nomad is a recognized tax resident if he/she stays in Greece for more than 183 days in 12 months. A tax resident is obliged to pay the income tax. The government has set the a tax system based on the monthly income of the digital nomad.
For instance, a digital nomad who earns less than €12,000 working remotely in Greece is not subject to income tax. Similarly, if they earn more than €100,000 a month, they will have to pay 45% income tax.
Digital Nomad Tax
The Greek government recently passed legislation for digital nomads giving a 50% tax break to digital nomads working remotely in Greece. The break is valid for the first 7 years of living in Greece. This means that half of the income earned by digital nomads is not subject to income tax.
Cost of Living in Greece
In general, the cost of living in Greece is fairly low in comparison to other European countries. The cost of living varies depending on the location. For instance, living on an island is arguably more expensive than living on the mainland, and the countryside is a lot cheaper than city areas. Don’t be surprised if you find tourist areas more expensive than you expected.
You can expect to spend $1500 – $2000 per month in Greece as a digital nomad. Let’s check the cost of food, accommodation, and transportation in Greece.
Cost of Accommodation in Greece
In cities like Athens, digital nomads can opt for limitless options, from hotels to villas and hostels. Whether you want a budget apartment or are looking for a luxury home, there is everything for your preference and budget. A One-bedroom apartment in the city area can cost you around €350 per month.
The accommodation cost depends on the type of place you want to stay in. If you’re a budget-conscious nomad, shared dorms are a great deal for you. If privacy is your top concern, then Airbnb is perfect for you. The price in the high season tends to go higher than the normal rate. So be mindful when booking accommodation.
In Greece, you can find the following types of accommodations:
- Rooms
- Hotels
- Hostels
- Studios
- Apartment
- Villas
- Airbnb
Cost of Food in Greece
Food and groceries are relatively affordable in Greece than in many other EU countries. To give you an idea, a mid-range restaurant in Greece will charge you around €15 for a 3-course meal. A digital nomad can expect to spend as low as €10 per day on food expenses.
You can savor delicious Greek food influenced by both Eastern and Western cultures in all the cities of Greece. Taramasalata, Dolmades, Moussaka, Courgette balls, and Grilled meat are some of the not-to-miss foods in Greece. While food prices can vary from place to place in Greece, the average daily cost for food is estimated to be €30 per day.
Cost of Transportation in Greece
Traveling around Greece is surprisingly easy and convenient using public transport. The standard public transport in a major part of Greece is the bus service, which interconnects the mainland and islands. The trains are slower than buses but come at a lower price.
Buses, ferries, and trains have frequent schedules and are considerably cheaper. If you’re short on time and money is of the least concern to you, then you can opt for domestic flights in Greece. The minimum taxi fare per mile is expected to be around €0.80 and €1.2 for one-way metro. For the monthly public transport budget, €30 would suffice.
Internet Connection in Greece
The slow internet speed in Greece could be a major deterrent for digital nomads. Many cafes provide free wifi but aren’t reliable, and digital nomads cannot always expect superfast Wi-Fi in Airbnb.
The Tourism Ministry has prompted initiations to improve the internet facility for the digital nomad in the country sometime in 2021. However, many digital nomads and ex-pats claim that the internet connectivity in Greece is not reliable. With an average internet speed of 29 Mbps, Greece has ranked among the slowest internet speed in most of Europe.
The Top Destinations for Digital Nomads in Greece
With hundreds of gorgeous places Greece offers, it can be overwhelming for digital nomads to choose the best place to reside in Greece. Here are some of the ideal spots to live in Greece for digital nomads:
Athens
Cost of Living in Athens: $1500-$2900/month
Internet Speed: 9Mbps
Cost of 1-bedroom studio: $281/month
2 Best Co-working Spaces:
- Stone Soup
- Impact Hub Athens
The country’s bustling capital is undoubtedly the best place for digital nomads to settle. Coupled with the country’s best co-working space and coffee shops, Athens draws the majority of digital nomads. At times, Athens can be overcrowded with tourists and digital nomads, but it is arguably the best city in Greece for digital nomads.
Benefits of living in Athens
- Access to all infrastructure
- Laidback lifestyle
- Great nightlife
- Low cost of living
- Excellent food at an affordable price
Thessaloniki
The second-largest Greek city, Thessaloniki, serves as a major digital nomad hub in Greece. Thessaloniki boasts excellent cuisine, rich history and culture, high quality of life, and good internet connectivity. Unlike Athens, it is not overcrowded and features an ideal working environment for a digital nomad.
Cost of Living in Thessaloniki: $1261-$2168/month
Internet Speed: 12 Mbps
Cost of 1-bedroom studio: $295/month
2 Best Co-working Spaces:
- i4g PRO
- COHO
Pros of living in Thessaloniki
- Low cost of living
- Fast internet speed
- Relaxed Mediterranean vibe
- Beautiful scenery and stunning landscape
- High quality of education
Patras
Greece’s third-largest city, Patras, is largely famous for two things: an annual carnival and Rio–Andirio suspension bridge. Patras allure digital nomads from around the globe for many reasons and has been among the top choice of digital nomads in Greece. If you love to reside in a less-touristy area with a low cost of living, Patras is a perfect place for you.
Cost of Living in Patras: $1603-$2917/month
Internet Speed: 11 Mbps
Cost of 1-bedroom studio: $255/month
2 Best Co-working Spaces:
- POS Coworking Space
- Patras Tiny Coworking Space
Pros of living in Patras
- Fantastic beaches
- Low cost of living
- Less crowded than other cities
- Great nightlife
- Mild winter and balmy weather
Santorini
Tucked between Ios and Anafi Islands, Santorini is famous for stunning sunsets from Oia, blue domes, and whitewashed walls. Santorini is the crowning jewel of Greek and the best Greek island for tourists and digital nomads as well. But on the flip side, it is also among the most expensive places in Greece.
Cost of Living in Santorini: $1381-$4618/month
Internet Speed: 11 Mbps
Cost of 1-bedroom studio: $306/month
Best Co-working Spaces:
- Cocohub Santorini
Pros of living in Santorini
- Laidback lifestyle
- Stunning scenery and picturesque town
- Spacious and not crowded
- High Quality of Education
- Good air quality on average
Rhodes
Sandy beaches, gourmet restaurants, buzzing nightlife, picture-perfect towns, sugar-cube houses, wooded valleys, and ancient sites are the major attractions of Rhodes. Situated close to Turkey, Rhodes abounds in spectacular beaches and historical sites. Rhodes boasts the longest summer season in Greece, making it a digital nomad-friendly spot in the country.
Cost of Living in Rhodes: $1375-$2489/month
Internet Speed: 10 Mbps
Cost of 1-bedroom studio: $224/month
Best Co-working Spaces:
- Urban Cowork
Pros of living in Rhodes
- Decent internet connection
- Spacious and not crowded
- Spectacular beaches
- Lovely villages and fantastic sceneries
- Year-round destination
How to Save Money in Greece as a digital nomad?
Here are some useful tips for managing your finances and saving money while living in Greece as a digital nomad:
- Say no to taxis, buses, and metros. Instead, opt to walk in the street and enjoy the grandeur of the place.
- Buy food and groceries from the local market instead of the supermarket. Besides being cheaper, they are fresher, healthier, and tastier.
- Try local restaurants for your meals. Don’t always eat at your hotel.
- Don’t buy ferry tickets online. It is recommended to buy a ferry ticket at the port.
- Find the right accommodation that fits your budget. Options like housesitting, homestays, and long-term rentals can save you a lot of money.
- Buy a travel insurance plan that covers risks during travel. We also recommend buying international health insurance.
- Ditch Co-working spaces that are expensive. You can work in a coffee shop that offers free Wi-Fi.
- Buy a local sim instead of paying a hefty amount for an international plan.
- Explore like a local. Avoid paid guided tours and search for free tours.
- Track your daily expense. Make sure to keep track of every dollar you spend and avoid spending unnecessarily.