Greece digital nomad visa 2026: €3,500 income, permit and tax

Visas & Immigration
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The Greece digital nomad visa lets non-EU remote workers live in Greece while working for employers or clients outside the country, provided they earn at least €3,500 a month net. You start with a national visa of up to 12 months and can then switch to a two-year residence permit that can be renewed, but since February 2026 the first step has to be done at a Greek consulate abroad.

Last checked: September 2026

In short:

  • The income threshold is €3,500 a month net, plus 20% for a spouse or partner and 15% for each child.
  • The national (D) visa lasts up to 12 months, and the digital nomad residence permit lasts two years and can be renewed.
  • Law 5275/2026, in force since early February 2026, ended in-country applications, so you now apply at a Greek consulate before you travel.

Who it’s for

The scheme was created by Law 4825/2021. It’s for non-EU nationals who are employees, freelancers or business owners working remotely for employers or clients outside Greece. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens don’t need it.

The key restriction, as EY summarises the law: holders have no right to take employment or carry on business activity in Greece. You can’t work for a Greek company, either as an employee or a freelancer.

Income and financial requirements

Household Monthly net income needed
Main applicant €3,500
Plus spouse or partner +20% (€4,200 in total)
Plus each child +15% of the base (€525 each)
Couple with two children €5,250

The family figures are worked out from the €3,500 base. The government’s Work from Greece site describes the threshold as after-tax income, and the Greek visa centre in London lists it as stable monthly income of €3,500.

Length, renewal and family

  • National visa (type D): up to 12 months.
  • Digital nomad residence permit: two years, renewable for further two-year periods as long as you still meet the conditions.
  • Family: a spouse or partner and children can be included, with the higher income figures above.

RemoteWorkEurope reports that the 2026 law also allows renewals filed up to three months late with a €100 penalty per month, and sets a 90-day decision deadline (extendable by 30 days). We couldn’t confirm either point on an official page (verify).

How to apply after the February 2026 change

What changed. Many people used to enter on a Schengen short stay and apply from inside Greece. Law 5275/2026 (in force 5 or 6 February 2026, depending on the source) closed that route. Now you get the D visa at a Greek consulate first, then convert it to the two-year permit after you arrive. RemoteWorkEurope says this applies to all DNV applicants. Global Law Experts frames it as applying to nationals who need a visa to enter Greece (verify which applies to your passport with your consulate).

Documents (Greek visa centre in London checklist):

  • Solemn declaration that you’ll stay in Greece to work remotely
  • Employment contract or proof of work with a non-Greek employer, covering the visa period
  • Evidence of income
  • Passport, criminal record certificate, medical certificate and travel insurance covering medical care and repatriation for the whole stay
  • Two recent ICAO-standard photos

Fees in London: visa fee €75 (£66), administrative fee €150 (£132), plus a €30 visa centre service fee. Other consulates may charge differently.

Timing. No official processing time is published. Global Law Experts estimates two to eight weeks for the consular visa and four to 16 weeks for the residence permit.

Tax: when you become tax resident

Under Article 4 of the Income Tax Code, as set out by the Greek tax authority (AADE), you become Greek tax resident if you are in Greece for more than 183 days in any 12-month period, counted from your first day there. Having your permanent home, habitual abode or centre of vital interests in Greece can also make you resident. The 183-day test doesn’t apply to stays purely for tourism or medical treatment of up to 365 days, which won’t cover a working nomad.

Residents are taxed on worldwide income.

The 50% relief (Article 5C). Per PwC’s summary, it exempts 50% of employment income or income from individual business activity earned in Greece, for seven consecutive tax years. The conditions:

  • You weren’t Greek tax resident in five of the six years before moving
  • You move from an EU/EEA country or a country with a tax cooperation agreement with Greece
  • Employees must work for a Greek entity or a Greek permanent establishment of a foreign company
  • You declare you’ll stay at least two years
  • You apply by the deadlines, which depend on when your work starts

Note the clash: the employee condition requires a Greek employer or Greek permanent establishment, while the digital nomad permit bars working for Greek companies. Some guides say nomads can claim 5C, especially the self-employed, but whether you qualify depends on your facts (verify with a Greek tax adviser before you count on it).

Practical tips and common refusal reasons

  • Plan the consulate step. You can’t fly in and sort it out any more. Leave several months.
  • Prove net income, not gross. Payslips and bank statements showing at least €3,500 after tax are the core of the file.
  • Show the work is foreign. Weak or missing evidence that your employer or clients are outside Greece is an easy reason for refusal.
  • Insurance must cover the whole stay and include repatriation.
  • Get the criminal record and medical certificate early. They often take longest.

See the full list: Digital nomad visa countries: which countries have one (2026 list)

Related guides: Digital Nomad Visa Index 2026: income requirements for 28 open visa routes, ranked · Visa processing times tracker (2026): real dates from members · Best cities for digital nomads in 2026: 12 picks by budget and lifestyle

Quick answers

Q: How much income do I need for the Greece digital nomad visa?
At least €3,500 a month after tax for the main applicant. The amount rises by 20% for a spouse or partner and by 15% of the base for each child, so a couple needs €4,200 a month and a couple with two children needs €5,250.

Q: Can I apply for the Greece digital nomad visa from inside Greece?
Not any more, according to reports on Law 5275/2026, which took effect in February 2026. You now get the national D visa at a Greek consulate before travelling, then convert it to the two-year residence permit in Greece. Check with your consulate how this applies to your passport.

Q: Do digital nomads pay tax in Greece?
If you’re in Greece for more than 183 days in any 12-month period, you’re Greek tax resident from your first day and taxed on worldwide income. The Article 5C regime exempts 50% of qualifying Greek-earned income for seven years, but its employee condition requires a Greek employer or Greek permanent establishment.

Sources

This is general information from the Nomad Forums team, not immigration, tax or legal advice. Rules change; check the official source or a qualified adviser before applying.

Over to you: Has anyone applied at a consulate since the February 2026 change, and how long did the D visa and then the residence permit take? And has anyone on this permit actually had Article 5C approved, and on what basis?

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