greece digital nomad visa
Greece digital nomad visa cost and requirements
Greece requires roughly 3,500 euros a month in net income, rising by about 20 percent for a spouse and 15 percent for each child, plus private health insurance from a provider authorised in Greece and proof of accommodation. The initial residence permit fee is around 1,016 euros, which is high by European standards. From February 2026, applications must be made through a Greek consulate before travelling.
What it costs to qualify
The income test is the gate. Greece expects a net monthly income of roughly 3,500 euros, earned from employers or clients outside Greece. The uplift for family is defined rather than discretionary: add about 20 percent for a spouse and about 15 percent for each dependent child.
For a couple with one child, that compounds to meaningfully more than the headline figure, and it is calculated on net rather than gross income, which catches applicants who budgeted from a salary figure before deductions.
The route is for remote work performed for entities outside Greece. It is not a work permit for the Greek labour market.
The fee is high by European standards
The initial residence permit fee sits in the region of 1,016 euros. Set against Spain's government fee of roughly 73 euros for its equivalent route, that is more than ten times the cost for the same category of permission, and it is the single largest official charge among the mainstream European nomad routes.
Budget separately for the costs that surround it: certified translations, apostilles, a criminal record certificate, proof of accommodation, and health insurance. On most applications these together exceed the permit fee.
The structure of the permission is comparatively generous in return. The initial visa covers up to twelve months, and applicants who continue to meet the requirements can move onto a renewable two-year residence permit, which is a longer cycle than several competing routes offer.
Insurance, and whose policy counts
Private health insurance is required, and the detail that catches applicants is the source of the policy rather than its price. Greece expects cover from a provider authorised to operate in Greece. A perfectly good international policy from an insurer without that authorisation can be refused.
Confirm two things before buying: that the product is accepted for this specific route, and that the insurer is acceptable to the consulate handling your file. Ask in writing. Consular practice varies and a policy bought on a blog's recommendation is not evidence of anything.
There is still a real gap to cover. Between assembling documents, travelling for the consular appointment, and the permit actually issuing, there is a period where no Greek policy is in force.
SafetyWing sells travel medical cover for the period before a Greek policy is in force. It is not a Greek domestic health policy, and Greece expects cover from a provider authorised to operate in Greece, so do not assume it satisfies the application requirement. Confirm acceptance with the consulate first and budget for the Greek policy separately.
The February 2026 change
The most important recent change is procedural. Under legislation effective from February 2026, in-country applications are no longer permitted: applicants must apply through a Greek consulate before travelling to Greece.
That removes a route some applicants previously used, in which they entered on another basis and filed from inside the country. It also adds cost, because it means arranging the application from your country of residence with the document set complete before you go.
Reported processing runs to roughly one to three months, so plan the consular appointment well ahead of any intended move date and do not commit to non-refundable arrangements before the permission exists.
Common questions
What income do you need for the Greece digital nomad visa?
Roughly 3,500 euros a month in net income earned from outside Greece, with defined family uplifts of about 20 percent for a spouse and about 15 percent for each dependent child. The test is on net rather than gross income, which is the most common budgeting error. Thresholds are set by the Greek authorities and change, so confirm the current figure before applying.
How much does the Greece digital nomad visa cost?
The initial residence permit fee is in the region of 1,016 euros, which is the highest official fee among the mainstream European nomad routes and more than ten times Spain's equivalent charge. Budget separately for certified translations, apostilles, a criminal record certificate, proof of accommodation and private health insurance, which together usually exceed the permit fee itself.
How long is the Greece digital nomad visa valid?
The initial visa covers a stay of up to twelve months. Applicants who continue to meet the requirements, including the income threshold, can move onto a renewable two-year residence permit. That two-year renewal cycle is longer than several competing European routes offer and is one of the genuine advantages of the Greek programme.
Can you apply for the Greece digital nomad visa from inside Greece?
No. Under legislation effective from February 2026, in-country applications are no longer permitted and applicants must apply through a Greek consulate before travelling. This closed a route some applicants previously used. Confirm the current procedure with the consulate serving your country of residence, since procedural rules of this kind change.
What health insurance does Greece accept for the nomad visa?
Greece expects private health cover from a provider authorised to operate in Greece. The common failure is not an inadequate policy but an insurer without that authorisation, so a strong international plan can still be refused. Confirm in writing with the consulate handling your file that both the product and the insurer are acceptable before purchasing.
How long does the Greece digital nomad visa take?
Reported processing runs roughly one to three months, though this depends on the consulate and on how complete your document set is when filed. Because applications must now be made from outside Greece, plan the consular appointment well ahead of any intended move date and avoid non-refundable commitments before the permission is issued.
Official sources to verify
- Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum — residence permitsHellenic Republic Ministry of Migration and Asylum
- Golden VisaHellenic Ministry of Migration and Asylum
- Portuguese visa portal — residence visasMinistério dos Negócios Estrangeiros, Portugal
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