Greece residence permit for digital nomads

Two options: a D visa or a 2-year permit

The first option is a 12-month type D national visa issued by a Greek consulate. The second is a 2-year digital nomad residence permit straight away: the application is filed in Greece with the Ministry of Migration. Visa-required nationals, including Russians, still need a D visa first to enter. The permit is renewed for another 2 years if the conditions are still met, and renewal requires genuinely living in Greece.

Requirements

Dollars are converted at the market rate of 20 October 2026, 1.1229 dollars per euro, and rounded up.

What it costs

Documents and where to get them

• A passport and, for visa-required nationals, a type D national visa.
• Proof of remote work: an employment contract, an employer letter or client contracts; for your own company, its incorporation documents.
• Bank statements showing net income of at least $3,940 (3,500 euros) a month.
• Health insurance covering Greece.
• A lease or title documents.
• A police certificate, apostilled and translated into Greek.
• For family, apostilled and translated marriage and birth certificates.

Translations and apostille

Greek authorities accept foreign documents with an apostille from the issuing country and an official Greek translation. The translation is made by the translation service of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs or by a Greek lawyer who certifies it with their signature. We order the police certificate closer to filing so it does not expire, and translate marriage and birth certificates once for all the family's applications.

Health insurance

The application requires private health insurance covering Greece for the whole term of the permit, including hospital treatment. The cost depends on age and coverage, so we choose a policy once the family and term are clear. An international policy must state explicitly that it applies in Greece, otherwise the authority may not accept it.

Step by step and timelines

1. Checking income and work arrangements, arranging insurance and housing, a week or two.
2. Collecting documents, apostilles and translations, 3-6 weeks.
3. A D visa at a Greek consulate and entry.
4. Filing for the residence permit with the Ministry of Migration; review usually takes 1-3 months.
5. Receiving the card, usually 2-6 months after filing; it is best to stay in Greece until then.
6. Renewal for 2 years before the card expires.

Taxes

Anyone living in Greece for more than 183 days a year becomes tax resident and pays tax on worldwide income on a progressive scale. For those who move their tax residence to Greece and work here, the law provides a 50% income tax reduction for 7 years; we check whether it applies to your income before the move. Russia suspended its double tax treaty with Greece in 2023, so we calculate taxes in both countries in advance.

How to get approved the first time

• Net income below $3,940 (3,500 euros) a month or below the family threshold.
• The employer or clients are in Greece.
• Statements do not show regular income, and contracts do not match the amounts.
• The insurance does not cover Greece or ends before the card.
• Documents without an apostille or Greek translation.

Before filing we match contract amounts against statements, check insurance and certificate dates and prepare explanations for unusual payments.

Family

A spouse and children receive residence with the applicant: the income threshold rises by 20% for a spouse and 15% per child, and the state fee is $169 (150 euros) per family member. Apostilled and translated marriage and birth certificates are required. Family members may not work in Greece on this status, and children can attend local or international schools.

What changes in 2026

The income threshold remains $3,940 (3,500 euros) a month net, and the state fee for the residence permit is $1,130 (1,000 euros). Card issuing times depend on the Ministry of Migration's workload, so allow extra time, especially when filing in the summer season or before holidays.

Alternatives in Europe

Greece wins on climate, cost of living and the length of residence, but requires genuinely living in the country to renew.

Travel in Schengen

A Greek residence card replaces a visa for travel: with it you can stay in other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180. You cannot live or work in another European Union country on Greek status; that requires its own permit. Until the card is issued it is better not to plan trips: leaving Greece before receiving the card can complicate returning.

Who it suits and who it does not

The status suits remote employees of foreign companies and freelancers with clients abroad whose income is steadily above the threshold, and families who want to live by the sea in the European Union. It does not suit those who want to work for Greek companies, whose income is irregular or below $3,940 (3,500 euros) net, or who plan to visit Greece rarely: renewal requires genuinely living in the country.

Tax number, bank and rent

Almost everything in Greece starts with a tax number: without it you cannot sign a lease, open an account or connect utilities. It is obtained from the tax office, often before filing for residence, together with a social security number if needed. Leases are usually for a year or more, with a deposit of one or two months' rent. We run these steps in parallel so you already have housing and an account when filing.

Where to live in Greece

Athens is the most convenient for work: coworking spaces, international schools and an airport with direct flights across Europe. Thessaloniki is cheaper and calmer. Crete and the islands are wonderful in summer, but in winter many places close and connections with the mainland are less frequent. The location affects both the budget and the housing for the application, so we settle on a city before signing a lease.

Renewal and the path to permanent status

The residence permit is renewed for 2 years if income and other conditions are still met and you genuinely lived in Greece. After 5 years of lawful residence you can apply for long-term resident status, and Greek citizenship by naturalization is usually possible after 7 years of residence and an exam on language, history and culture. So nomad residence can be a first step towards permanent status in the European Union.

Where to start

Send us in the chat your contract with the employer or clients, statements for recent months and your family composition. We check net income against the family threshold, suggest which consulate is more convenient for the D visa and draw up a document list with translations. If your income does not qualify yet, we suggest Spain, Cyprus or another country with more suitable terms.

What we do

Murblz specialists check income and work arrangements, collect documents with apostilles and Greek translations, arrange the D visa, file for residence and support issuing cards for the whole family and renewals. If Greece does not suit you, we suggest another European Union country with a nomad visa. A consultant will calculate the cost in the chat, and we fix the estimate in writing.

Benefits of the Greek digital nomad residence permit

How to get the residence permit step by step

FAQ