Greece is a particularly popular destination for digital nomads, i.e. people who work remotely using technological means. Precisely for the reason that there are so many interested parties, we will try with this article to clarify in a simple and comprehensible way the main questions of the interested parties and to give all the answers to the most important issues that concern them.
I. Which persons are considered digital nomads?
Digital nomads are the citizens of foreign countries who are self-employed, freelancers or employees and who work remotely using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) with employers or clients outside Greece. Thus, the person who can fall under this specific category of residence permit can be either an employee working remotely or a freelancer or self-employed in his own business, as long as the scope of his work allows him to work remotely.
II. What supporting documents are required to obtain a national entry visa (Visa) for digital nomads?
In article 68 of Law 5038/2023, it is provided that citizens who meet the conditions to be classified as digital nomads are able to request to be granted a national entry visa (visa type D). More specifically, the interested party must present the following either in person or by e-mail or by registered letter to the competent Greek consular authority:
A) Official declaration, with which he will declare that he wishes to stay in the country under the regime of the national entry visa for the provision of remote work and that he undertakes not to provide work or services or work to an employer in Greece in any way.
B) 1) A work or project contract or some evidence of an employment relationship with an employer, who can be either a natural person or a legal entity, but only established outside the Greek Territory and this contract, in case it is for a certain period of time, covers the period of the granted national visa,
2) Or indefinite-term employment or project contracts or fixed-term employment with a remaining period that covers the period of validity of the national visa, in the event that the citizen of a third country is self-employed with more than one employer but who are established outside the Greek Territory,
3) Or in the event that the citizen of a third country is self-employed in his own business, which is physically located outside the Greek Territory, information about the status of the applicant in the business as well as information concerning the business itself such as name, headquarters, field of activity , corporate purpose.
C) Evidence proving that the applicant has sufficient financial resources through a stable income that will provide him with the necessities of life throughout his stay in the country, without burdening the national social welfare system. The sufficient resources have been determined through the law itself and amount to three and a half thousand (3,500) euros. This amount should be supported either by the contract of employment or project or proof of employment relationship, in the case of dependent work, services or project (net income after payment of the required taxes in the country where the services are provided) or by a bank account. Also, it is important to emphasize that this amount is increased for the spouse or partner by twenty percent (20%) and for each child by fifteen percent (15%).
D) National visa fee of seventy five (75) euros.
III. What is the duration of the national entry visa (Visa) for digital nomads (Digital nomads)? How is it renewed?
The national entry visa (visa) issued for digital nomads is valid for one (1) year. As long as the person concerned still meets the conditions mentioned above, the person can submit an application for the granting of a residence permit for citizens of third countries with sufficient means of living of paragraph 8 of article 163 (residence permit type “I.8”). This application must be submitted before the expiry of the national entry visa and the residence permit issued in this case has a duration of two (2) years, with the possibility of further renewal.
IV. I am a digital nomad and I am already in Greece as a tourist. Can I submit an application for a residence permit as a digital nomad or do I have to leave Greece and obtain a visa from the relevant Consulate?
According to article 12 par. 7 of Law 5038/2023, it is provided that an application for the granting of a residence permit for citizens of third countries with sufficient means of living can be submitted by digital nomads who are already within Greece either with a tourist entry visa (Schengen Visa) or with visa exemption status, i.e. as tourists, as long as a residential lease or property purchase contract in Greek territory is presented. In this case, therefore, the third country citizen is not required to leave Greece and return to his country in order to request a visa from the competent Greek consular authority.
V. Which authority is responsible for issuing residence permits to digital nomads?
The residence permit for citizens of third countries with sufficient living resources of par. 8 of article 163 (residence permit type “I.8”) for citizens who meet the conditions of the digital nomad is issued as of 01.04.2024 by a decision of the Secretary of the relevant Decentralized Administration. The Aliens and Immigration Directorate of the applicant’s place of residence is therefore the competent authority. It is noted that until 31.03.2023 the One Stop Service of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum is responsible for issuing these permits.
VI. I am a digital nomad and wish to live in Greece. Can my family members come with me?
Third-country nationals who fall into the categories analyzed above may be accompanied by family members, who must apply for a separate individual visa that expires at the same time as the dependent visa. During their stay, they are not allowed to carry out any economic activity in the country. More specifically, family members are defined as: a) the other spouse or cohabitant with whom the third country citizen has entered into a cohabitation (civil partnership) agreement, b) the unmarried common children of the spouses or cohabitant under the age of eighteen (18) years of age, including those who have been legally adopted by a foreign court decision that is automatically enforceable or has been declared enforceable or has been recognized as res judicata in Greece and c) the other, under eighteen (18) years of age, unmarried children of the maintainer or of the other of the spouses or cohabitants, as long as custody has been legally assigned to him/her for the children of the maintainer, and for the children of the other spouse or cohabitant to him/her.
VII. What are the expenses I have to pay in order to obtain a residence permit in Greece as a digital nomad?
For the granting of a residence permit in Greece (article 163 par. 8 of Law 5038/2023), the interested party must pay a fee of 1,000 euros, as well as the 16-euro fee for the printing fee of the electronic residence permit. Furthermore, the interested party must have health insurance coverage in Greece, so he will have to bear the cost of this as well.
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*Our office has extensive experience in all kinds of immigration law and residence permit issues (issuance and renewal of residence permits, working visas, Golden Visa, legalization of illegal immigrants, acquisition of Greek citizenship, cancellation of deportations, objections to the detention of foreigners, etc.). For further legal advice or to assign your case to our office, you can contact us at tel. 2313 079293 or by email at info@siopi-law.gr. It is noted that the provision of legal advice without a corresponding fee is prohibited under the Lawyers Code (Article 57 Law 4194/2013)*
Dafni I. Siopi
52 Tsimiski Street, Thessaloniki
T. +30 2313 079293, +30 6977 568673
E. info@siopi-law.gr, dsiopi@siopi-law.gr