Ιn Greek immigration legislation, the recent institutionalization of a category of national entry visa (type D) for digital nomads is a major innovation (Law no 4825/2021). The purpose of the provision of this specific category, is to attract affluent professionals to Greece, by giving them incentives to transfer their tax residence here.
Digital nomads are self-employed third-country citizens, freelancers, or employees who work remotely using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) with employers or clients outside Greece.
These citizens can request the granting of a national entry visa (type D), under specific conditions. More specifically, the interested party must present the general supporting documents defined in the ministerial decision to the competent Greek Consular Authority, either in person, or by e-mail, or by registered letter (Law no 4251/2014 (136)(16), as well as the following :
A) Self–declaration document, in which they will declare that they wish to stay in the country, under the national entry visa regime, for the provision of remote work and that they commit not to provide work or services to Greek employers in any way.
B) 1. Work or project contract or evidence of an employment relationship with a natural or a legal person established outside of the Greek Territory. In case of a fixed-term contract, its duration must cover the duration of a granted national visa.
B) 2. Or indefinite-term work or project contracts, or fixed-term work contracts with the remaining period covering the period of the validity of a national visa, if the third country citizen is self-employed, with more than one employer established outside the Greek Territory.
B) 3. Or in case the citizen of a third country is self-employed in their own business, which is naturally located outside the Greek Territory, information about the applicant’s position in the company is required, as well as information concerning the company itself (name, headquarters, field of activity, corporate purpose).
C) Evidence proving that the applicant has sufficient financial resources through a stable income that will provide them with the essentials of living, throughout their stay in the country, without burdening the national social welfare system. The sufficient resources have been determined by law to €3,500. This amount should be supported either by the work or project contract, or the proof of the employment relationship, in case of dependent work, services or project (but net income, after paying off the required taxes in the country where the services are provided), or by a bank account. Of immense importance is to state that this amount is increased by twenty percent (20%) for the spouse or partner and by fifteen percent (15%) for each child.
D) National visa administration fee of seventy-five (75) Euros.
Third-country nationals who fall under the categories detailed above, may be accompanied by their family members, who must apply for a separate individual visa that expires at the same time as the sponsor’s visa. During their staying, they are not allowed to carry out any economic activity in the country.
More specifically, family members are:
- the other spouse or cohabitant with whom the third country citizen has entered into a cohabitation agreement,
- the unmarried children of the spouses or cohabitants under the age of eighteen (18), 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
- the rest unmarried children of the sponsor or of the other spouse/cohabitant, under the age of eighteen (18), as long as custody has been legally assigned to the other spouse/cohabitant (for the children of the sponsor), and for the children of other spouses/cohabitants to the sponsor.
If the interested party wants to and all the previously analyzed conditions are still met, it is possible to grant a two-year residence permit for him and his family members, submitting a relevant application to the one-stop service of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum, before the expiration date of the national visa. This permit can be renewed as long as the above conditions continue to be met. Both for the granting and for the renewal of the relevant residence permit, it is necessary to pay an administrative fee of one thousand (1,000€) Euros for the sponsor himself and one hundred and fifty (150€) Euros for each one of his family members. Absence from the country for a period of less than six (6) months in total per year, does not create an obstacle for renewing the residence permit. However, if the validity of the national visa expires, during the departure from Greece, the process of granting must be repeated, both for the sponsor and for his family members.
Lastly, it is noted that a third-country national and his family members who have entered the country under another regime, for example as tourists for the 90 days period provided for, have the possibility to apply to the one-stop service of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum for the issuance of this residence permit. In this case, the applicant, in addition to what has been mentioned so far, should present a residential lease, or a contract for the purchase of real estate in the Greek Territory.
After the payment has been deposited (at this stage an advance payment of 30% of the total fee is paid), we will contact you to send us the required supporting documents, so that the process can proceed. If you are not sure that you have the necessary conditions, you can contact our office, either by phone (2313 079293) or by email (info@siopi–law.gr), before proceeding with the payment.