Application For National Visa

Citizens of third countries who are self-employed, freelancers or employees and work remotely using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) with employers or clients outside Greece (digital nomads), can apply for a national entry visa in Greece for a period of up to twelve months. The applicants must provide to the competent Greek Consulate the required supporting documents in person or by e-mail or by registered letter. The Greek Consulate is obliged to respond within ten days from the relevant request.

The required documents for the national visa application are the following:

1. A solemn declaration, stating the third-country national’s intention to reside in Greece and work remotely and their commitment not to provide work or services in any way to an employer established in Greece.
2. An employment or project contract or proof of an employment relationship with an employer, natural or legal person, established outside the Greek Territory, for an indefinite period or in the case of a fixed-term employment contract with a remaining duration that covers the period of the requested national visa, or
3. employment or work contracts of indefinite duration or, in the case of a fixed-term employment contract, with a remaining duration covering the period of validity of the requested visa, where the third-country national is self-employed with more than one employer established outside the Greek Territory, or
4. Information on the applicant’s employment status in the business, as well as information concerning the name, headquarters, field of activity and company purpose of the business in case the third country citizen is self-employed in their own business located outside of the Greek Territory.
5. Proof that he/she has sufficient resources, at a fixed income level, to cover the cost of living during their stay in the country, without being a burden on the national social assistance system. The amount of sufficient resources is set at EUR 3.500, increased by 20 % for the spouse or partner and 15 % for each child and is proven: a) by the employment or project contract or proof of employment relationship, in the case of dependent work, services or project or ii) by a bank account. If the sufficient resources are derived from salaried dependent work the above minimum amount refers to net income after payment of the required taxes in the country where the work is provided. If the sufficient resources are derived from dependent work, services or work, the above minimum amount refers to net income, after payment of the required taxes in the country where the work is performed.
6. National visa fee of 75 €.

Digital Nomad Residence Permit

After the granting of the national visa and as long as the above conditions are still valid, the third country citizen and their family members can apply at the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum for the granting of a two-year residence permit. The application for the residence permit must be submitted before the expiry of the validity of the national visa.

The residence permit may be renewed every two years, as long as the above conditions continue to apply. It should be mentioned that the residence permit for digital nomads does not grant the right to dependent work or independent economic activity of any kind in Greece.

Finally, it should be mentioned that, notwithstanding the above, a third country citizen, as well as his/her family members, who have entered the Greek territory either with a uniform visa (short term visa up to 90 days) or entry in the context of a visa exemption, have the opportunity to apply for the issuance of the digital nomad residence permit, without having first to obtain the relevant national visa. In this case, the applicants should also submit a tenancy agreement or purchase contract in the Greek Territory.

Required documents for the residence permit application:

1. Valid passport or travel document recognized by our country (copy of all pages).
2. National entry visa or legal stay (uniform entry visa or entry in the context of a visa exemption).
3. A fee of 1000 € for the main applicant and 150 € for each of their family members.
4. An insurance contract of a private insurance company.
5. A solemn declaration, declaring their intention to stay in Greece to work remotely and their commitment not to provide work or services in any way to an employer established in Greece.
6. An employment or project contract or proof of an employment relationship with an employer, a natural or legal person, established outside Greek Territory, of indefinite duration or in the case of a fixed-term contract with a remaining duration covering the period of the requested residence permit (two years) or Employment or work contracts of indefinite duration or, in the case of a fixed-term employment contract, with a remaining duration covering the period of validity of the requested residence permit, where the third-country national is a self-employed person with more than one employer established outside Greek Territory or the applicant’s employment status in the business, as well as information concerning the name, headquarters, field of activity and company purpose of the business in case the third country citizen is self-employed in their own business located outside of the Greek Territory.
7. Proof that he/she has sufficient resources, at a fixed income level, to cover the cost of living during their stay in the country, without being a burden on the national social assistance system. The amount of sufficient resources is set at EUR 3.500, increased by 20 % for the spouse or partner and 15 % for each child and is proven: i) by the employment contract in the case of dependent work , services or project ii) from a bank account from which the monthly payment of the salary is verified (last month).
8. Tenancy agreement or purchase contract in the Greek Territory (only in the case that the interested party has entered with another type of entry visa and not with the prescribed special national entry visa type D).
9. Four recent photos in physical and digital format (cd).
10. A fee of 16 € for the issue of the residence permit card.

Attorney at law

Angeloudi Eleftheria