ALL YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Digital Nomad Visa & Legal Requirements

• Do I need to have a bank account in Greece to apply for Digital Nomad Visa?

  You are not obliged to open a Greek bank account to obtain a Digital Nomad Visa; but it could be proven useful if you wish to stay for an extended period in the country.

• Do I need a visa to work as a digital nomad in Greece?
  • If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you have the right to enter and move freely within Greece, according to EU law.
    
  • For third-party nationals (ie non-EU, EEA & Switzerland), you can apply for a Digital Nomad Visa letting you live and work in Greece hassle-free. It gives you legal residence as a remote worker for up to a year, after which you can apply for a Digital Nomad Residence Permit, if you want to stay longer.
    
    You’ll need to prove that you have sufficient resources for the length of your stay or a salary of at least €3,500 per month after taxes as a dependent employee or a self-employed person working remotely with employers outside Greece. The monthly amount increases by 20% if you’re accompanied by your spouse or a cohabitant and 15% for each child. The Digital Nomad Residence Permit is valid for up to two years (renewable every 2 years for 2 more years).
    
    Note that you won’t have the right to work for a Greek company during this period, either on a permanent or freelance basis.

• How do you apply for a Digital Nomad Visa to work in Greece?

  You can apply for a Digital Nomad Visa at the Greek consular authority in your country of main residence as part of a fast track process. The request can be made by email or registered letter and the consular authority is obliged to respond within 10 days, with the eventual residency permit being issued by the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum.

  If you need extra assistance preparing your Digital Nomad Visa Application , you can book a 1st free consultation call with the Guide Foreigners team, who offer paid personalized services.

Banking & Financial

• How to open a bank account in Greece?

  Digital nomads in Greece can open a bank account, provided they meet the requirements and have collected all required documentation. Most of the Greek banks will require the same documents, such as:

  • Valid passport or national ID card of your country.
    Non-EU/EEA citizens may also need to provide a digital nomad visa or a residence permit.
  • Tax identification number (TIN) or other tax-related documents. Depending on your country of residence you may be required to issue a Greek Tax Identification Number (AFM).
  • Proof of address in your home country such as a utility bill: Digital nomads may not have a permanent address in Greece, but they can still establish residency for banking purposes. Some banks may accept a temporary address, such as a hotel or coworking space, while others may require a more stable address, such as a rental agreement or a utility bill in Greece.
  • Proof of employment or source of income: Digital nomads may need to provide proof of income, such as bank statements, invoices, or contracts from clients or employers.

  Most banks will require that your documents are officially translated in Greek or English.

• Can I open a bank account online before I arrive in Greece?

  While visiting a bank branch in person is a common requirement for opening an account, some banks in Greece offer digital or remote account opening options. Residents of the European Union, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland may use digital onboarding through their mobile appliances (link Digital Customer Onboarding for International Customers | Eurobank ). Remote or proxy onboarding and all-inclusive services for digital nomads or international customers are also available.  For more information and solutions addressing your banking needs please click here.

• What is the cost of living in Greece?

  Greece has a reputation as a good value-for-money country within Europe. The cost of living for accommodation, transport, eating out and entertainment are well below the European Union average and many outdoor activities can be enjoyed without cost. You can see for yourself by comparing the cost of living with other European countries here.

• Can I get a mortgage if I decide to settle down and buy a permanent or holiday home in Greece?

  You may apply for a mortgage loan and get a financial preapproval within a few business days. The application process is easy and can be submitted either in person, or by email or by a proxy lawyer. For more information please click here (link Mortgage Loan For Non Residents | Eurobank )

• Do I need to pay taxes as a digital nomad in Greece?
  • You have no tax liability in Greece when working for fewer than 180 days in a calendar year a) as a salaried employee of a company based outside Greece or b) whilst offering services on a self-employed basis to companies based outside Greece.
  • If you do live in Greece for 180 days or more of a calendar year, you may need to move your tax residency to Greece (including getting a Greek tax number) and pay local taxes. An extension to this time period was given to foreign tax residents during 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • If you work for a Greek company at any time during your stay in Greece, you will need to pay local taxes.
  • The Greek state has recently introduced a range of benefits and tax incentives to attract foreign professionals to Greece and assume Greek tax residency (Article 5C of law 4172/2013). Such applications take place at specific times during the year. Therefore, you will need to refer to the competent authorities for more information.
  • Should you require any additional guidance for taxation tailored to your case, you find out more by contacting the 'Guide Foreigners' team, who offer paid relative services.

Connectivity & Infrastructure

• What is the internet speed in Greece like?

  There have been huge advances in internet speed in Greece in recent years. Fibre-optic technology is standard in many neighbourhoods and the 5G network has reached 99% countrywide population coverage, with the speed in some areas passing 1 Gbps. The average national download speed for 2023 was 62.35 Mbps in 2023, up 37.8% on the previous year. (Source: HYPERION developed by the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission (ΕΕΤΤ) in collaboration with the Measurement Lab Partnership)

• Are there co-working spaces in Greece for digital nomads?

  Yes, there is a growing number of co-working spaces in Greece, allowing you to easily become part of the digital nomad community. Many co-working spaces in Athens (like the Impact Hub, Found.ation and The Cube) have grown out of the city’s incubator and tech start-up scene and you’ll find other options favoured by remote workers. For more on co-working spaces in Athens and around Greece, see our Digital Nomad Destination Guide.

• What is flight connectivity to Greece like?
  • Greece has excellent flight connectivity, with major international airport hubs in Athens and Thessaloniki and 15 other regional airports (island and mainland) with seasonal international flights. There are also another 18 airports around the country with domestic flights to Athens and Thessaloniki.
    
  • In the 2024 edition of the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Index Greece ranked 12th out of 140 countries in terms of the number of operating airlines, with Athens directly connected with scheduled services with 165 destinations in 57 countries operated by a total of 66 carriers. Thessaloniki, Chania & Heraklion (in Crete) and Rhodes were the next busiest airports.

Living & Accommodation

• What are the accommodation and co-living space options for remote workers in Greece?

  You’ll find plenty of temporary accommodation options in Greece, whether you go for the city life of Athens or Thessaloniki or the slower pace of a Greek island or mainland village. As well as hotels, you find popular rental options such as Airbnb and Blueground as well as a growing number of co-living options that attract digital nomad communities.

• What is the cost of living in Greece?

  Greece has a reputation as a good value-for-money country within Europe. The cost of living for accommodation, transport, eating out and entertainment are well below the European Union average and many outdoor activities can be enjoyed without cost. You can see for yourself by comparing the cost of living with other European countries here.

• Will I be able to rent a car as a digital nomad in Greece?

  Yes, you’ll find plenty of short- and medium-term car rental options in Greece, with all the best-known car rental companies (such as Hertz, Avis and others) operating in the country. You are able to drive with your EU or UK driving licenses in Greece, as well as driving licenses from any of the signatories of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.

Safety & Healthcare

• What type of healthcare coverage do I require as a remote worker in Greece? Do I have access to public hospitals?
  • If you’re an EU citizen, you should get a European Health Insurance Card in the country in which you are insured before you come to Greece. This will give you access to the Greek national healthcare system (EOPYY), only paying for the medical care that Greek citizens would be required to pay for. The coverage includes emergencies as well as chronic or existing illnesses. Cards are issued by your national health insurance provider. Of course, if you want more comprehensive coverage, you should get private health insurance.
    
  • If you’re coming from elsewhere, you’ll need to obtain private health insurance as you won’t be entitled to the benefits of the Greek public healthcare system. Regular travel insurance will give you emergency coverage for a limited period but for longer stays, you will need specialised health coverage, such as Nomad Insurance, which is designed for digital nomads and remote workers and offers global coverage.

• Is Greece a safe country to work in?

  Greece is a safe country, with an outdoors culture and very low levels of violent crime. To put it into perspective, the rate of crimes reported to police in 2023 was 46.5 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to an EU average of 52.5. We welcomed a record 32 million visitors to Greece in 2023 (that’s around three times the national population) so we’re pretty experienced at making you feel safe and letting you enjoy all the things you love about being in Greece.