The Greece digital nomad visa enables you to work remotely in the country for up to twelve months. Other than simply the chance to live in sunny Greece, its benefits include: low taxation, easy renewal, as well as the ability to bring spouses and dependents. Find out more about why the Greece digital nomad visa could be such a fantastic choice for you.
If there was one positive to come out of the pandemic, it was the invention of more flexible ways of working. Many of us came to work from home. In our pyjamas. With the ability to control just how warm the room is. Going for dog walks at lunchtime.
Take working from home to a new level by working remotely from Greece.
But you can take all the benefits of working remotely one step further by getting a digital nomad visa. A digital nomad visa allows you to work remotely for a foreign company (such as a British-based one) from abroad (say, Greece). It means that can swap your pyjamas for a bikini, you likely won’t have to worry much about the room temperature, and you can go for a run on the beach at lunchtime.
So many of us dream of travelling the world but cannot (or don’t want) to stop working to do that. By being a digital nomad, you have the ability to earn an income at the same time as exploring and immersing yourself in a whole new country.
Multiple countries have a digital nomad visa including Malta, Costa Rica, and Portugal. At the end of last year, Spain approved their digital nomad visa to go ahead.
Greece was actually ahead of the curve. Their government passed a law enabling non-EU citizens to live and work remotely at the end of 2020. So here is a little refresher on the Greece digital nomad visa and just how much of an asset it could be…
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Greece digital nomad visa requirements:
- You must be a non-EU citizen (since Brexit, that means Brits). Currently, non-EU citizens are only able to stay within the Schengen Area for 90 days out of every 180. Therefore, if you would like to stay for longer, this visa would be worth looking into.
- Proof of employment and income. You will need to show that you have a contract from an employer, or if you are self-employed, that you will have a stable and consistent flow of work. The company you are registered with (or your own) must be registered outside of Greece.
- You must be able to demonstrate that you can complete your work remotely. In other words, show that your work is computer-based.
- You must have a salary of at least €3,500 a month.
- Other essentials: an up-to-date passport, application form, a cover letter (evidencing your reason of stay), a clean criminal record, proof of health insurance, proof of accommodation, and a return flight.
How do I apply?
Your new routine with a digital nomad visa: work, sightsee, work, sightsee, repeat.
After preparing the appropriate documents, if you are based outside of Greece, you will need to head to the Greek embassy. Typically, responses take around two weeks to a month.
What does a Greece digital nomad visa cost?
The application fee costs €75, and the administration fee costs €150.
How long is the Greece digital nomad visa valid for?
The digital nomad visa is valid for twelve months. It can be renewed every two years, so long as you are still eligible. If you truly fall in love with Greece, you may want to look into becoming a permanent resident.
What is the policy on bringing family members?
You are able to bring your spouse, children under the age of 18, and any children over the age of 18 who are dependent on you for financial or medical reasons.
Moreover, you will need an additional 20% of funds for every dependent. Don’t forget, your family members do not have the right to work for a Greek company with this visa.
The fantastic tax incentive
If you spend less than six months in Greece as a digital nomad, you do not need to pay taxes.
After six months, for the first seven years of your stay, only half of your monthly income will be subject to taxes.
Where do digital nomads in Greece like to go?
Would you like to spend a year getting to know Thessaloniki?
Athens and Thessaloniki are great choices for digital nomads. As well as the general exciting hubbub of a city, the living expenses are affordable, you will have heaps of history and culture to soak up in between emails, and there are lots of co-working spaces.
Equally, if you fancy sipping on cool drinks on a beach as you write emails, Greece’s islands can be delightful too.
Greece is much more affordable than the UK
One of the most brilliant aspects of a digital nomad is that you are able to live on a British salary in Greece.
Recently, Your Overseas Home did a study comparing the cost of living in seven countries in Europe: the UK, Germany, Spain, France, Portugal, Greece, and Italy. The survey found that Greece was the 6th least expensive place to live (Italy was 7th). Additionally, Greece scored notably low for travel costs and electricity. Great, if you don’t intend to stay in one place in Greece.
Furthermore, according to Numbeo, the cost of renting an apartment in the city centre of Athens is €502 a month. That is a whopping 75.4% lower than in London.
So, not only does a Greece digital nomad visa mean at least twelve months of sunshine, sightseeing, learning a new language, getting to know more about an incredible culture – it is also an affordable option!
