Can I work remotely for my US/UK employer while on a Greek Digital Nomad Visa?

Yes. The Digital Nomad Visa is specifically designed for this. You work for employers or clients based outside Greece, receive your income from abroad, and live in Greece. You must not provide services to Greek-based companies or employers.

Does time on the Digital Nomad Visa count towards Greek citizenship?

Not directly. Time spent on the Digital Nomad Visa itself does not count towards the 7-year citizenship requirement. However, if you transition to a standard residence permit after the nomad visa, that time begins counting towards citizenship from the new permit's start date.

What is the Golden Visa minimum investment in Athens?

Since August 2023, the minimum property investment for the Golden Visa in Athens municipality, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, and islands over 3,100 inhabitants is €800,000 for a single property. In all other areas of Greece the threshold is €400,000.

Do I need to learn Greek to get a visa or residence permit?

For initial visa and residence permit applications, Greek language knowledge is not required. However, for naturalisation (citizenship), applicants must demonstrate at least A2-level Greek proficiency. For daily life, English is widely spoken in cities and tourist areas.

Can my family join me in Greece on a Digital Nomad Visa or residence permit?

Yes. Dependant family members — spouse/partner and children under 21 — can accompany the primary applicant on the Digital Nomad Visa. On standard residence permits, family reunification provisions allow spouses, children, and in some cases parents to obtain their own permits.

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🇬🇷 Greece

Visa & Residency

Greece offers EU citizens free movement and full residency rights with no application required. For non-EU nationals, there are several clear pathways: the Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers, the long-stay D-Visa for retirees and those with passive income, and the Golden Visa for property investors.

Free movement

EU Citizens

No visa or permit required — register with local municipality

€3,500/mo

Digital Nomad Visa Income

Minimum gross income from outside Greece

1 year + 1 renewal

Digital Nomad Visa Duration

Maximum 2 years total

€800,000

Golden Visa (Athens/Thessaloniki)

Property investment threshold in major cities (since 2023)

€400,000

Golden Visa (other areas)

Reduced threshold for non-major-city areas

7 years

Path to Citizenship

From date of first legal residency permit

Last updated: March 2026

Overview🏛️Athens 🏰Thessaloniki 🏖️Crete

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Overview

Key Takeaways

EU citizens can enter and reside in Greece without any visa for any length of time
Minimum income requirement: €3,500 gross per month (or equivalent annually) from remote work or freelance clients outside Greece
Designed for non-EU nationals who wish to reside in Greece without engaging in employment in the country
Standard Golden Visa threshold: €800,000 for a single property in Athens municipality, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, and islands with populations over 3,100
After 7 years of continuous legal residency in Greece, non-EU nationals can apply for Greek citizenship by naturalisation

EU / EEA Citizens — Free Movement

Citizens of EU and EEA member states have the right to live, work, and study in Greece indefinitely under EU free movement rules. No visa or permit is needed, but registration is recommended for staying longer than 3 months.

EU citizens can enter and reside in Greece without any visa for any length of time
For stays over 3 months, EU citizens should register at the local KEP (Citizens' Service Centre) to obtain an EU registration certificate
The EU registration certificate is not mandatory but is required for tax registration (AFM), opening bank accounts, and accessing certain services
EU citizens can work, run a business, buy property, and access public services on equal footing with Greek nationals
Family members of EU citizens (even non-EU nationals) can obtain a residence card under the same free movement directive
Healthcare access via EHIC card (European Health Insurance Card) is valid for temporary stays; long-term residents register with the IKA social insurance system

Digital Nomad Visa (Type D)

Greece's Digital Nomad Visa (officially a long-stay Type D visa with nomad endorsement) allows non-EU remote workers to live in Greece for up to 2 years. It is designed for those who work remotely for employers or clients outside Greece.

Minimum income requirement: €3,500 gross per month (or equivalent annually) from remote work or freelance clients outside Greece
Initial visa valid for 1 year; renewable for a further 1 year — maximum 2 years total on the Digital Nomad Visa
After 2 years, visa holders may be eligible to transition to a standard long-stay permit if they meet residency requirements
Applicants must not be employed by or provide services to companies based in Greece
Required documents: valid passport, proof of income (bank statements, employer letter or contracts), health insurance, and proof of accommodation in Greece
The Digital Nomad Visa does not by itself accumulate towards the 7-year citizenship timeline; time on a subsequent residence permit does count
Application is made at the Greek consulate or embassy in the applicant's home country before arrival
Dependants (spouse and children under 21) can accompany the primary applicant on the same visa category

Long-Stay D-Visa (Retirees & Passive Income)

The standard Greek long-stay D-Visa is the route for retirees, those with passive income, or individuals who do not qualify for the Digital Nomad Visa. It requires demonstrating sufficient financial means to support yourself without working in Greece.

Designed for non-EU nationals who wish to reside in Greece without engaging in employment in the country
No fixed minimum income threshold is specified by law, but consulates typically expect €2,000–€3,000/month in passive income (pension, investments, rental income)
Required documents: valid passport, bank statements (usually 3–6 months), proof of accommodation, health insurance, and a criminal background check
Initial D-Visa is valid for 1 year; holders then apply for a 2-year residence permit at the local Aliens Bureau (Tmima Allodapon)
Residence permit is renewable every 2–5 years, depending on circumstances
After 7 years of legal continuous residency, holders can apply for permanent residency or Greek citizenship
Holders of the long-stay D-Visa qualify for the 7% flat income tax regime on foreign-sourced income if they apply within 3 years of establishing tax residency in Greece

Golden Visa — Property Investment Route

Greece's Golden Visa is one of Europe's most popular investor residency programmes. It grants a 5-year renewable residence permit (and rights for the whole family) in exchange for a qualifying property investment — with no requirement to actually live in Greece.

Standard Golden Visa threshold: €800,000 for a single property in Athens municipality, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, and islands with populations over 3,100
Reduced threshold: €400,000 for properties in all other areas of Greece not listed above
A further reduced threshold of €250,000 applies specifically to conversion of commercial properties to residential use, or properties listed as cultural monuments
The 5-year permit is renewable indefinitely as long as the investment is maintained
Golden Visa holders do not need to live in Greece — the permit is purely investment-based
However, only actual physical presence in Greece counts towards the 7-year citizenship requirement; Golden Visa holders who do not live there will not qualify for citizenship
Family members (spouse, children under 21, and the parents of both spouses) are included in the same residence permit
The process takes approximately 6–12 months from application to permit issuance

Residence Permits & Path to Citizenship

Once in Greece on any long-stay visa or residence permit, the pathway to permanent residency and Greek citizenship follows a structured timeline. Greek citizenship comes with an EU passport and the right to live and work anywhere in the European Union.

After 7 years of continuous legal residency in Greece, non-EU nationals can apply for Greek citizenship by naturalisation
Continuous residency means maintaining a valid permit and being physically present in Greece for the majority of each year
Applicants for citizenship must demonstrate: Greek language proficiency (A2 level minimum), knowledge of Greek history and culture, and integration into Greek society
A Greek passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 185+ countries including the US, UK, Canada, and Japan
Permanent residency (separate from citizenship) can be applied for after 5 years of continuous legal residency
Tax Number (AFM — Arithmos Forologikou Mitroou): required for all residents; obtained at the local tax office (AADE) with your passport and residency permit
AMKA (Social Security Number): required for healthcare, employment, and social benefits; obtained at KEP or IKA offices
Municipality registration (dimotologio): advisable for all long-term residents; needed for school enrollment and some local services