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At a Glance

• Greece now offers a one-year (renewable) Digital Nomad Visa for foreign nationals who are working remotely and are self-employed or employed by a company outside Greece.
• Applicants must generate at least EUR 3,500 gross monthly income and cannot perform work or services in Greece.
• Digital nomads now have access to an immigration status in Greece, where no such option previously existed.

 

The Situation

Greece now offers a one-year Digital Nomad visa for foreign nationals seeking to reside in Greece while continuing to work on behalf of their home employer via telecommunication tools.

 

A Closer Look

Permitted Activities

Applicants can perform the following activities under a Digital Nomad Visa:

• • • Self-employment; or
    • Work for an employer registered abroad with whom they have an employment contract.

Key Eligibility Requirements

• • • Applicants must be able to work remotely using telecommunication tools.
    • Applicants must generate EUR 3,500 gross monthly income.
    • If working for an employer registered abroad, the foreign national must have a work contract showing that local activities are not performed for the duration that the visa will be valid.
    • Applicants must sign a personal statement confirming that they intend to stay in Greece but will not engage in local work.

Permit Validity

The permit is issued as a one-year D visa, and is renewable from within Greece for a maximum of two years. Holders of the permit can renew it after a three year cumulative stay but cannot change to another status or exchange it with another permit that allows access to the Greek labor market.

Other Permit Details

• • Applicants can sponsor a spouse, partner and/or minor or dependent children.
  • Visa holders are not permitted to perform work or services in Greece.
  • Applications can be filed from outside Greece.

 

Impact

Digital nomads now have access to an immigration status in Greece, where no such option previously existed. The three-year potential stay is considerably longer than most digital nomad options in Europe. Interested employers benefit from being able to offer their employees flexible residence choices.

 

Background

Remote Work Visa Warning

In countries where remote work is unregulated, workers and employers may unknowingly put themselves at risk of non-compliance with many aspects of the law, exposing them to possible fines or other penalties, depending on the country. Importantly, noncompliance with regulations could result in employers losing their rights to hire foreign labor. Additionally, this type of work arrangement may have employment or tax law impacts. It will become increasingly important as such policies are developed (and in many countries where remote work is unregulated) for employers to analyze strategies and assess risks associated with implementing and/or continuing remote work policies with a trusted immigration partner.

Current Programs in Europe

European countries that offer Digital Nomad or Remote Work visa options include Croatia, Estonia (which was the first country in the world to offer this type of visa), Georgia, Malta, and Iceland. Romania is expected to implement a remote work visa program in the near future.

 

Looking Ahead

As the non-traditional workforce grows and countries focus on post-COVID-19 economic remobilization, more governments will likely start to slowly adapt and update remote work policies.

 

 

 

 

Picture: Courtesy of Pixabay/Pilarin07