Affirming Your Eligibility for Permanent Residency in Greece through the Digital Nomad Visa
Greece has opened its doors to remote workers from around the world with the introduction of its Digital Nomad Visa in 2021. This visa offers an opportunity for those who wish to relocate to Europe and work remotely, with the potential for permanent residency and even citizenship.
To be eligible for the Digital Nomad Visa, applicants must have a valid passport, meet a minimum income requirement, work remotely, have a clean criminal record, possess international health insurance, obtain a medical certificate, and provide the address of their accommodations in Greece.
Upon applying for the 2-year renewable residence permit, digital nomads become tax residents in Greece, and they are required to stay in the country for at least 183 days out of the year to retain their residency status.
After living in Greece for five consecutive years with a temporary residence permit, remote workers may be eligible for permanent residency. To meet the criteria for permanent residency, applicants must also meet additional requirements such as living full-time in Greece, paying taxes as a resident of Greece, proving financial stability, having no serious criminal convictions in Greece, and submitting an application to the Greek authorities.
It is worth noting that there is a minimum stay requirement for obtaining permanent residency, and applicants may not leave Greece for more than a total of ten months during the five-year period they lived there as temporary residents.
After 12 years of living in Greece, digital nomads may apply for citizenship through naturalization. However, passing Greek language and civics exams is a requirement for this process. Interestingly, it is not a requirement to know the Greek language to get permanent residency in Greece, but passing a Greek language test may be necessary if one decides to apply for citizenship.
Greece offers a favorable tax incentive for foreigners living in the country. For the first seven years of living there, owed taxes are deducted by 50%.
It is important to note that the typical duration for obtaining permanent residence under the Greece Digital Nomad Visa is not explicitly stated in the available search results. However, digital nomad visas generally allow an initial stay of about one year, often extendable, before any long-term or permanent residency can be considered. Specific permanent residence timelines for Greece's program remain unspecified in these sources.
There are two visa term options: a 12-month non-renewable digital nomad visa and a 2-year renewable residence permit. Remote workers can include their spouses and dependent children on their visa applications.
More than 40 countries offer digital nomad visas, but only a select few have a pathway to permanent residency in the country. Greece's Digital Nomad Visa stands out as one of these rare opportunities for remote workers seeking a long-term stay in Europe.
