Keep your US job or clients
The DNV explicitly permits employment by or contracting for non-Greek entities. Your W-2 from a US employer or your 1099s from US clients qualify, provided work is performed remotely.
← 🇬🇷 Greece
Greece Digital Nomad Visa
Keep your US job, build a Greek base. €3,500/month in foreign-source active income, two-month consular processing, and a 50% Greek-source tax discount during the visa term for those who shift tax residency.
- Financial req
- €3,500/mo income
- Processing
- 2 to 3 months
- Naturalization
- 7 years
- Presence required
- 183+ days / year
The basics of the Digital Nomad Visa
What it is
Greece's Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) is a one-year temporary residency permit for non-EU citizens earning foreign-source active income through remote employment, contracting, or remote ownership of a foreign-incorporated business. You demonstrate €3,500/month in foreign-source income, apply through the Greek consulate that covers your US state, and receive a residency card within two months of arrival. The visa is renewable for a second year; to reach the seven-year naturalization clock, most clients convert to the FIP visa or another long-term residency category at renewal.
Who it’s for
- Remote employees of US companies with documented salary and remote-work authorization
- Independent contractors with twelve+ months of consistent foreign-source contract income
- Founders running US LLCs or S-corps that pay them through documented salary or distributions
- Clients who want a low-friction first step into Greece before committing to longer-term residency
- Tech, finance, consulting, and creative professionals already structurally remote
Why it’s beneficial
The DNV is Greece's fastest residency route and includes a meaningful Greek-source tax discount during the visa term for those who shift tax residency. It's the right entry point for clients who want to live in Greece for one to two years before deciding whether to commit to the longer-term Greek lifestyle. The EU mobility from day one and the access to Greece's 50% Greek-source tax discount make it an unusually efficient short-term EU base.
Key benefits
The outcomes the Digital Nomad Visa actually delivers, beyond the headline numbers. The six that matter most to our clients.
50% Greek-source tax discount
If you shift tax residency to Greece while holding the DNV, you qualify for a 50% income-tax discount on Greek-source earnings for up to seven years. Foreign-source income is taxed under standard Greek rates outside the non-dom regime.
Two-to-three-month processing
Consular processing of complete DNV files typically runs 30 to 60 days. The fastest residency-by-investment route Greece offers.
EU mobility from day one
Greek residency unlocks Schengen travel immediately. Athens has direct service to most European capitals; intra-EU travel is functionally domestic.
Family on the same application
Spouse or registered partner and dependent children qualify on the principal application. Family income threshold steps up modestly per dependent.
Conversion path to long-term residency
At renewal, you can convert to the FIP visa or other long-term residency categories. The conversion preserves accumulated time toward the seven-year citizenship clock.
Financial requirements
The financial threshold to qualify, with the documentation we walk every client through.
Active foreign-source income
€3,500/month
Demonstrate active-source foreign income of at least €3,500/month for the principal applicant (family thresholds scale: +20% for spouse, +15% per child). Eligible sources: salary from a foreign employer with documented remote-work authorization, contractor income from foreign clients, founder distributions from a foreign-incorporated company you actively run.
Choosing the right route is half the work. We model the comparison against your portfolio in the Consult.
Get my BlueprintHow the process works
Contact us
Reach out and tell us about your situation. From there, you'll either book a 60-minute Freedom Consult (if you're weighing options across countries) or get started on this route directly (if you already know it's the right fit).
Engagement and document gathering
We coordinate the document pack: FBI background check (apostilled), birth and marriage certificates, twelve months of bank statements, employment letter or contractor agreements, remote-work authorization, US tax returns, Greek health insurance, and the Greek-counsel power of attorney.
Consular submission
Submit the DNV application through the Greek consulate covering your US state. Most consulates process complete files in 30 to 60 days.
Arrival and Decentralized Administration appointment
You enter Greece on the visa stamp within three months of issuance. Within three months of arrival, register at the Decentralized Administration to receive your residency card.
Optional tax-residency election
If you intend to shift tax residency to Greece, file the election with the Greek tax authority. The 50% Greek-source discount is available for up to seven years from the date of election. Election is optional.
Renew and decide at year two
The DNV renews for a second year. At the end of year two, decide whether to convert to the FIP visa or another long-term residency category to continue accumulating time toward the seven-year citizenship clock.
Processing
Temporary residency
Permanent residency
Citizenship
2-3 months
Years 1-2
Year 5+ (post-conversion)
Year 7+
Digital Nomad Visa versus the alternatives
How this program stacks against the closest credible options for the same visitor. We don’t earn more if you choose one over another.
| Dimension | Greece Digital Nomad | Greece Golden VisaLearn more | Greece FIP VisaLearn more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum financial bar | €3,500/mo active income | €250K property or startup | €3,500/mo passive income |
| Processing | 2-3 months | 2-4 months | 2-3 months |
| Presence required | 183+ days / year | None | 183+ days / year |
| Time to citizenship | 7 years (post-conversion) | 7 years | 7 years |
| Tax incentive | 50% Greek-source discount (7 yr) | €100K/yr non-dom (15 yr) | 7% pensioner (15 yr) |
| Right to work locally | No (foreign income only) | No (passive only) | No (no Greek employment) |
| Family inclusion | Spouse, children | Spouse, children, parents | Spouse, children, parents |
The DNV fits remote workers in the short term. The Golden Visa fits investors who want EU residency without day-count obligations. The FIP fits retirees and passive-income holders with the strongest pensioner tax regime. We don't earn more if you pick one over another.
Want a Greece briefing covering everything on this page plus the comparison framework we use internally?
Why clients work with us
Three reasons families pick Freedom Files over the do-it-yourself path or a single-jurisdiction agent.
First-hand experience
We know which consulates move DNV files cleanly and which bounce them. The remote-work authorization letter is the most common stall point.
Honest recommendations
About a third of DNV inquiries end with our recommendation against engagement. We tell you when the Golden Visa, FIP, or Portugal D8 fits cleaner.
Pro counsel from the start
Every engagement runs with US-licensed counsel from the first call. Treaty positions and the 50% Greek-source discount mechanics are planned before tax residency triggers.
What income qualifies for the DNV?
What income qualifies for the DNV?
Active-source foreign income: salary from a foreign employer (typically your US W-2 employer) with documented remote-work authorization, contractor income from foreign clients on 1099s, or founder distributions from a foreign-incorporated company you actively run. The consulate weights stability heavily; twelve months of consistent income from a single primary source carries more weight than a patchwork of gig income.
Does the DNV lead directly to citizenship?
Does the DNV lead directly to citizenship?
Not directly. The DNV is a one-year visa renewable for a second year, and Greek naturalization requires seven years of legal residency. To reach the seven-year clock, most clients convert to the FIP visa or another long-term residency category at renewal. The time accumulated on the DNV counts toward the seven-year clock when you convert.
How does the 50% Greek-source tax discount work?
How does the 50% Greek-source tax discount work?
If you transfer tax residency to Greece while holding the DNV and meet eligibility criteria (including not having been a Greek tax resident in five of the previous six years), you can elect a 50% income-tax discount on Greek-source earnings for up to seven years. Foreign-source income is taxed under standard Greek rates outside the €100K non-dom regime. The interaction with US worldwide-tax filing is technical; we coordinate with US-licensed counsel.
Can I work for a Greek employer on the DNV?
Can I work for a Greek employer on the DNV?
Not initially. The DNV is built specifically for foreign-employer or foreign-client income. If your situation changes, you would need to convert to a Greek work permit or another category at renewal.
What about US taxes once I become a Greek tax resident?
What about US taxes once I become a Greek tax resident?
The US taxes citizens on worldwide income regardless of residency. Greece taxes residents on worldwide income at progressive rates topping at 44% outside the special regimes. The US-Greece tax treaty mechanics, properly structured, prevent double taxation in most cases. We coordinate with US-licensed counsel before residency triggers.
What is the total cost beyond the income demonstration?
What is the total cost beyond the income demonstration?
Plan on €2-3K in government and administrative fees (visa, residency card, family-member fees), €4-6K in Greek legal fees through our partner counsel, and €500-1,500 in translation and apostille costs. Total non-investment cash outlay typically lands in the €7-11K range.
Can my family join me on the DNV?
Can my family join me on the DNV?
Yes. Spouse or registered partner and dependent children qualify on the principal application. The income threshold scales modestly per dependent. Dependent parents are not typically included on the DNV (unlike the FIP and Golden Visa routes).
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Ready to talk?
Two paths in. If the Digital Nomad Visa is clearly the right program for your family, start with the Blueprint and qualified applicants receive a Freedom Consult invitation inside the report. If you’re weighing this against other programs, the Blueprint routes you to the right conversation faster.
The consult is free for qualified applicants while we onboard our first cohort.