Dreaming of working outside an office? Now let’s make that more attractive. How about working outside an office with views to the endless blue sea in a home only minutes away from the beach and all this in warm weather and sunny skies for most of the year with a pretty decent cost of living. This is life for those of you working remotely in Greece.
And who wouldn’t want to be a digital nomad in one of the most dreamed of destinations in the world? Did you know that Greece is among the top places for people wishing to work away from home?
That said, I totally understand why, and so do Greek authorities who have in the last few years introduced a number of incentives to attract digital nomads to Greece who could be anything from consultants, writers and designers to developers, authors and creators of all sorts.
So that said maybe it’s time to make your dream come true. In this post, I take you step by step through Greece’s Digital Nomad Visa process and your move to Greece for work.
Getting a Digital Nomad Visa in Greece
Before applying for a Greek Digital Nomad visa, the best would be to take a holiday in Greece. This easy-to-read and detailed waterproof adventure map of Greece by experts NatGeo should come in handy. Start from Athens or Thessaloniki. Do a couple of islands or rent a car and go on a road trip to the Peloponnese or Central Greece. When you feel you like a place, check out housing options.
► Visiting Greece? The Top Things to Know
1. Requirements for Greece’s Digital Nomad visa
- you should not be a Greek citizen. EU residents do not need a visa, Americans do
- you should be working for employers or clients registered outside Greece and be able to provide proof – a contract for instance stating your monthly salary and your agreement to work remotely
- you could be a freelancer, self-employed, or an employee and you cannot be working for a Greece-based company
- you must have a clean criminal record and papers to prove it
- you should have a valid passport
- your average monthly income should be at least €3,500 net ($3,761) and you should have proof of this. The amount reaches €4,200 ($4,513) if you’re bringing along a spouse
- you should have a health insurance plan for the duration of your stay in Greece
2. Gather all your documents
- gather all the above documents as well as proof of a one-year rent agreement, and a letter from your employer or evidence of freelance work
3. How to apply for a Greek Digital Nomad Visa
- visit the Greek embassy or consulate service near you. Find Greek missions abroad here and fill in the application
- after completing the application make sure to attach all required documents and submit according to guidance provided by authorities
- You could also let one of dozens of law firms take care of the whole application process for you hassle free
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4. Application fee
- the application fee is €75 (around $80)
- and there may be an additional administrative fee of €150 (or about $161)
5. How long does the Greek Digital Nomad Visa last?
- the Greek digital nomad visa lasts for a year
- there is a 183-day or six-month minimum stay requirement per year
6. How long will I wait for approval
- according to feedback from readers, it is taking Greek authorities longer than the announced three to four working weeks to process visas, so be patient
- do check the status of your application online or through the embassy or consulate service
►5 Perfect Short Day Trips Out of Athens
7. What you need to do before coming to work in Greece
- Once your Greek digital nomad visa application is approved, start planning your trip. First up: book your flight here.
- Next find accommodation. Usually remote workers make a deal with rooms to let providers or Airbnb operators. Start looking here or check out cheaper hostel options.
- One of the most important things to do is to inform your bank that you will be working abroad so that you have access to your online banking.
- Also, it would be a good idea to ask about charges for using your credit cards in Greece as well as when you withdraw cash.
- Convert some currency to have some petty cash.
- Get a local SIM card for affordable Internet and cell phone use. This one is a good option.
- Inform your local mail service of your new forwarding address.
► How to Live Long and Happy Like a Greek
8. Working remotely in Greece: The Benefits
- One of the advantages of the Greek Digital Nomad visa is that it allows you to travel visa-free in 26 European Union countries.
- If you stay for up to six months in Greece, you will not be subject to taxes, you will however be required to pay taxes if you stay for more.
- If you do decide to stay longer (over two years), you may be entitled to a 50% tax break.
- If you, like many of us, end up loving Greece after your year as a digital nomad, you can always apply for a two-year digital nomad residence permit.
Remote Work in Greece: Maria’s Tips
►Best places to work remotely in Greece
The best places to work remotely in Greece depend on what you’re looking for.
– If you’re young or young at heart and want to combine work with nightlife, then Athens and Thessaloniki are your best choices. Visit these groups on Facebook for Athens and Thessaloniki
– If you’re among those looking for peace and quiet, Aegina, Hydra, Spetses, and Poros, which are also very close to Athens; Rhodes, Chania, Rethymno, Sitia, or Heraklio on Crete, Evia, Paros, and Naxos are great options because they also have regular transport services (ferries, flights) all year round. For flights, I always choose Kayak and for ferries Ferryscanner
– If you want to live the slow life, then Lipsi, Patmos, and Leros islands are also good options. But have in mind, life here in the winter is very, very slow with very few things to do other than connect with yourself and nature. If that sounds good, then it’s for you.
– If you want to work on the mainland, Central Greece is great, like the towns of Larissa, Trikala, Loutraki, Atalanti, Volos, Kavala, Kalamata and Nafplio. This Facebook group should help.
►Solo Female Traveler? Go to Greece
► Things to ask before booking a place to stay
– make sure to ask about Internet speed and have the proprietor provide proof
– ask about heating and air conditioning options
– when negotiating the price ask about what is included.
► Where to stay
Most family-owned hotels or rooms-to-let in Greece close for the winter. You can make a deal with a hotel owner or Airbnb operator for the period you wish to stay. Check out facebook groups for more and this rental FB spot.
►All About Nea Ionia: A Must-Visit Neighborhood in Athens
► Meeting new friends
Sometimes a new start is lonely. Find fellow digital nomads like yourself in Facebook groups like this one or on Reddit.
If you’re in Athens, you might consider working at a coworking space where you could make new friends. Some fine coworking spaces in Athens, include Stone Soup, The Cube, Found.ation and Impact Hub Athens.
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►Find remote work in Greece
You could look for dozens of remote jobs in Greece on Jooble
►5 Quiet Greek Islands to Visit if You Want to Relax
► Getting accustomed to the local way of life
✓ take it slow. Give yourself time to get used your new life
✓ go to the local “kafenion” (coffee house) and order a Greek coffee. If you’re in a larger city, check out the cafes, find one you like and make it your hang-out
✓ visit the local “fourno” (bakery) and buy some bread, sweets or edibles
✓ say “kalimera” (good morning) to everyone! Your landlord, the seller at the bakery, the waiter at the café, the barman and the person next to you. The smaller the place, the easier they will remember you and make you feel at home
✓ walk around town aimlessly and see what you like
✓ find Facebook groups in the area or use social apps
✓ sign up at a gym or for dancing lessons. You can also go to a bar and try talking to the person next to you. Most Greeks speak good English and enjoy making new friends. Just be honest, start off by saying you just came to town and are looking for some advice
✓ Learn some Greek words or even sign up for a Greek language class
✓ get an understanding of the local ways: in the smaller towns and villages and on the islands, shops close in the afternoons from 2.30pm and reopen at 5pm. In cities most shops close on Monday and Wednesday evenings.
✓ Stay connected with The Greek Vibe to learn the Greek ways, the traditions and customs, and the very best places to visit in Greece from a Greek-American who moved from Chicago to live and work in Greece!
♫ I end today’s post with a song written by one of Greece’s greatest composers: Manos Loizos to the lyrics of Lefteris Papadopoulos first performed by Eleni Roda in the 1967 black and white film “Trouba ’67”. To lyrics make it clear that only work can make a man out of you!
Enjoy!
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