Greece digital nomads must get a Type D visa before travel

Greece’s digital nomad route still asks for solid remote income from abroad. The process got stricter at the front door.

Law 5275/2026 (published in the government gazette as FEK A’ 17, early February 2026) ended the common shortcut of entering as a tourist or visa-free visitor and then filing the first digital nomad residence card inside Greece. This is a news summary, not legal advice.

What changed

• Type D first. You generally need a national long-stay (Type D) digital nomad visa from the Greek consulate that covers where you live before you travel.
• Tourist conversion closed. Entering on a short Schengen stay or visa-free trip and then filing the first residence permit for this category is no longer the open path it used to be.
• Income floor did not jump with this law. The usual planning figure is still about €3,500 net per month for one adult, with more for a spouse or children. Confirm the live checklist.
• We updated our catalog. Country To Live still described “consulate or in Greece” as equal options. We rewrote the pathway so consulate Type D comes first.

What you still need

• Remote work for employers or clients outside Greece, not a local Greek job.
• About €3,500 net monthly income for one adult (family adds more).
• Health insurance that Greece accepts for the stay.
• Housing proof, police records, and translations in the format your consulate asks for.
• After arrival, the in-country residence card step and its fee (often about €1,000; confirm live amounts).

Who this affects

• Remote employees and freelancers who planned to “try Athens first” on a tourist stamp.
• US, UK, and other visa-free passport holders who used to treat the consulate step as optional.
• People comparing Spain or Portugal, where filing routes also differ by post.

What to do next

1. Read the law text and your consulate’s digital nomad Type D checklist (start from the Law 5275/2026 record and the Greek embassy that covers you).
2. Open our Greece digital nomad pathway and rebuild your file for a consulate appointment.
3. Compare Greece vs Spain if another EU remote-work permit is still on your shortlist.

News summary only, not legal advice. Confirm steps with your Greek consulate before you book flights.