Greece Looks to Create Special Visa to Attract Digital Nomads

Greek authorities are looking to launch a special visa for digital nomads, a population of independent workers who choose to embrace a technology-enabled lifestyle that allows them to travel and work remotely, anywhere in the world.

Digital nomads are location-independent, remote workers that either set a base in another country or continuously change destinations while working at the same time.

Aiming to tap into the potential of this global trend, the Greek ministries of Migration and Foreign Affairs are looking to introduce a special visa for remote workers that wish to relocate to Greece.

“We must create an organized, attractive environment for people that choose this advanced way of working,” Migration and Asylum Minister Notis Mitarachi said in a recent interview to Proto Thema newspaper.

According to Mitarachi, the special residence permit or “digital visa” could be combined with tax incentives, a move that would ultimately attract permanent investments.

Migration and Asylum Minister Notis Mitarachi

The Greek government in December launched legislation which foresees favorable tax treatment of nationals of other countries that wish to transfer their tax residence to Greece. Investing in Greece is the key requirement for the scheme, which is part of a “non-dom program” introduced by Greek authorities to stimulate growth and remedy brain-drain caused by the Greek debt crisis.

The non-dom program also offers significant tax breaks to Greeks abroad who chose to return and work in Greece as well as to returning pensioners.