“My wife and I came on vacation in 2019 and fell in love with the island,” Joshua Clay tells “K.” from USA. The young couple moved to Chania in 2021 and have been living and working there ever since. Gradually more and more digital nomads (outside EU countries) are voting for Greece. In 2021, 10 people filed a corresponding request, in 2022 the number increased to 595 people, and in the first two months of 2023, 70 people have already applied.

Digital nomads vote for Greece

Tanya Georgiopolu

their dream holidays in Greece with the advantages of technology, it takes on other dimensions and can be turned into a stay of several months or even years. The program for digital nomads from third countries who come to the country to work remotely and apply for a legal residence permit is attracting a growing response, as evidenced by the data.

In 2021, ten people filed a corresponding appeal, in 2022 the total number of appeals reached 595 people, and in the first two months of 2023, 70 people have already submitted an application.

The majority of digital nomads (outside EU countries) in Greece originate from Russia, namely 433 out of 595 (as of 2022). But already in 2023, out of 70 who submitted a request, 48 are Russians. It is estimated that this is the route that executives of multinational companies emigrated after the start of the war with Ukraine, perhaps out of fear of being called up to participate in hostilities.

The second country of origin for digital nomads by a wide margin is the US (53 people applied in 2022) and the third is the UK (17 people). They are followed by Israel with 14 people, Brazil with 9 and Lebanon with 7.

National visa

The National Digital Nomad Program, originally designed for one year, began to be implemented in Greece about a year ago – later than in other European countries – in response to the needs of people from third countries who wanted to stay in the country for a longer period of time. time longer than the tourist visa allows. People from countries outside the EU they can enter Greece on a tourist visa, which, however, allows you to stay in it for three months with the possibility of extending for another three. Almost six months later, third-country nationals could not stay in the country legally.

All you need is a computer and you can enjoy the view from the Santorini caldera while working hundreds of miles away.

The ability to live many hundreds of miles away from where your job or employer is located is now a reality for many people and for many types of work. According to research, Greece is one of the first choices for digital nomads as it combines a relatively low cost of living, mild weather and an interesting social life.

All you need is a computer and you can work in a cozy cafe in the city center, in a roof garden overlooking the Acropolis or even Santorini’s caldera.

Conditions

Obtaining a national visa initially, and after one year, a digital nomad residence permit in Greece can be carried out digitally without personal presence. The applicant must, with a responsible statement, express their intention to reside in the country “with a national entry visa for the provision of remote work”, while at the same time pledging not to offer work, services or work to a Greek-based employer. In order to prove their employment relationship with an employer abroad, they must provide evidence (such as an employment contract) or, in case the applicant is self-employed, evidence relating to the head office of their business, which must be located outside of Greece.

Income

The applicant must have evidence that he has sufficient fixed income resources to cover living expenses during his stay in the country, without burdening the national social security system. The amount of “sufficient resources” is defined as 3,500 euros per month and is confirmed: i) from an employment or project contract or proof of employment relationship, in the case of dependent work, services or a project, or ii) from a bank account. The above amount is increased by 20% for a spouse or partner and 15% for each child, in accordance with the decision to implement the program, organized and supervised by the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum and the Ministry of Finance. “The Ministry of Finance is involved as these people are not taxed in Greece as they have no income here,” emphasizes Mr. Patroklos Georgiadis, Secretary General for Immigration Policy.

Numbers

10 applications for a national visa to enter the country were submitted in 2021.

595 applications submitted in 2022. Most of them (433) are from Russia.

70 applications (48 from Russia) were submitted in the first forty days of 2023.

3500 euro per month, the amount of “sufficient resources” to cover the applicant’s living expenses.

“Life with a capital letter”

Joanna Photiadis

“On the island, we filmed a short scene from my next film,” the American director and screenwriter proudly says. Joshua Clay, who was recently naturalized as a Cretan and works from his home in Chania. “My wife and I came on holiday in June 2019 and fell in love with the island” says “K”. The young couple moved to Chania in October 2021 after Germany, where they lived for a while for the needs of the film Tears of Blood. “It’s a medieval movie where two characters are from the Byzantine Empire and speak Greek,” explains Heshua, now also known as “Syphis.”

“I really enjoyed the experience of filming in Greece and I hope to be able to do other things in the future, maybe some kind of film set in ancient times,” he admits.

At the moment, Crete is a source of inspiration for the 30-year-old artist from Atlanta. As he says, “my love for the island was partly transformed in the film.” His wife Vivian is a scientist and also works remotely. When moving to Greece, the couple did not encounter bureaucratic obstacles. “Life on an island in the winter can sometimes be lonely,” the 30-year-old admits, but “I found myself missing my home.” However, for now, two young Americans have anchored in Chania and have adopted an adorable puppy. “I feel that life in Greece is life with a capital letter.”

“Like at home”

30 year old feels the same Hamda Zormati from Tunisia, which has also anchored in Crete since November of last year. “I lived for three years in Bucharest, where I studied in the MBA program and worked at the same time.” His first experience abroad was very positive, “but I didn’t like the weather,” he notes. Thus, Hamda returns to her homeland for two years, where she works in a family hotel. “Then I decided to come to Greece, having previously found a job in a large telecommunications company,” explains “K”. And he adds that “the bureaucratic process lasted no more than a week.” At first, Hamda lived in Athens for several months. “However, I didn’t like it, it was too noisy and dirty compared to Bucharest.” He started looking for a beach house.

“I took a look at Glyfada and Voula, but the rent was unassailable.” So… it was found in Crete. “From the first moment I felt at home,” he says, continuing to work remotely at the same company. “I made many friends, both foreigners and Cretans. I am also trying to learn Greek because I plan to stay in Crete for a long time, where I would like to start my own business.” In his free time, he goes hiking and exploring the island’s villages. “I feel completely safe here, I have left my phone many times in different places, and it has always been returned to me.”

Tax incentives for everyone

Prokopis Hadjinikolou

Employees as well as pensioners leave their countries and move to Greece for tax reasons. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Finance, more than 4,500 applications from individuals wishing to work in our country have been approved by AADE services, and 335 pensioners now live in Greece. Finance Ministry sources say there would be far more retirees were it not for the health crisis and expect interest to pick up in the near future.

As for employees, more than 4,500 applications have been approved by the relevant services, and another 1,500 are under consideration. They are mostly Greeks who left the country during the memorandum years and return to Greece with new jobs and a very low tax rate. Interest in the new provisions is growing, given that they provide for individuals who change their tax residence and will be employed in new jobs or start as self-employed: income tax exemption of 50% of income. what will be acquired in Greece in seven years. According to the decision, those who move to Greece for tax purposes will receive a 50 per cent tax rebate on their income, as well as an exemption from the presumption of owning and using a vehicle. In particular, someone may apply to be included in this structure if:

He had not been a Greek tax resident for the previous five of the six years before transferring his tax residence to Greece.
He transfers his tax residence from the EU member state. or the EEA, or from a country with which there is an agreement on administrative cooperation in the field of taxation with Greece.

It provides services in Greece in the context of an employment relationship carried out either in a local legal entity or legal entity or in a permanent establishment of a foreign company in Greece. The same privileges apply and apply accordingly to natural persons who transfer their tax residency to Greece in order to carry out self-employment activities in Greece. He states that he will remain in Greece for at least two years.

As for foreign pensioners, since 2020, 335 applications from at least 21 countries have been approved, 120 are being processed. By law, pensioners pay a tax calculated at the rate of 7% on all income received abroad each tax year. Retiree legislation provides that those who apply, and if accepted, will pay an independent tax at the rate of 7% each year on all income earned abroad. By paying this tax, they exhaust all tax liability on that income. Any tax paid abroad on income covered by the alternative taxation method will not be deducted from the tax levied in Greece.