Greece Digital Nomad Visa vs. Portugal Digital Nomad Visa [2024]

With more than 30 digital nomad visas available worldwide, it can be difficult choosing the right one for you. To help you choose between two countries, we’re diving deep into the differences between the Greece digital nomad visa vs. Portugal digital nomad visa. 

Both Greece and Portugal offer attractive lifestyles, and both are located in the European Union and Schengen Area with ideal weather and climates. 

Greece introduced its digital nomad visa in 2021, while Portugal was a bit later and introduced theirs in October 2022. 

While both countries have excellent wifi connection, cafes and coworking spaces, and plenty of popular cities to relocate to, the details of their digital nomad visas can be complex. 

Below are the differences and similarities of the Greece digital nomad visa vs. Portugal digital nomad visa to help you decide which one is right for your lifestyle. 

What is a Digital Nomad Visa?

Before we dive into the details of the Greece digital nomad visa vs. Portugal digital nomad visa, we must first determine what exactly they are. 

A digital nomad visa is a temporary residence permit that allows remote workers to live abroad. 

It’s important to note that these types of visas do not allow applicants or their family members to seek local employment in the country. 

The Importance of Choosing the Right Digital Nomad Visa

Applying for a digital nomad visa is a big decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. 

While they do not require you to search for a job abroad, there are some serious things to consider, such as how to find an apartment to live, if you can drive in the country, and opening bank accounts if necessary. 

There are also the tax implications of digital nomad visas that you must consider. Sometimes, moving to a foreign country can be detrimental to how much you owe in taxes if you don’t plan accordingly. 

Choosing a digital nomad visa should be something you think deeply about and research. And well, if you’re here reading this article, you’re doing just that! 

Comparing the pros and cons of each visa and imagining what life will be like for you is a crucial part of picking the right digital nomad visa to apply for. 

Greece Digital Nomad Visa vs. Portugal Digital Nomad Visa

In this article, we are comparing the Greece digital nomad visa vs. Portugal digital nomad visa ton an easy and straightforward way to assist you in making your decision. 

Nomads Embassy: The World’s First Embassy for Digital Nomads has a mission to make the world more accessible to digital nomads by sharing verified information in an easy and comprehensive way. 

Plus, with our hand-selected local immigration lawyers and our Done-for-You Digital Nomad Visa service, we’ve made the digital nomad visa application process even easier. 

From research to relocation, Nomads Embassy is here to simplify the digital nomad visa process. 

Visa Requirements

Every digital nomad visa has specific eligibility requirements applicants must meet to be considered for the visa. 

Greece and Portugal are no exception. 

Below is a quick comparison of the digital nomad visa requirements for each. 

Valid Passport

• Greece – Passport must be valid for the duration of your visa
• Portugal – Passport must be valid at the time of applying

You must have a valid passport when applying for the Greece or Portugal digital nomad visa. However, the validity period is different. 

Income Requirement

• Greece – €3,500 per month
• Portugal – €3,280 per month

Both countries increase the minimum income requirement if the applicant plans to bring a spouse and dependents. 

Work Remotely

Both Greece and Portugal require applicants to actively work remotely as an employee, freelancer, or business owner of a company or for clients located abroad.

International Health Insurance

Greece and Portugal require applicants to have an international health insurance policy covering them in the country. 

Clean Criminal Record

Both countries require applicants to present a certified criminal background check free from marks. 

National ID Number

• Greece – No number required
• Portugal – No number required 

Some countries require you to apply for a national ID number when relocating to the country and applying for a visa.

In this case, Portugal does not require a national ID number when applying. However, when you apply for the two-year residence permit, you must obtain an NIF number.

Address of Accommodations

• Greece – Must present either a three-month or one-year booking or lease agreement
• Portugal – Must present a one-year lease agreement or booking 

Both countries require applicants to present proof of local accommodations. 

Family Inclusion

• Greece – Family inclusion allowed
• Portugal – Family inclusion allowed

Both Greece and Portugal allow applicants to include immediate family members on their digital nomad visa applications. 

Immediate family members include a spouse and dependents. Documentation, such as marriage and birth certificates, are required upon applying to prove the relationship. 

As mentioned earlier, the minimum income requirement does increase with each member included. 

For Greece, the income increases as follows:

• Couples – €4,200 per month
• Family of Three – €4,830 per month
• 15% increase per additional dependent

For Portugal, the the income increases as follows:

• Couples – €4,100 per month or earn €3,280 per month and have €9,840 in bank account
• Family of Three – €4,316 per month or earn €3,280 per month and have €12,792 in bank account
• €216 per month increase or €2,952 in bank account per additional child dependent

Application Process

• Greece – In person at an Embassy or Consulate in country of residence
• Portugal – In person at an Embassy or Consulate in country of residence

The application process for both Greece and Portugal must be done in person either at an embassy or consulate in the applicant’s country of residence. 

Neither digital nomad visa offers an online application at this time. 

Time to Apply

• Greece – 10 business days through the embassy or consulate
• Portugal – 3 to 4 months through the embassy or consulate

When you apply through the traditional method at an embassy or consulate, waiting for an appointment can take months. 

It’s important to note that gathering your documents before submitting your application and attending appointments can take about a month or two as well. 

Visa Term

• Greece – 12 months with visa or 2 years with residence permit
• Portugal – 12 months with visa or 2 years with residence permit

There are technically two options for the Greece digital nomad visa vs. Portugal digital nomad visa. 

If you would only like to live in the country for 12 months, then you will not proceed with applying for a residence permit when you arrive in the country. 

If you wish to stay in the country longer with the ability to renew your stay, then you must apply for the residence permit in both Greece and Portugal. 

It’s important to note that for Greece’s 12-month visa, you must apply from outside of the country. 

Renewal Options

• Greece – residence permit unlimited renewals
• Portugal – residence permit unlimited renewals

When you apply for either the Greece or Portugal digital nomad visa for just 12 months, you cannot renew it again unless you apply for a residence permit.

For both countries, the residence permits can be renewed unlimitedly if you meet the minimum stay requirements (six months out of the year) and other criteria. 

Government Fees

• Greece – €250 visa fee and €1,000 residence permit fee
• Portugal – €90 visa fee and €155 residence permit fee

There are government fees you must pay during the application process. 

Greece tends to be more expensive than Portugal to obtain a digital nomad visa and residence permit. 

Path to Permanent Residency

• Greece – Yes, after 5 years
• Portugal – Yes, after 5 years

After living in Greece or Portugal for five consecutive years and meeting minimum stay requirements, you may apply for permanent residency there. 

There are additional criteria and requirements for eligibility, but the digital nomad visas can put you on a path to both permanent residency or citizenship. 

Tax Implications

• Greece – Grey area
• Portugal – Tax Resident

Taxes are one of the most complicated aspects of applying for a digital nomad visa. In some cases, like Greece, the law is so unclear that nobody knows if digital nomads will owe taxes or not. 

The general rule of thumb for Greece digital nomad visas is that the digital nomad will not owe taxes even if they live in the country for 183 days out of the year. However, if they purchase property or a car, then they will be liable to pay local taxes annually. 

The Portugal digital nomad visa automatically determines visa holders are tax residents, especially because they must stay in the country at least six months out of the year.

Difficulty of Applying for the Digital Nomad Visa on Your Own

• Greece – 7/10
• Portugal – 8/10

While it is completely possible to apply for both the Greece and Portugal digital nomad visas on your own, it has not proven to be easy. 

When dealing with embassies or consulates, you can count on long wait times on phone calls, emails, and low-tier custom service. There also tends to be a lot of miscommunication between the consulate, the government, and applicants. 

Applying for a digital nomad visa with an immigration lawyer can ease this stress and miscommunication. Part of the lawyer’s job is to communicate with the embassy, consulate, and other authorities on your behalf so you don’t have to wait on hold for hours. 

Completing the physical application can also prove to be difficult. For example, on Portugal’s application, there is a specific box to check to determine if you want a 12-month visa or a two-year residence permit. This can be easily overlooked if you don’t have proper assistance.  

Having a local immigration lawyer that speaks the language can also help you get questions answered, push your application faster, and get updates on the status of your application quicker. 

Check Your Visa Eligibility with Nomads Embassy

Did this article help you decide which digital nomad visa to apply for? 

After weighing the pros and cons of the Greece digital nomad visa vs. Portugal digital nomad visa, you probably have a better understanding of which is best for your lifestyle and goals. 

Deciding which digital nomad visa to apply for is just the first step. Now, it’s time to connect with a local immigration lawyer to assist you with your relocation process. 

Nomads Embassy is here to help connect you with our hand-selected and verified immigration lawyers worldwide.

To begin your digital nomad visa application process, request our free eligibility check today!