Malta Digital Nomad Visa vs. Greece Digital Nomad Visa

When looking to relocate to a beautiful, Mediterranean environment to work remotely, you come to the debate of the Malta digital nomad visa vs. Greece digital nomad visa. 

Remote workers have a unique opportunity to temporarily relocate to both of these countries thanks to the digital nomad visas launched in recent years. While the goal is the same, there are different benefits, requirements, and procedures that come along with each. 

To help you understand the differences between the Malta digital nomad visa vs. Greece digital nomad visa, we’ve put together a deep-dive article where you can see all of the information side by side. 

Malta and Greece both offer great environments for digital nomads thanks to their popular cities, cafes, coworking spaces, and reliable internet connections. However, digital nomad visas are complex and can make it difficult to relocate to your desired country. 

Below are the differences between the Malta digital nomad visa vs. Greece digital nomad visa to help you make a decision about which one is best for your digital nomad lifestyle.

What is a Digital Nomad Visa?

There are over 30 digital nomad visas available around the world. These visas are specifically for remote workers to live abroad temporarily. 

Usually, these visas last for about a year and are renewable a couple of times. However, in some cases, they can lead to permanent residency. 

It’s important to note that digital nomad visas do not allow you to seek local employment in the country. 

You must earn your income working remotely either as an employee or owner of a company or freelance for clients located outside of the country where you hold the digital nomad visa. 

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. 

Malta Digital Nomad Visa vs. Greece Digital Nomad Visa

In this article, we are comparing the Malta digital nomad visa vs. Greece digital nomad visa for 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

Each digital nomad visa has a specific set of eligibility requirements applicants must meet to be considered for approval. 

Below is a comparison of Malta digital nomad visa vs. Greece digital nomad visa requirements. 

Valid Passport

• Malta – Passport must be valid at the time of applying
• Greece – Passport must be valid for the duration of your stay

You must have a valid passport when applying for both Malta and Greece digital nomad visas. However, the validity period is different. 

Income Requirement

• Malta – €2,700 per month
• Greece – €3,500 per month

Malta’s income requirement is less than Greece’s requirement. 

Additionally, when you plan to bring a spouse or dependents with you to Greece, the minimum income requirement increases as follows:

• €4,200 per month for couples
• €4,830 per month for a family of three
• 15% increase for additional dependents

Malta’s minimum income requirement does not increase if you bring family members.

Work Remotely

Both countries require applicants to show proof that they work remotely through employment and/or freelance contracts or a business established abroad. 

International Health Insurance

Both countries require applicants to have an international health insurance policy that covers them in the country for the duration of their visa. 

However, British citizens can access Malta’s healthcare for free, thanks to an agreement between the countries. Therefore, they do not require an international health insurance policy. 

Clean Criminal Record

• Malta – No
• Greece – Yes

Greece requires applicants to submit a criminal background check when applying for the digital nomad visa from abroad.

If you plan to apply directly for the two-year residence permit in Greece, then you do not have to submit a criminal background check. 

Address of Accommodations

• Malta – Yes, after approval in principle
• Greece – Yes, at time of applying

Both countries require applicants to have proof of accommodations in the country. However, Malta requires your accommodations after receiving your approval in principle, allowing you to visit Malta and search for housing. 

Greece requires an address of accommodations while applying for the digital nomad visa. This can be a three-month reservation to begin with.

Family Inclusion

• Malta – Yes
• Greece – Yes

Both countries allow applicants to include spouses and dependents under the age of 18 on their visa applications. 

Application Process

• Malta – Online application
• Greece – In person at an embassy or consulate in or near the country of residence or in Greece

The Malta digital nomad visa application is done entirely online. There is no need to visit an embassy or consulate, and you can apply from anywhere in the world. 

If your nationality requires you to apply for an entry visa to Greece, you must apply in-person at the nearest embassy or consulate to your country of residence. 

However, if you can enter Greece visa-free as a tourist, then you may apply for the residence permit directly in Greece.

Time to Approval

• Malta – 30 days
• Greece – 20 days

After submitting your documents to the authorities, it will take about 30 days to receive an answer from Malta and about 20 days for Greece.

Visa Term

• Malta – 12 months
• Greece – 12 months or 2 years for residence permit

Both digital nomad visas in Malta and Greece are valid for one year. 

However, if you wish to stay longer in Greece, you may apply for the residence permit, which allows you to stay for two years. 

Renewal Options

• Malta – renewable twice
• Greece – 12-month visa nonrenewable, two-year residence permit renewable

The Malta digital nomad visa is renewable twice, allowing digital nomads to live in the country for up to three years. 

If you obtain just the digital nomad visa for Greece, then it is not renewable about one year. If you wish to stay, you must apply for the two-year residence permit, which has unlimited renewals. 

Path to Permanent Residency

• Malta – No
• Greece – Yes

The Malta digital nomad visa does not lead to permanent residency. 

After living in Greece full-time for five years, you may apply for permanent residency.

Government Fees

• Malta – €300
• Greece – €225 for visa and €1,000 for residence permit

The application and government fee for Malta’s digital nomad visa is around the same as Greece’s digital nomad visa application fee. 

However, if you plan to apply for the residence permit in Greece, there is an additional €1,000 fee.

Tax Implications

• Malta – Tax resident
• Greece – Non-Tax Resident

Malta may consider you a tax resident if you stay in the country for 183 days out of the year.

This is a gray area for digital nomads in Greece, though. If you do not own property or a car in Greece, then you are not considered a tax resident, even if you stay in the country for more than 183 days.

Difficulty of Applying on Your Own

• Malta – 3/10
• Greece – 7/10

While it is completely possible to apply for both the Malta and Greece 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. 

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. 

Begin Your Digital Nomad Visa Application with Nomads Embassy

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

After weighing the pros and cons of the Malta digital nomad visa vs. Greece 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!