Side-by-side comparison · Last verified October 8, 2026
Greece vs Italy digital nomad visa
Greece and Italy are the Mediterranean lifestyle picks — the visas you shortlist for the food, the light, and the pace, with the paperwork as the price of admission. Italy wins the price war outright: roughly €24,790 a year (about €2,066 a month) is the lowest income bar of any major program, hundreds below Greece's roughly €3,500 net. Greece wins nearly everything else. Its 50% income-tax reduction for seven years is the strongest fiscal incentive in this guide; its one-year renewable structure has no hard ceiling; and its process, while consular-first since February 2026, is more predictable than Italy's still-maturing system, where outcomes vary meaningfully by consulate. Italy also imposes the strictest qualification rules here — degree, license, or up to five years' experience — and a hard three-year cap before you must switch tracks. This is the classic cheap-but-fiddly versus expensive-but-smooth trade-off.
Head to head
| Dimension | Greece | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Program | Digital Nomad Visa (National Type-D → Residence Permit) | Digital Nomad / Remote Worker Visa |
| Minimum monthly income | €3,500/month · net monthly income (after tax) | €2,066/month · ≈ €24,790/year gross from non-Italian sources |
| Savings requirement | No fixed savings figure is published; consulates expect consistent income evidence. | No fixed savings figure is published; consulates expect to see stable ongoing income rather than a lump sum. |
| Maximum stay | Up to 2 years | Up to 3 years |
| Renewable | Yes — 12-month national Type-D visa, converted after arrival into a 2-year residence permit. Renewable thereafter. | Yes — 1-year residence permit (permesso di soggiorno), renewable annually up to 3 years total. After that you must switch to another visa type or leave. |
| Processing time | Around 10 business days at the consulate for the Type-D visa; the residence-permit stage follows after arrival. | Around 30–60 days at the consulate, plus another 2–3 months at the questura after arrival. You must apply for the permesso di soggiorno within 8 days of entry. |
| Application fee | ~€75 Type-D visa fee, plus ~€1,000 for the residence permit and a €16 card fee. | Varies by consulate — confirm the current fee before booking your appointment. |
| Family rules | Spouse or partner (+20% income) and dependent children (+15% each) apply for their own visas. Family members may live in Greece but cannot work there. | Spouse, civil partner and minor children may join, subject to government approval, with a higher income requirement. |
| Apply from abroad | Yes — Since Law 5275/2026 took effect in February 2026, Greece is consular-first: you must obtain the Type-D visa from a Greek consulate before traveling. | Yes — Consulate only. Apply at the Italian consulate serving your place of residence — requirements and handling vary noticeably between consulates. |
| Apply from inside the country | No — The in-country application route was closed in February 2026. Do not travel to Greece as a tourist intending to convert — apply at the consulate first. | No — There is no in-country application route. |
| Degree / experience | Not required — No degree or experience requirement; the income threshold does the filtering. | Required — A university degree or accredited professional license, OR at least 5 years of relevant professional experience (3+ years with a degree). The bar is 'highly skilled' work. |
| Remote-work history | Not specified | 6+ months — At least 6 months of documented remote-work history in the activity you will continue in Italy. |
| Health insurance | Required | Required |
| Tax notes | Article 5C offers a 50% income-tax reduction for 7 years to eligible new tax residents — but the conditions are strict and it does not automatically cover remote employees of foreign companies. Note that 183 days in Greece makes you a Greek tax resident, taxable on worldwide income. | Italy offers a 7% flat tax for qualifying new residents who move to southern regions. A dedicated digital-nomad tax bonus has been discussed for 2026 but is not settled law — do not budget around it without advice from an Italian tax professional. |
| Official source | Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum (official portal) ↗ | Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Digital Nomad visa requirements (official consulate document) ↗ |
Our verdict: Greece for most, Italy if the budget is binding
Choose Greece if you can clear the €3,500 bar. You get the better tax deal, a renewable structure with no expiry cliff, and a process that behaves the same way whichever consulate you use. The 2026 consular-first rule adds planning overhead, but it is a known quantity — unlike Italy's consulate lottery.
Choose Italy if Greece's income bar is genuinely out of reach. At roughly €2,066 a month equivalent, Italy is the most accessible Mediterranean visa on paper, and the 7% flat tax for new residents settling in the south is a genuine sweetener. Treat it as a foothold: arrive, enjoy the low bar, and plan your next visa before the three-year cap arrives.
The honest summary: Italy is the cheapest way in, Greece is the best value once you are in. If your income clears both bars, Greece's tax cut alone outweighs Italy's lower threshold within the first year.
Frequently asked questions
Sources & verification. Figures above are drawn from the Greece guide and Italy guide, each linked to its official consulate source and last verified October 8, 2026. Spot an error? Report it.
Not legal advice. Visa rules change frequently and consulates interpret them differently — always verify current requirements with the official source before applying.
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