Greece's New Immigration Law: What has changed (Law 5275/2026)
At the beginning of February 2026, Greece published a new comprehensive immigration law No. 5275/2026, aimed at reforming the country's migration system. It establishes a more structured legal framework for legal immigration of third countries and implements mechanisms based on the European Directive EU 2024/1233.
📌 General objectives of the law
The main task is to create a unified, understandable and effective legal regime for the entry and residence of foreign citizens, including:
- the unification of the process of reviewing applications for residence;
- the expansion of the rights of working foreigners;
- the fight against illegal migration.
🌍 Impact on the Digital Nomads program
One of the most noticeable changes for digital nomads was the change in the order of entry and submission of documents. In particular:
✈️ Mandatory national visa (D‑visa)
Previously, digital nomads could enter Greece on a regular Schengen tourist visa (C) and apply for a residence permit under the digital nomad program while already in the country.
According to the updated rules , this path is now closed: obtaining a residence permit for a digital nomad from inside Greece after entry on a tourist visa has been canceled. Now a mandatory step is to obtain a national type D visa in advance at the consulate of the country of residence, even before entering the territory of Greece.
This change coincides with the provisions of Law 5275/2026, aimed at establishing a clear sequence of entry and migration procedures.
What does this mean in practice
- Applying for a digital visa outside Greece: all documents for a Digital Nomad Visa are now processed before entry at the consulate of the country of citizenship or residence.
- Stricter controls: The Greek authorities want to ensure a full-fledged and transparent migration process, especially for long-term residence and work.
Other important changes in migration policy
Although Law 5275/2026 deals with broad immigration reform, a number of provisions also affect those who come to work remotely
📄 Single process "Single Permit"
A new mechanism for uniform permits has been introduced, which simplifies the procedure for obtaining residence status for foreign specialists, regardless of the purpose of entry (work, remote activities, etc.).
Applications for the extension of a residence permit are subject to clearer deadlines, with the possibility of filing even after the expiration of the residence permit with a minor fine.
Other visa categories
The law also introduces new categories that are useful for professionals and investors:
- Tech Visa (Z.13A) — for employees of startups registered in the registry Elevate Greece.
- Z.13 Visa — for technical specialists of large projects.
Financial and tax aspects (directly related to the DN visa)
Although the main focus of Law 5275/2026 is the immigration procedure, the existing tax conditions remain important for digital nomads.:
- The listed income requirements from remote activities are at least €3,500 per month for the main applicant (with an increase for spouses/children).
- The opportunity to take advantage of the non‑dom / 50% tax relief on income in Greece in tax residence has been preserved and remains one of the advantages of the program (as long as it operates outside the framework of the migration law).
🧠 Key changes for the digital Nomad program in Greece (2026):
- 🇬🇷 Cancellation of entry on a tourist visa and subsequent application for a residence permit — a preliminary national type D visa is now required.
- 📊 Simplification and standardization of migration procedures through a single Single Permit scheme.
- 🛂 Clearer deadlines for reviewing and extending permits.
- 👨💼 The introduction of new visa categories to attract specialists and investors, which in the future may expand opportunities for international workers.
In this context, it is important to note that team specialists digital-nomad.gr for many years has been successfully helping foreign applicants, including citizens of the Russian Federation with alternative passports, to obtain a residence permit in Greece under the digital nomad program and providing consultations on the requirements and the application procedure.
More information about the program and requirements can be found on the website section: https://digital‑nomad.gr/ru/greek‑digital‑nomad‑visa
Applications for the extension of a residence permit are subject to clearer deadlines, with the possibility of filing even after the expiration of the residence permit with a minor fine.
Other visa categories
The law also introduces new categories that are useful for professionals and investors:
- Tech Visa (Z.13A) — for employees of startups registered in the registry Elevate Greece.
- Z.13 Visa — for technical specialists of large projects.
Financial and tax aspects (directly related to the DN visa)
Although the main focus of Law 5275/2026 is the immigration procedure, the existing tax conditions remain important for digital nomads.:
- The listed income requirements from remote activities are at least €3,500 per month for the main applicant (with an increase for spouses/children).
- The opportunity to take advantage of the non‑dom / 50% tax relief on income in Greece in tax residence has been preserved and remains one of the advantages of the program (as long as it operates outside the framework of the migration law).
🧠 Key changes for the digital Nomad program in Greece (2026):
- 🇬🇷 Cancellation of entry on a tourist visa and subsequent application for a residence permit — a preliminary national type D visa is now required.
- 📊 Simplification and standardization of migration procedures through a single Single Permit scheme.
- 🛂 Clearer deadlines for reviewing and extending permits.
- 👨💼 The introduction of new visa categories to attract specialists and investors, which in the future may expand opportunities for international workers.
In this context, it is important to note that team specialists digital-nomad.gr for many years has been successfully helping foreign applicants, including citizens of the Russian Federation with alternative passports, to obtain a residence permit in Greece under the digital nomad program and providing consultations on the requirements and the application procedure.
More information about the program and requirements can be found on the website section: https://digital‑nomad.gr/ru/greek‑digital‑nomad‑visa
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