Portugal vs Greece digital nomad visa: which should you choose?
Similar income bars, very different outcomes. Greece's Digital Nomad Visa now has the better tax deal, while Portugal's D8 still owns the fastest route to an EU passport. Here is the honest comparison, every figure from each country's official source.
Short version. Pick Greece for the better tax (a 50% income exemption for up to 7 years) and a faster, cheaper application. Pick Portugal if your goal is an EU passport, five years of residence makes you eligible for citizenship, versus seven in Greece, even though you will pay standard tax now that NHR has closed. Income bars are close (€3,680 vs €3,500), but Portugal also wants ~€11,000 in savings.
Side by side
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | 🇬🇷 Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Visa | D8 Digital Nomad Visa | Digital Nomad Visa |
| Monthly income | €3,680/month (4× minimum wage) | €3,500/month (net) |
| Savings to show | ~€11,000 (on top of income) | Not required |
| Application cost | ~$300 | ~$80 (residence permit ~€1,000 extra) |
| Processing time | 30–60 days (often longer with AIMA backlogs) | ~10 days to 4 weeks (consular visa) |
| First permit | 1 year, renewable | 1 year, then a 2-year residence permit |
| Tax perk | NHR closed in 2024; standard rates now | 50% income-tax exemption for up to 7 years |
| Health insurance | Required | Required |
| Citizenship eligible | After 5 years | After 7 years |
Income and cost
The monthly bars are close: Portugal asks for about €3,680 a month (four times its minimum wage), Greece for €3,500 net. The gap is in the extras. Portugal also wants roughly €11,000 in savings on top of your income, and its application runs about $300. Greece's visa fee is far lower at around $80, though the residence permit you collect after arriving adds about €1,000. Net of everything, Greece is the cheaper door.
Tax: the big divergence
This is where they split. Portugal's Non-Habitual Resident regime, the flat-20% deal that made it famous, closed to new arrivals in 2024, and the narrow IFICI scheme that replaced it rarely covers remote workers, so plan on standard progressive rates. Greece, by contrast, offers a 50% exemption on qualifying income for up to seven years if you transfer your tax residence there. On tax alone in 2026, Greece is clearly ahead.
The 2026 Greece change to know
One timing trap: from February 2026, Greece abolished in-country applications for the digital nomad route. You can no longer arrive and switch status locally; you must apply for the national visa at a Greek consulate in your country of residence first, then pick up the residence permit after you land. It is still straightforward, but you have to start the process before you travel.
Settling down and the passport
Portugal's long game is the draw. Five years of legal residence makes you eligible for permanent residence and Portuguese citizenship, one of the shortest routes to an EU passport anywhere. Greece gets you there too, but on a longer clock, citizenship after seven years. If a European passport is the real objective, Portugal still wins despite losing the tax argument.
So which should you pick?
Choose Portugal if
- An EU passport is the goal (citizenship eligible at 5 years)
- You want to put down long-term roots
- You can cover ~€11,000 in savings on top of income
Choose Greece if
- You want the better tax (50% exemption up to 7 years)
- You want a faster, cheaper application
- Citizenship speed matters less than tax today
Not sure which you qualify for?
The free checker matches your income to every visa you can get, and both of these require health insurance, which we compare in the nomad insurance guide.
Run the free visa checker →Portugal vs Greece FAQ
Is Portugal or Greece better for a digital nomad visa?
It depends on your goal. Greece is now better on tax (a 50% income-tax exemption for up to seven years) and is faster and cheaper to apply for. Portugal taxes new arrivals at standard rates since NHR closed in 2024, but it offers the bigger long-term prize: eligibility for an EU passport after five years, versus seven in Greece.
Which has the better tax deal in 2026?
Greece. Its scheme exempts 50% of qualifying income from tax for up to seven years if you move your tax residence there. Portugal's famous NHR regime closed to new arrivals in 2024, and its narrow IFICI replacement rarely covers digital nomads, so most new residents pay standard progressive rates.
Which is faster and cheaper to get?
Greece. The consular visa is decided in roughly 10 days to 4 weeks and the visa fee is about $80, though the in-country residence permit adds around €1,000. Portugal's D8 takes 30 to 60 days and often longer due to AIMA backlogs, costs about $300, and also asks for roughly €11,000 in savings on top of your income.
Did Greece change its application process for 2026?
Yes. From February 2026 you can no longer switch to the digital nomad status from inside Greece; you must apply for the national visa at a Greek consulate in your country of residence first, then collect the residence permit after you arrive. Plan the timing before you travel.
Income thresholds track each country's minimum wage and change yearly, processing times vary by consulate, and tax outcomes depend on your residency and personal situation. Figures are drawn from the official Portuguese and Greek sources linked on each country guide. This is general information, not legal or tax advice, so confirm the current rules with a qualified professional.