Greece Financial Independence Visa (Type D) vs Spain Digital Nomad Visa
A factual side-by-side comparison of two residency programmes. All figures are drawn from the canonical program pages — follow either link in the table header for sources and the full profile.
Key Differences at a Glance
- ›Faster to citizenship: Greece Financial Independence Visa (Type D) at ~7 years, vs 10 for Spain Digital Nomad Visa.
- ›Lower income bar: Greece Financial Independence Visa (Type D) requires $2,200/mo; Spain Digital Nomad Visa requires $2,800/mo.
Greece Financial Independence Visa (Type D) Greece · retirement | Spain Digital Nomad Visa Spain · digital nomad | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Greece | Spain |
| Category | Retirement | Digital Nomad |
| Application Fee | $165 | $160 |
| Minimum Income | $2,200 /mo | $2,800 /mo |
| Minimum Investment | — | — |
| Processing Time | 3 months | 3 months |
| Family Included | An additional 20% of the base income requirement applies per dependent spouse or child | 75% of main applicant minimum income per adult dependent; 25% per minor child |
| Path to PR | Yes — 5 years | Yes — 5 years |
| Path to Citizenship | Yes — 7 years | Yes — 10 years |
| Physical Presence | Must reside primarily in Greece; the permit is initially issued for 2 years and renewable in 3-year increments. Must not be absent from Greece for more than 6 consecutive months, or 10 months cumulatively, in any permit period. | No fixed minimum days per year stated, but physical presence in Spain is expected; must not spend more than 6 months outside Spain annually |
| Dual Citizenship | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Tax Impact | Retirees who transfer their tax residency to Greece may benefit from Greece's flat 7% tax rate on all foreign-sourced pension income for up to 15 years, available to those who were not Greek tax residents in 5 of the preceding 6 years. No work is permitted on this visa. | Eligible for the Beckham Law (Ley Beckham), offering a flat 24% income tax rate on Spanish-sourced income for up to 6 years instead of the progressive scale reaching 47% |
| Tax Residency Trigger | 183 days/yr | 183 days/yr |
| Worldwide Taxation | Yes | Yes |
| Renewal Cost | $165 | $200 |
About Greece Financial Independence Visa (Type D)
Greece's Financial Independence Visa (Type D) allows non-EU nationals with sufficient passive income from foreign sources to reside in Greece without engaging in local employment. Holders may benefit from Greece's exceptional 7% flat tax regime on all foreign pension income, making it one of the most tax-efficient retirement destinations in the EU. After five years of legal residence, holders may apply for permanent residency, and Greek citizenship is accessible after seven years.
Full Greece Financial Independence Visa (Type D) profile →About Spain Digital Nomad Visa
Spain's Digital Nomad Visa, introduced under the Startup Act of 2023, allows remote workers and freelancers employed by foreign companies to legally reside in Spain for up to five years. Applicants must demonstrate a minimum income of approximately €3,000 per month and hold health insurance valid in Spain. Holders may benefit from the Beckham Law's preferential 24% flat tax rate on Spanish-sourced income for up to six years, making it one of the most tax-efficient digital nomad visas in Europe.
Full Spain Digital Nomad Visa profile →Gotchas to Watch For
Greece Financial Independence Visa (Type D)
- ⚠Greek citizenship requires 7 years residence + B1 Greek + civic test — significant barrier vs Portugal A2 requirement
- ⚠Pensioner tax regime only applies to foreign pension income
- ⚠Schengen 90/180 rule does not apply to Greek residents — Greek permit grants full residency rights
Spain Digital Nomad Visa
- ⚠Spain does not allow dual citizenship with most countries at citizenship stage
- ⚠Foreign employer must have been established 1+ year
- ⚠Self-employed applicants can receive up to 20% of income from Spanish clients
- ⚠Beckham Law application requires specific filing within 6 months of tax residency
- ⚠Social security: Spain may require contributions unless there is a totalisation agreement
Neutral reference — we don't recommend one programme over another. Programmes change: always verify each detail against the official source linked on the individual program pages.