Can You Work in Greece on a Golden Visa?

Investors often ask whether the permit lets them work in Greece. The honest answer has three parts: employment, self-employment and working remotely for foreign clients. Sources agree on the first and disagree on the second, so this guide says which is which.

What the permit is

The Golden Visa is a residence permit granted for an investment, renewable in five-year periods while you keep the property, with no minimum stay. It is an investor status. It was not designed as a work permit. See Greece Golden Visa.

Employment by a Greek employer

Several sources say the permit does not allow salaried work for a Greek employer. If working in Greece as an employee is a goal, a separate work permit has to be obtained under the rules for that category. Do not plan on the Golden Visa as a basis for a job.

Self-employment and your own company

The sources conflict here. Some Greek-focused guides say the holder may set up a business or practise as a self-employed professional, including through a company. Others take a stricter view that the permit gives no access to any type of work, including freelancing for Greek clients. Because the answers differ, do not rely on a general statement: ask a Greek lawyer or accountant to confirm in writing what your permit allows for your specific activity, whether through a company or as a sole trader.

Working remotely for clients abroad

Holders who run a business or work remotely for foreign clients while staying in Greece raise two separate questions: the right to work and tax. If you spend more than 183 days a year in Greece you will probably become a Greek tax resident, which changes how that income is taxed. Read does the Golden Visa make you a tax resident.

Alternatives built for work or income

If the plan is to live and work in Greece, other residence categories may fit better, for example the financially independent person permit: see FIP versus the Golden Visa. Programmes aimed at companies and startups also exist.

Questions to settle before buying

1. Will I work in Greece at all, and in what form?
2. What does my lawyer confirm in writing about my permit and that activity?
3. How will the income be taxed in Greece and at home?
4. Do I need a different permit alongside the Golden Visa?

To see what the permit costs for your family, use the calculator.

This material is informational and is not legal advice. Rules on work rights differ between sources and change over time.