The short version
- Montenegro has the lower entry bar: €1,800 per month versus €3,500 for Greece.
- Montenegro grants a longer initial stay (24 months vs 12), and it is renewable.
- Tax treatment differs: Greece — standard resident taxation; Montenegro — foreign income exempt. Tax outcomes depend heavily on personal circumstances.
| Criteria | Greece DNV | Montenegro DNV |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income / month | €3,500 | €1,800 (better) |
| Income basis | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) |
| Initial duration | 1 year | 2 years (better) |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum total stay | No fixed limit | 4 years |
| Path to permanent residence | Indirect (switch required) | No |
| Path to citizenship | Via permanent residence | No |
| Family inclusion | Yes | Yes |
| Working for local clients | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Tax treatment | Standard resident taxation | Foreign income exempt (Digital-nomad foreign-income exemption (Personal Income Tax Law; commonly cited as Art. 32d)) |
| Health insurance | Required (explicit) | Required (explicit), min. €30,000 |
| Insurance duration required | Full visa period | Full visa period |
| Application fee | ≈ €75 | ≈ €47 (better) |
| Where to apply | Embassy / consulate | In country, Embassy / consulate |
| Processing time | 1.5 weeks | 6–8 weeks |
Green values mark the objectively better number in that row.
Full guide
Greece DNV →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Full guide
Montenegro DNV →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Don't forget insurance
Both programs have their own health-insurance rules — we match plans against each one's published requirement, with the evidence shown.
Sources
- Government Digital Nomad Visa - Hellenic Republic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (pointer page to workfromgreece.gr) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Work From Greece (official state portal) - FAQs: visa, income EUR 3,500 +20%/+15%, healthcare/insurance, tax (180-day wording), permit renewal (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Official gazette Migration Code, Law 5038/2023, Gazette A' 81/01.04.2023 - Art. 68 (digital nomads Z.1, EUR 3,500/month, +20%/+15%), Art. 8(e) (insurance), Art. 12(7) original in-country route, Art. 163(8) (I.8 permit) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Official gazette Migration Code, Law 5038/2023 - Art. 68(2)(st): EUR 75 visa fee; Art. 68(2): 10-day consular response; Art. 171(1)(h): EUR 1,000 I.8 permit fee (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Official gazette Law 5275/2026, Gazette A' 17/06.02.2026 - Art. 13 repealing Art. 12(7) Migration Code (in-country route); Art. 12 (3-month late-renewal grace, EUR 100/month fine); commencement from publication (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Official gazette JMD (KYA) oik. 225679 on sufficient resources under L.5038/2023 - EUR 3,500/month for Art. 68(1)/Art. 163(8) digital nomads, +20% spouse, +15% per child, monthly or annual assessment (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Embassy Embassy of Greece in Islamabad - National Visas (updated 23 Dec 2025): general supporting documents incl. travel insurance with validity equal to the visa requested (MD F3497.3/Ap24245/2014) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government AADE (Independent Authority for Public Revenue) - Tax residence for natural persons (Art. 4 ITC: >183 days cumulatively in any 12-month period; 365-day touristic/medical exception) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Law firm Zepos & Yannopoulos (11 Feb 2026) - New Immigration Law 5275/2026: digital nomads (Z.1) now require D visa, C-visa/visa-waiver route abolished; 3-month grace, EUR 100/month late fee (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Law firm EY Greece Law Alert - Law 5275/2026 immigration code amendments (3-month late-renewal window, EUR 100/month fine; no digital-nomad-specific commentary) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Ministry of Migration and Asylum - legislation index confirming Law 4825/2021 (Gazette 157 A'/4.09.2021, attraction of investors and digital nomads) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Digital Nomads - Government of Montenegro official portal (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Legal status for nomads - digitalnomads.gov.me (Law on Foreigners; eligibility = foreign employer / own company not registered in Montenegro; up-to-2-year permit extendable 2 more years; ~40-day decision; in-person MUP application; health insurance required document) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Montenegro: Digital Nomad Permit, Visa Pathways Available - Fragomen (2y + 2y validity, max 4y, 6-month re-apply rule, D-visa route, foreign-company work only) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Montenegro - Digital Nomads obtaining Residence Permits - JPM & Partners (legal basis Off. Gazette 12/18, 3/19, 86/22; 3x-minimum-wage income test over prior year; 40-day processing; 6-month cooldown) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Montenegro Digital Nomad Visa - Citizen Remote (3x minimum wage; older ~EUR 1,350 figure [outdated]; government fees EUR 60-100; tax residency 183 days; in-country MUP / diplomatic mission) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Montenegro Digital Nomad Visa in 2026 - iWorld (3x minimum wage = EUR 1,800-2,400 via EUR 600/800 split; residence-permit fee EUR 47, extension EUR 27, visa EUR 35; ~2-month processing; Art. 32d PIT foreign-income exemption; programme ends 31 Dec 2026, no confirmed successor) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Montenegro Digital Nomad Visa 2026: Tax, Cost, Expiry (income EUR 1,800-2,400; EUR 30,000 insurance minimum; ~EUR 67 government fee; 0% tax on foreign income; ~40-day decision; programme to 31 Dec 2026, no extension announced as of 24 May 2026) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Montenegro Wages 2026 - Take-profit.org (statutory minimum wage; dual structure ~EUR 670 / EUR 800 net since Sept 2024, basis for the 3x income formula) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Taxes in Montenegro 2026 - Immigrant Invest (183-day tax-residency rule; progressive PIT 9-15%; digital-nomad foreign-income treatment) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15