The short version
- Greece has the lower entry bar: €3,500 per month versus €4,400 for Taiwan.
- Taiwan grants a longer initial stay (36 months vs 12), and it is renewable.
- Only Taiwan offers a direct path to permanent residence on this permit.
- Tax treatment differs: Greece — standard resident taxation; Taiwan — special tax regime. Tax outcomes depend heavily on personal circumstances.
| Criteria | Greece DNV | Taiwan Gold Card |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income / month | €3,500 (better) | €4,400 |
| Income basis | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) | Salary / employment contract |
| Initial duration | 1 year | 3 years (better) |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum total stay | No fixed limit | No fixed limit |
| Path to permanent residence | Indirect (switch required) | Yes (better) |
| Path to citizenship | Via permanent residence | Via permanent residence |
| Family inclusion | Yes | Yes |
| Working for local clients | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Tax treatment | Standard resident taxation | Special tax regime (Tax incentives for foreign special professionals (Art. 20, Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals)) |
| Health insurance | Required (explicit) | Required in practice |
| Insurance duration required | Full visa period | Full visa period |
| Application fee | ≈ €75 (better) | ≈ €157 |
| Where to apply | Embassy / consulate | Online, Embassy / consulate, In country |
| Processing time | 1.5 weeks | 4–12 weeks |
Green values mark the objectively better number in that row.
Full guide
Greece DNV →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Full guide
Taiwan Gold Card →
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 Taiwan Employment Gold Card — official portal (overview) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government What is the Taiwan Employment Gold Card? (4-in-1 card, 1-3 yr validity, open work permit, dependants) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government How do I meet the salary requirements of the Gold Card application? (NTD 160,000/month; NTD 1,920,000/year; accepted/rejected proof) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Legal basis and benefits of tax incentives for foreign specialist professionals (50% above NTD 3,000,000, 5 years; Art. 20 Act / Art. 3 Regulations) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Can I apply for the Gold Card tax benefits? (eligibility: first-time work residency, no Taiwan tax residency/household registration in prior 5 years, 183 days) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Application Information — online steps, fees by validity/passport (NTD 3,700/4,700/5,700 non-US; 7,605/8,605/9,605 US abroad), 60+ business-day processing (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals — Tax Benefits (Art. 20; 50% of salary above NTD 3 million excluded for 5 years) (National Development Council) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Taiwan Gold Card — National Health Insurance (NHI) enrolment for cardholders and dependants (6-month wait; mandatory) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Taiwan Gold Card — APRC (permanent residence after 3 continuous years averaging 183+ days/year) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Taiwan – Applicability of Tax Incentives for Employment Gold Card Holders (KPMG GMS Flash Alert) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media TWD to EUR conversion reference (~0.02748 EUR/TWD, mid-June 2026 rate used for EUR figures) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15