Under the recently enacted Law 5275/2026, a significant change has been introduced regarding the procedure for obtaining a residence permit for digital nomads.

Specifically, until now, interested third-country nationals had the possibility to enter the country and apply for the granting of a residence permit as digital nomads either after obtaining a national entry visa from the competent consular authority (Visa D) or with a uniform entry visa (tourist visa) or under a visa exemption regime.

Pursuant to article 40 of Law 5075/2026, paragraph 9 was added to article 163 of the Migration Code, introducing for the first time the “second chance” residence permit. This permit concerns third-country nationals who held a residence permit for at least five (5) years, the validity of which has expired or whose issuance and delivery took place after its expiration, during the last year prior to the entry into force of the law, and which was not renewed, was revoked, or whose renewal application was rejected.