Living in Greece

EU Exit updates

To keep up to date with information about the UK leaving the EU:

• read essential information about UK nationals in the EU
• sign up for email alerts to this guidance
• follow the British Embassy in Greece on Facebook and Twitter
• attend one of our outreach meetings for UK Nationals
• visit the Greek government’s website about the UK leaving the EU
• read the Greek government’s statement regarding the protection of citizens’ rights after the UK leaves the EU
• read the Greek legislative provisions if the UK leaves the EU without a deal (articles 123 - 128, in Greek)

Residency and visas

You may want to check the entry requirements for Greece.

You must register as a resident in Greece if you want to stay for more than 3 months. See registration certificate (Veveosi Engrafis) – permanent residence requirements.

Read the Greek government’s website (in Greek) about the UK leaving the EU, for citizens and businesses. Check the rights of UK nationals living in and traveling to Greece after the UK leaves the EU and submit any questions in the contact form provided.

If you want to live in Greece after the UK leaves the EU, you must make sure that you are correctly registered as a resident in Greece.

After the UK leaves the EU, you may need to change your registration document for a new resident card. We will update this guidance when we know how and when this will happen.

For more information, you can:

• sign up for email alerts to this guidance on living in Greece
• read the residence and work permit section of the Greek government’s website about the UK’s exit from the EU

Passports and travel

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Greece. If you cannot get a passport in time for your trip, you may need to get an emergency travel document or ‘emergency passport’.

Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU

You should check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, there will be new travel rules.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the European Commission has said you may not need visas for short stays elsewhere in the Schengen area or the EU. You may be able to stay for up to 90 days in any EU country, within a 180 day period.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. In this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form the next part of negotiations.

Healthcare

You should ensure you are properly registered for healthcare as a resident in Greece, as well as registering, where necessary, with a health insurer. You can read the NHS guidance on who is able to access healthcare in Greece and how to register.

If you are resident in Greece, you should not be using a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK to access healthcare in Greece.

• you may use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland
• the EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home
• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance
• for more information you can read our travel advice pages and advice on foreign travel insurance

If you live in Greece and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate.

You can read the NHS guidance on healthcare and studying abroad.

You can also find an English-speaking doctor in Greece.

You should check your prescriptions are legal in Greece.

Healthcare after the UK leaves the EU

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, your current rights on access to healthcare in Greece will remain the same until 31 December 2020, as long as you remain a resident in Greece.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, your access to healthcare may change. If you are a permanent or temporary resident you should review the status of your healthcare cover.

The UK has proposed maintaining current healthcare cooperation with Greece for S1 form holders until the end of December 2020. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, and there is no arrangement with Greece to continue reciprocal healthcare, those receiving coverage through the S1 form will not be covered.

You should take action now to confirm your residency status and decide what steps you need to take to ensure access to healthcare if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. UK nationals will be able to return to UK for treatment.

Your EHIC may not be valid in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal. The UK has offered to maintain the EHIC scheme should the UK leave the EU without a deal, however this is reliant on Greece continuing to accept UK EHICs.

You should read the NHS guidance on healthcare in Greece and how it may change after the UK leaves the EU.

Working in Greece

See working in another EU country.

You may need to apply for:

• a UK criminal records check
• a Greek criminal records check, via the Penal Records Department of the Ministry of Justice or your local Citizens Service Centre (KEP) (in Greek)

Once you have a job, you can get a social insurance number (AMKA) through your local Citizens Service Centre (KEP) (in Greek).

Working in Greece after the UK leaves the EU

If you’re planning to start a business, provide a service, or do a job in a regulated profession after the UK leaves the EU, further guidance can be found here.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, your right to work will stay the same until the end of the implementation period.

Money and tax

The UK has a double-taxation agreement with Greece to prevent income being taxed in both countries.

You should read the guidance on:

• tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
• tax on your UK income if you live abroad
• paying income tax in Greece

You will have to register for a tax identification number (AFM – pronounced aa-fee-mee) – read further guidance in the Greek government ERMIS website (in Greek), with central information and e-services. Once you have an AFM number, it is compulsory to submit a yearly tax return.

We recommend you get professional advice on paying tax in Greece. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Greece.

National Insurance

You may be able to pay National Insurance while abroad in order to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.

Money and tax after the UK leaves the EU

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, it may become more expensive to use your UK bank card in the EU. Read more about using a bank card, insurance or other financial service in the EU.

The UK leaving the EU will not change existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Greece. You should direct individual taxpayer questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.

Pensions

You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

If you retire to Greece, you can claim:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension - please contact the International Pension Centre to claim
• your pension from your local EOPYY (in Greek) office, if you have worked in Greece
• pensions from working abroad, if you have worked in other EU countries

Life certificates for UK State pensions

If you get a ‘life certificate’ form in the post, you must fill it in promptly otherwise your payments may be suspended.

Pensions after the UK leaves the EU

The UK government will continue to pay the UK State Pension to those eligible in the EU after the UK leaves the EU. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you can read our guidance on pensions.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Greece, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Greek pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after the end of the implementation period.

Benefits

You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Greece. You should:

• read our guidance on claiming benefits if you live, move or travel abroad
• use our tool to check which UK benefits you might be able to get while you’re abroad and how to claim them

If you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks, many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid to you.

You may be eligible to claim some Greek social security benefits. Please read further information on Greek social security benefits.

You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.

Benefits after the UK leaves the EU

The UK government will continue to pay the UK State Pension, child benefits, and disability benefits to those eligible in the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Greece, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for Greek contributions-based benefits. This will happen even if you claim contributions-based benefits after the end of the implementation period.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you can read our guidance on benefits and pensions in a no deal scenario.

Driving in Greece

If you are a resident in Greece you should exchange your UK licence for a Greek driving licence (in Greek), as your licence may no longer be valid after the UK leaves the EU. You can still use your Greek licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.

For information on driving in Greece, read the guidance on:

• driving licence renewal and exchange
• what you need to drive abroad
• driving rules in Greece

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Greece

Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.

You can read the European Union’s guidance on car registration and taxes in Greece. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so you will need certificates of exemption.

If you’ve been resident in an EU country for at least 2 years before moving to Greece, you’re exempt from VAT and registration for:

• cars (owned and used privately)
• pleasure craft
• motorcycles
• mobile caravans

You must appear in person at the nearest Customs Authority to request exemption from paying registration and VAT within 1 month of arriving in Greece. You’ll then be given special Greek registration plates.

Your vehicle must also pass a test at a Vehicle Technical Control Centre (KTEO).

Driving after the UK leaves the EU

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same during the implementation period.

Please read our guidance on driving in the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

Voting

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

• check if you are able to vote
• register as an overseas voter if you would like to vote

If you’re resident in Greece, you can vote in local municipal and European parliamentary elections.

Voting after the UK leaves the EU

Once the UK leaves the EU, UK nationals will no longer be eligible to vote in local and European Parliament elections. We are pursuing bilateral arrangements with individual Member States to secure the right to vote for UK nationals living in the EU, and EU citizens in the UK.

Births, deaths and getting married

If your child is born in Greece, you will need to register the birth abroad.

If someone dies in Greece you can:

• read our guidance on what to do after someone dies abroad
• read bereavement information for Greece
• find a list of English-speaking funeral directors in Greece

Find out how you can get married abroad.

Find out about notarial and documentary services for UK nationals in Greece.

Pets

When the UK leaves the EU, you will still be able to travel to and from the UK with a cat, dog or ferret but the rules will change. You can read guidance on pet travel to Europe after Brexit.

While the UK is still a Member State you’ll be able to travel with your pet to the EU under the current pet travel rules using your current EU pet passport. If you’re travelling with your pet for the first time you’ll have to visit your vet to get a pet passport.

Read guidance on returning your cat, dog or ferret to the UK. For moving pet horses and other equines read guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules.

Emergencies

You can dial the European emergency number 112 or:

• 100 for police
• 199 for fire brigade
• 166 for emergency medical service
• 108 for coast guard
• 197 for emergency social assistance

Read further information on emergency numbers in Greece.

If you need urgent help (you are the victim of crime, have been arrested or are affected by a crisis abroad), contact your nearest British embassy or consulate.

Other useful information

• travel advice for Greece
• English-speaking lawyers in Greece
• English-speaking translators and interpreters in Greece
• notary services in Greece
• Citizens Service Centre (KEP) (in Greek)
• ERMIS website (a Greek government website with central information and e-services)

Returning to the UK

Check if your tax status will change if you return to the UK.

Tell the UK and Greek authorities that you are returning to the UK permanently.

Contact the International Pension Centre to move your pension to the UK.

Read our guidance on bringing your pet to the UK and importing vehicles to the UK.

If you get healthcare in Greece through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.

Disclaimer

Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Greek authorities. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.