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Read ourgeneral coronavirusguidance travelon advicemoving or retiring abroad.

Stay

To stay up to date

You should:date:

• sign up for email alerts to this guidance
• follow the British Embassy in Greece on Facebook and Twitter

Attend

If ayou citizenwere outreachliving meeting

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IfYou youshould werefollow legallythe residentadvice inof Greecethe beforeGreek 1Government Januaryand 2021, your rightslocal willauthority. beYou protectedcan byalso theread Withdrawalour AgreementGreece travel advice.

YouFor shouldinformation checkon thatgetting youa areCOVID-19 correctlyvaccine registeredas and should get a newUK residencenational documentin byGreece, 30see June 2021 to evidence your rights.

You should also read our guidancecoronavirus ontravel living in Europe.advice.

Visas and residency

All UK nationals resident in Greece before 1 January 2021 should get the new biometric residence document. The deadline for getting the new document ishas 30been Juneextended, 2021.but no date yet has been confirmed by the Greek Government.

This deadline iswill be indicative which means that your rights under the Withdrawal Agreement will not be affected if you do not meet the deadline. However, we recommend that you get itthe biometric residence document as soon as possible.

Read the Greek Ministerial Decision on residence documents (in Greek) and the related announcement from the Hellenic Police (including a series of Q&As).

If you have been legally resident in Greece for:

• over 5 years: you will be eligible for permanent residency and a 10-year renewable residency document
• less than 5 years: you will be eligible for a document with 5 years validity

To request the document:

• if you live in Attica and Thessaloniki regions, visit your nearest Hellenic Police station that has an Aliens Department
• if you live elsewhere, visit your nearest General Regional Police Directorate that has an Aliens Department
• non-EU family members should visit their nearest Directorate for Aliens and Migration of the Decentralized Administrations

You should also read the Greek government’s website for UK nationals living in Greece and submit any questions in the contact form provided.

Additional support

UKIf nationalsyou who are resident in Greece, and need helpadditional support to complete theiryour residenceresidency applicationapplication, orread registration,the canguidance geton support from organisations funded by the UK Nationals Support Fund.

ThisSupport supportfrom is only available to people who need additional help to secure their rights under the WithdrawalUK Agreement.Nationals They may include pensioners, disabled people, people living in remote areas or people who have mobility difficulties. Support availableFund includes:

• answeringwill questionsend abouton residence31 applications,October such2021. asYou theshould documentscontact you need and how the applicationUK processNationals works
• guidingSupport youFund throughimplementing thepartner process,before ifthis necessary
• supportdate if you experiencerequire languageadditional barrierssupport. or difficulty accessing online information and services

If you, or someone you know, are havingalready difficultybeing completingassisted residenceby paperworkour orimplementing havepartner, anythey questions,will contactcontinue the Aire Centre

The AIRE Centre

Contact details:

• AIRE Centre website
• hotline: 0030 698 85 91 229, available available during the following hours: Mon and Wed 4pm to 7pmassist andyou Tuesuntil 10amyou tohave 1pm
• email:made eurobrits@airecentre.orgyour (please contact The AIRE Centre by email if the hotline is busy)

application.

Moving to Greece

Check the entry requirements for Greece.

You should also read:

• the Greek Embassy in London’s guidance on national visas
• the Greek government’s guidance on residence permits for real estate owners in Greece

Passports and travel

You shouldcan carryapply yourfor residenceor documentrenew (registrationyour certificateBritish orpassport permanentin residenceGreece.

Check certificate),the asGreece welltravel asadvice yourfor valid passport whenvalidity you travel.requirements.

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Healthcare

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State healthcare: S1

IfYou youshould havealso aread registeredguidance S1on:

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  WorkingStudying in Greece

  If you wereplan legallyto residentstudy in GreeceGreece, beforeyou 1must Januarymeet 2021,all youvisa willrequirements havebefore theyou righttravel.

  Contact tothe work,relevant ashigher longeducation asprovider youin remainGreece legallyto resident.

  Seecheck workingwhat infees anyou EU country.

  You may needhave to apply for:pay.

  Read:

  • a UK criminal records check
  • a Greek criminalgovernment’s recordsguide check,on viaresidence thepermits Penalfor Records Departmentstudents of the Ministry of Justice or your local Citizens Service Centre (KEP) (in Greek)

  Once

• continuing you have a job, you can get a social insurance number (AMKA) through your localstudies Citizensin Servicethe Centre (KEP)EU
• studying (inin Greek).

  Ifthe youEuropean areUnion

• healthcare planningfor tostudents come to Greece to work, you may need a visa. Read the Greek Embassy in London’s guidance on visasGreece.

Frontier workers

If you live in Greece and were regularlyliving commuting to work in anotherGreece EU or EFTA country, before 1 January 2021

The youstudying mayin needthe aEuropean permitUnion toguidance includes showspecific youinformation arefor athose frontierwho worker.were Youalready shouldliving alsoin getGreece thebefore new1 biometricJanuary residence permit.2021.

We will update this guidance when more information is available.

MoneyMoney, tax and taxbanking

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Greece to preventensure incomeyou beingdo taxednot pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.

ExistingYou doubleshould taxationget arrangementsprofessional foradvice UKon nationalspaying livingtax in GreeceGreece. haveFind notan changedEnglish-speaking followinglawyer thein UK’s withdrawal from the EU.Greece.

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
• EU guidance on tax and customs, including online shopping from the UK
• EU guidance on customs including preferential origin
• EU guidance on excise duties

You must register for a tax identification number (AFM – pronounced aa-fee-mee)aa-fee-mee). –Read 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.

You should get professional advice on paying tax in Greece. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Greece.

National Insurance

Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in Greece.

BankingDeclaring your assets

WhetherYou UKmust banksdeclare canany provideassets servicesheld tooutside customersGreece livingand infile thean EEAannual isdeclaration a matter of localassets, lawalongside andyour regulation.annual Yourtax bankreturn. orThere financeare providersevere shouldpenalties contactif you iffail they need to makefile anythis, changes to your product or theif wayyou theygive provideincorrect it.or Ifincomplete youinformation.

UK havebanking

Whether anyUK concernsbanks aboutcan whetherprovide youservices mightto becustomers affected,living contactin yourthe providerEEA ordepends seekon independentlocal financiallaws advice.and regulation.

Read the Money and Pension ServiceService’s MoneyHelper guidance on banking, insurance and financial services changes for more information on cross-border banking.

Pensions

Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Greece.

YouIf willyou needare tomoving or retiring abroad, you must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and taxtax.

Read our State Pension guidance if you arehave movinglived in Australia, Canada or retiringNew abroadZealand. and you are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.

If you retire toin Greece, you can claim:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. -Contact contact the International Pension Centre to claim
• yourpensions pension from your local EOPYY (in Greek) office, if youyou’ve have worked in Greeceother EU countries
• pensionsyour pension from workingyour abroadlocal EFKA office,(in Greek), if you have worked in other EU countriesGreece

Read the Money and Pension ServiceService’s MoneyHelper guidance on pension and retirement changes for more information on cross-border pensions.

Life certificates for UK State Pensions

If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service,Service, you needmust to respond as soon as possible. Your- your payments may be suspended if you don’t.do not.

Benefits

Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Greece.

YouIf willyou needare tomoving or retiring abroad, you must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.tax.

Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.

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

You can request proof from HMRC of the time you’ve worked in the UK and of your UK National Insurance record.

Greece benefits

You may be eligible to claim some Greek social security benefits. Read guidance on Greek social security benefits.

You

Accommodation canand requestbuying proofproperty

Read ofour theguidance timeon you’vebuying workedproperty in the UKabroad from HMRC if you are asked for this..

Driving in Greece

If you are a resident in Greece you should exchange your UK licence for a Greek driving licence (in Greek).

Read 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.

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 any official KTEO facilitation station.

Voting

You cannot vote in local municipal elections in Greece or European Parliament elections.

You may be able to vote in some UK elections.

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

Births, deathsdeaths, marriage and gettingcivil marriedpartnerships

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

If someone dies in Greece:

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

  Find out how you can get married or get a civil partnership abroad.

  FindYou outmay aboutalso need:

  • guidance on notarial and documentary services for UK nationals in Greece.

  Pets

  If you have a pet passport issued by Greece or another EU member state, you can use it to travel with your pet to Great Britain and elsewhere in the EU.

  A GB-issued EU pet passport is not valid for travel to the EU or Northern Ireland. You should speak to your vet before you travel to get the necessary pet travel documents and ensure you’re compliant with the EU Pet Travel Regulations.

  Read guidance on:

  • bringing your pet to GB
  • travelling with your pet in the EU
  • travelling to Northern Ireland with your pet

  Check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel.

  Emergencies

  You can dial the European emergency number 112 or:in Greece for the police, ambulance or fire brigade, or dial:

  • 100 for police
  • 199 for fire brigade
  • 166 for emergency medical service
  • 108 for coast guard
  • 197 for emergency social assistance
  • 116 000 for missing children

  ReadIf furtheryou’re informationthe onvictim emergencyof numbersa incrime, Greecehave been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact the British Embassy Athens.

  Returning to the UK

  IfCheck youthe needCOVID-19 urgenttravel helpguidance (youfor areentering the victimUK.

  Tell ofthe crime,Greek haveand beenUK arrestedauthorities orif you are affectedreturning byto athe crisisUK abroad),permanently.

  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 nearestS1 Britishis embassycancelled orat consulatethe right time.

  To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.

  Other

  Read usefulthe guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information

  on, amongst other things, bringing family members, tax and access to services.
  • travel

    If adviceyou forreturn Greeceto the UK permanently and meet the ordinarily resident test

  , you’ll be able to access NHS care without charge.

  Useful information

  • 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

  Support tofor theBritish UK

  Tellnationals theabroad: UKa andguide sets Greekout authoritieshow thatto youstay aresafe returningabroad, toand explains how the UKFCDO permanently.can support you if you get into difficulty. 

  Contact