Living in Greece

This guide sets out essential information for British citizens about moving to or living in Greece. Read about how the consulate in Athens, our vice consulates in Corfu, Crete, Rhodes and honorary vice consulate in Zakynthos can help.

This information is provided as a guide only. You should obtain definitive information from the Greek authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.

Read general guidance on moving or retiring abroad.

To stay up to date:

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

If you were living in Greece before 1 January 2021

Some parts of this guide only apply if you were living in Greece since before 1 January 2021. These are indicated with sub-headings.

You should also read our Living in Europe page for detailed guidance about citizens’ rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Coronavirus

You should follow the advice of the Greek Governmentgovernment and your local authority. You can also read our Greece travel advice.

For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in Greece, see our coronavirus travel 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 has been extended, but no date yet has been confirmed by the Greek Government.

This deadline will 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 the 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

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Support from the UK Nationals Support Fund will end on 31 October 2021. You should contact the UK Nationals Support Fund implementing partner before this date if you require additional support. If you are already being assisted by our implementing partner, they will continue to assist you until you have made your 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 can apply for or renew your British passport in Greece.

Check the Greece travel advice for passport validity requirements.

Always carry your passport when travelling within the Schengen area. If you have citizenship of an EU / European Free Trade Area (EFTA), in addition to your British citizenship, you should enter and leave Greece using your EU / EFTA passport.

If you stay in Greece with a residence permit or long stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit for the Schengen area.

If you visit other Schengen area countries outside Greece, make sure you do not exceed the visa-free 90 days in any 180-day period. You are responsible for counting how long you stay under the Schengen visa waiver, and you must comply with its conditions.

Different rules apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen area. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.

If you were living in Greece before 1 January 2021

When you travel, especially within the Schengen area, you should carry with you:

• your Registration certificate “Veveosi Engrafis - Βεβαίωση Εγγραφής” or
• your Permanent Residence Certificate “Engrafo Monimis Diamonis - Έγγραφο Μόνιμης Διαμονής” if you had registered before 1 January 2021 or
• your 18 (4) WA residence document “Engrafo Diamonis 18 (4) WA - ‘Έγγραφο διαμονής 18 (4) ΣΑ”, issued under the Withdrawal Agreement

This is in addition to your valid passport.

You must proactively show your residence document, or other evidence of residence status, if you are asked to show your passport at border control. Other evidence may be your tenancy agreement or a utility bill in your name, dating from 2020. If you have applied for, but not yet received, your residence document, carry your certificate of registration.

If you cannot prove that you are resident in Greece, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the Schengen area, and your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. This will not affect your rights in Greece.the country or countries where you live or work. If a passport is stamped, the stamp is considered null and void when you can show evidence of lawful residence.

If you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, you do not need any extra months on your passport to enter or exit EU countries.

Healthcare

Read our guidance on healthcare in Greece and make sure you are correctly registered for your circumstances.

Read the Greek government guidance on EHICs and S1s:

• EOPYY guide
• check the relevant EOPYY notification for services provided from 1 January 2021 to UK nationals and family members and holders of EHIC, CRA UK and S1 UK.

If you’re leaving the UK with medicine that contains a controlled drug, check with the embassy about the rules for the country you’re going to before you travel and NaTHNaC guidance on travelling with medicines.

You should also read guidance on:

• finding an English-speaking doctor in Greece
• our step by step guide to access the Greek government’s online platform for ordering prescriptions within Greece (some information in Greek)
• healthcare when travelling in Europe
• advice on foreign travel insurance
• bringing medicine containing a controlled drug into the UK

Working in Greece

If you are planning to move to Greece and work, you may need a visa. Read the Greek government’s guidance on working in Greece as a foreign national and how to get a visa.

To apply for a job you may need to provide a UK criminal records check:

For a Greek criminal records check you can apply through:

• Citizen’s Digital Locker - Ψηφιακή Θυρίδα Πολίτη
• your local Citizens Service Centre (KEP) (in Greek) if you have a Taxisnet access code
• any Criminal Records Unit at any Court of First Instance
• any Public Prosecutor’s Office
• Ministry of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights’ Independent Criminal Records Department

Read:

• working or providing services in Greece

• EU guidance on working in an EU country

If you were living in Greece before 1 January 2021

You have the right to work under the Withdrawal Agreement.

If you live in Greece and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country before 1 January 2021, read our guidance for frontier workers.

Studying in Greece

If you plan to study in Greece, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel.

Contact the relevant higher education provider in Greece to check what fees you may have to pay.

Read:

• Greek government’s guide on residence permits for students(in Greek)
• continuing your studies in the EU
• studying in the European Union
• healthcare for students in Greece

If you were living in Greece before 1 January 2021

The studying in the European Union guidance includes specific information for those who were already living in Greece before 1 January 2021.

Money, tax and banking

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Greece to ensure you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.

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

Read 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). 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.

National Insurance

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

Declaring your assets

You must declare any assets held outside Greece and file an annual declaration of assets, alongside your annual tax return. There are severe penalties if you fail to file this, or if you give incorrect or incomplete information.

UK banking

Whether UK banks can provide services to customers living in the EEA depends on local laws and regulation.

Read the Money and Pension Service’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.

If you are moving or retiring abroad, you must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax.

Read our State Pension guidance if you have lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and you are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.

If you retire in Greece, you can claim:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre to claim
• pensions if you’ve worked in other EU countries
• your pension from your local EFKA office(in Greek), if you have worked in Greece

Read the Money and Pension Service’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, you must respond as soon as possible - your payments may be suspended if you do not.

Benefits

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

If you are moving or retiring abroad, you must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and 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 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.

Accommodation and buying property

Read our guidance on buying property abroad.

Driving in Greece

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Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Greece

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

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.

Driving outside Greece with a Greek licence

You can use your Greek licence when visiting the UK. Keep up-to-date with the UK Highway Code.

If you go to live in the UK, you can exchange your Greek licence for a UK one without taking a test.

To drive in another country, in addition to your Greek licence, you may need to apply for an IDP (in Greek).

Read the EU guidance on:

• EU driving licences and insurance
• driving licence exchange and recognition in the EU

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

Births, deaths, marriage and civil partnerships

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

If someone dies in Greece read our guidance on:

• what to do after someone dies abroad
• bereavement information for Greece
• finding English-speaking funeral directors in Greece

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

You may also 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 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

If you’re the victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact the British Embassy Athens.

Returning to the UK

Check the COVID-19 travel guidance for entering the UK.

Tell the Greek and UK authorities if you are returning to the UK 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 S1 is cancelled at the right time.

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

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, bringing family members, tax and access to services.

If you return to 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)

Support for British nationals abroad: a guide sets out how to stay safe abroad, and explains how the FCDO can support you if you get into difficulty.