• Greece
• Moving to
• Living in
• Leaving
• Resources
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• United Kingdom

Moving to : Greece

There are a number of things you will need to research or do before moving to Greece, these include:

• Local Culture 
• Residence Permits/Visa Requirements/Fees 
• How to search for work if you do not already have a job 
• The importance of your Contract of Employment 
• Self Employed? Starting a new business 
• Studying in Greece 
• School/Childcare - admissions, childcare, registration 
• Retiring to Greece 
• Accommodation, property search 
• Removal Companies and Personal Effects 
• Public Healthcare 
• Registering with a Doctor/Dentist 
• Medication 
• Private Medical Insurance, Healthcare and Hospitals 
• Banking 
• Setting up TV, Telephone and Internet 
• Registering for a mobile phone 
• Taking your car 
• Moving your pets 
• Make sure your passport is valid 
• Tickets for your move, hotel bookings and car rental 
• UK Voter Registration 
• Final Checklists 
• Final Notifications 

Greek culture is defined in many ways. From their modern food and festivals to their ancient traditions and Gods. Clicking on the links below will help you understand the country and its unique appeal.

Wikipedia - Culture of Greece
Greeka - Culture of Greece and the Greek Islands
Greek Fest - Greek Festivals

Each area of Greece will also have its own history and culture. Don't forget to run a search specifically on the area of Greece you are looking at moving to. We recommend Google for all searches and the easiest way of searching for local culture is to put "culture" + the area of Greece you are investigating.

As an EU national you do not need a work permit to work in Greece. However it is always best to be prepared, and have employment set up before you go. 

Although there is no need for a work permit, many employers are not yet aware of this fact or at least pretend not to be!  Some employers will attempt to con you into believing that if they hire you without one, they are taking a huge risk and as a result, will attempt to pay you less...

If you plan on staying in Greece for more than 3 months, you will need to get a residence permit. Failure to do this could result in your having problems leaving the country and also you could be prosecuted for contravening the regulations.  The application for this must be made in person, prior to the expiry of this 3 month period, to your local Aliens Department Offices.

If you know in advance that you plan on staying in Greece for more than 3 months, then it is advisable to get a "Change of Residence Certificate" which is issued by the Greek Consulate in the UK before you leave.

More information can be found on this in our "living in..." Registering your arrival in the Country.

There are a number of websites which focus on job searches in Greece.  Be aware that finding work in Greece is not easy. You will need a solid foundation in the Greek language for a chance and even then, unemployment is high.  The following websites may help however we can not take personal liability for any of their content or claims.

Jobs Abroad
4ICJ
Job Centre Plus
Executives on the Web
Tip Top Jobs

Be aware that private employment agencies are not technically allowed to operate in Greece.  The Ministry of Labour regional OAED Offices are wholy responsible for this function.  English Language publications may also be able to help.

You will need your employment contract in order to apply for full residency, your social security number (IKA - Idrima Kinonikon Asfaliseon) and anything else that requires proof of income or a credit agreement. Your employer should apply for an IKA number on your behalf. 

If you do not have an employment contract you will be working illegally and could be sent home.  More information can be found about this on our "living in..." Tax registration with the authorities).

If you are planning on going to Greece and starting your own business, this site may be of use to you: Doing Business

If you plan on setting up your own business, make sure you comply with all the regulations required to obtain a licence to practise.  You must also register with the local tax office.  Plans to be directly involved with the food and beverages industry also require a work licence which is issued by the Hellenic Police (e.g. bar/cafeteria or restaurant work).

Make sure you get a good lawyer/accountant who can help you with all the necessary paperwork.  Ending up with an illegal business is not an option.

If you're going to study in Greece, you will need information regarding courses.

Prospects - Postgraduate study
Open University - Business School in Greece
Study Abroad - Greece
Top Universities - Greece

Finding child care in Greece is not easy.  Most Greek people leave their children with extended family eg grandparents as private day care is not a feasible option.  Information regarding childcare for pre-school children can be found with your local authority, however don't expect too much from it.

The rules for compulsory schooling are simple. Children are expected to start school at the age of 6. One of the biggest decisions you need to make will be "Do I want my children educated in English, at an International school, or in a Greek school?" These sites may help you with this decision.

Greece Index - Greek Education System
About - Private Schools

It is not easy finding information about the Greek schooling system online.  Again, we would suggest talking to your local authority.  Many expats choose to home school children in Greece.

Primary Home Education - Reception and Primary Schooling
Oxford Home Schooling - Secondary Schooling

If you are considering retiring to Greece, then the following sites should be useful:

Foreign Office - Pensioners Health Care 
Foreign Office - What happens when you retire
Retire to the Sun - Greece
Direct Gov - Preparing to move or retire abroad 
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Moving Abroad 

The decision regarding whether to purchase or rent a property in Greece can be difficult. If you are looking to buy, then these links will help.

Cybarco - Buying Property in Greece
A Property in Greece - The Buying Process
Right Move - Property Website
World of Property - Information about Country

Rental can be harder as most real estate agencies focus on short term/holiday rentals, however it is not impossible. You will usually be expected to pay a deposit and a months' rent in advance and property search for rentals is usually easier in autumn and winter as during the summer months the shorter lease periods are more appealing to landlords. To find these properties you are best to talk to local estate agents during a "look and see" trip.

When shipping your personal (household) effects within the EU, they are not subject to normal customs formalities or restrictions.

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on English speaking removal companies.

The Form E111 is no longer valid. You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Greek nationals.  Never travel to Greece adequate health insurance which will cover you until such time you are signed up for the Residents Social Security Scheme (IKA)!  The EHIC is the absolute minimum you should have with you.  The Greek healthcare system is not great and as a result, you could be left high and dry!  The EHIC will not cover you for ongoing treatments or repatriation if needed. 

NHS Guide  
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Travel Insurance

Many Doctors and Dentists are English speaking, especially in the more commercial areas of Greece. You have a free choice of general practitioner, paediatrician and several specialists within your area from an approved IKA list.  For an English speaking Doctor or Dentist, ask around - other Brits in the neighbourhood can help as well as many of the locals.  In addition, the British Embassy website in Athens lists many too, however these are all Athens based. 

British Embassy Athens - English Speaking Medical Practioners

To see a specialist, you do not need a Doctors referal however they often have quite long waiting lists.  In urgent cases, you can opt to see them privately and then claim back up to 85% of the cost from your health insurance company afterwards.

Before taking any medication into Spain make sure that you check that it is legal to do so. Interestingly 63% of Britons didn’t know that some medication in the UK e.g. alcohol based prescription drugs and painkillers such as codeine are illegal in some countries. In Japan for instance, the Vicks inhaler and Sudafed are illegal!

Additional private medical insurance is a personal choice. Once you have joined the Greek Social Security Scheme (IKA) in most cases it's adequate, however you may want private insurance too as it can act as a security blanket if something goes seriously wrong.  When looking at private schemes, try to find one that will pay your bills direct and also look at your excess payments as sometimes these can be more than the treatment costs themselves.  Make sure you read and understand the fine print as many will try to take advantage of you by increasing the fees each year or canceling the policy upon turning a specific age.

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on additional medical insurance, general private heathcare and private hospitals.

Opening a bank account in Greece is not difficult. Hopefully, these sites should give you the information you need. Remember, like with most things, research is the key.

Expat Focus - Banking
Helleniccomserve - Banking

Be aware that without the Greek authorities permission, it is illegal to send cash or cheques by post from greece to another country. If you need to take money back out of Greece, ensure you know the law!

Many companies take a while to set these up, so once you know where you will be living, you might want to contact these companies in advance, so you are able to have connection from the day you move in.  Some of the Greek websites have an English interface too, so it's worth having a look around.

Expat Focus - Communications
Tellas (Click on the Union Jack top right of the page)
Altectelecoms
Vivodi (Greek Site)

Like in most countries, Cable and Satelite companies can offer the full range of TV, Telephone and Internet services.  So it's worth doing your research.  Talk to neighbours etc about local availability and what they suggest.  You don't need to worry about getting a seperate TV licence as the cost for this is automatically added to all electricity bills.

Please check our Resources section to see if there are any alternatives.

Like with other utilities, it's worth talking to people.  Find out the best local deals and make a decision based on fact.  These sites may help you decide which carrier is best for you and how the system works.

Go Greece - Cell Phone Service in Greece
Cosmote
Vodafone

As for your UK mobile. Our guess is that you will be returning to the UK from time to time and may want a low cost way for people to contact you when you are there. So why not cancel your contract, but switch to a "Pay as you go"? This is a number that most of your friends/family will already have, so record your voicemail explaining that this phone is now only on when you are in the UK, and tell them how to contact you when you're not. Be careful when choosing your PAYG plan as some expect you to use your phone every few weeks to keep it active.

Deciding whether to take your car or not is something you will need to think about. What is "right" varies from person to person. For example, for my first move, I took my UK car with me for the first 6 months only. This gave me the security blanket when I wasn't sure if I would stay. Had I returned to the UK, I wouldn't have then had to look for a new car. Having decided to stay, I returned my UK car to the UK, and bought a local one. Just make sure that if you decide to take your own car, your insurance covers you properly with a "permanent green card"!

Don't forget you must also notify the DVLA if you plan to take your car out of the UK either temporarily or permanently. 

Direct Gov - Taking your car abroad

Be aware that you can legally only drive a car on foreign plates in Greece for 6 months.  You must also be able to prove ownership at all times and when the vehicle was brought into Greece.  After this 6 month period you must either take the car back out of the country, leave it with customs for at least 6 months with proof that you were out of Greece too for this period of time, or clear it through the official customs channels.  If you fail to comply, you could end up with a very hefty fine.

Although the site below talks about Crete, these import of vehicle rules apply to anywhere in Greece:

Cretan Advice - Importing a car

No one wants to leave their other family members behind, so take them with you! Also, please don't forget to consider they may need their own Residency permits once in Greece.

DEFRA - Qualifying Countries for the PETS Scheme
DEFRA - Preparing your pet for travel (cats, dogs & ferrets)
DEFRA - Preparing your pet for travel (rabits and rodents)
Expat Focus - Taking your pets

Make sure you have a valid passport. You do not need a minimum period of validity; however it must remain valid for the duration of your stay.

UK Passport Office - UK Passport Information

When moving you need to set a date to do so. Once you have this date, you need to consider your flights or travel arrangements. Investigate cheap flights or travel. There is no need to spend a fortune getting there when there are many cheap options available. The following site details the list of low cost airlines flying to Greece:

Attitude Travel - Guide to Cheap Airline Carriers

If you have not arranged somewhere to live, make sure you have accommodation until you do. Book yourself a hotel. In addition, you may be going to sign contracts for your accommodation. This does not mean you can stay there on the first night! This may not be possible. So make sure you know exactly what your plans are and make arrangements that take these into consideration.

Where car hire is concerned do your research. Different companies offer different deals at different times.

Please check our Resources section to see if there more information on car hire and deals.

Don't Lose Your Vote!

If you are 18 and over, and were previously registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years, you can apply to register again as an overseas voter.

Overseas Voting