The police station in the neighbourhood has a queue, a ticket machine that is sometimes broken, and a stack of forms in Greek. You are there with three photos and a folded lease, and you are wondering whether you have forgotten something. This is the moment when most newcomers complete their residence registration in Greece, and with the right papers it is faster than the waiting room suggests.
Do EU citizens need a residence permit in Greece?
No permit, but a registration. EU law lets you stay three months with just a valid ID card or passport. After that, Greece asks you to register and issues a Βεβαίωση εγγραφής πολίτη της Ένωσης, a certificate of registration of a Union citizen. According to the official procedure page, the same procedure covers citizens of the EEA and Switzerland.
The certificate does not give you any new right. It documents the right you already have. But in practice you cannot do without it, because it is required to activate your AMKA (social security number), which opens the public health system. See healthcare in Greece for expats.
When and where do you register?
After the first three months of your stay. In Attica and Thessaloniki, the competent offices are the police Τμήματα Αλλοδαπών, the aliens departments. Elsewhere, the regional security offices or the local police stations handle foreigners' files. The procedure is only available in person. Try to go early in the morning and bring your documents in two sets, one original and one photocopied.
What documents do you need?
For everyone:
- a photocopy of your valid ID card or passport;
- three colour passport photos, 4 x 4 cm;
- proof of your address in Greece: a lease, a property title, an electricity, water or phone bill, a tax statement or another official document with your Greek address.
On top of that, depending on your situation:
- If you work, as an employee or self-employed: proof of activity, for instance a certificate from your employer, your registration in the ERGANI system (the official register of employment contracts), your tax registration or invoices.
- If you do not work, such as a retiree, a person living on savings or a non-working spouse: proof of sufficient resources for you and your family, such as pension statements, salary records or bank deposits, and proof of full health insurance, public or private, Greek or foreign, that does not weigh on the Greek state.
- Students and family members follow separate procedures with their own lists.
You pay a €0.50 police stamp (παράβολο). You can pay it electronically through the e-Paravolo application or buy a printed stamp at the office. The certificate is handed to you when you file, and the official estimate for the whole visit is about three hours.
How much money counts as sufficient resources?
This is the question everyone asks and the answer is unsatisfying: there is no fixed amount. The official procedure says the authorities look at your personal situation and at the amount of the minimum Greek pension. In practice, a retiree brings a recent pension statement and bank statements. A working person brings a contract or ERGANI proof.
The health insurance requirement is more precise. You need full cover. A European Health Insurance Card can be accepted in some situations, such as a posting or studies, but for a retiree the usual solution is an S1 form issued by the country that pays the pension, or a private policy that covers everything and not only emergencies. Our guide to healthcare in Greece for expats explains how the S1 works.
What happens if you are refused, or you wait too long?
If the application is refused, a decision must be given within 30 days, and you can file an administrative appeal. If you simply put off the visit, you can drift into an irregular situation on paper, and you will not be able to activate your AMKA. Both problems are avoidable by going in the fourth month with the right documents.
What are the common mistakes?
- Looking for an online procedure. There isn't one.
- Showing up without a proof of address. No lease, no certificate. Sign your lease before you go. Read renting in Greece first.
- Bringing an unclear proof of resources. Come with recent documents, not a statement from two years ago.
- Forgetting the photos. They are cheap but the office will not take them for you.
- Assuming the certificate replaces the AFM. It does not. You still need your AFM tax number for the bank, the landlord and the tax office.
Is the procedure different for British citizens?
Yes. Since Brexit the UK is a third country. The UK government says you generally need a national visa before you arrive, apply for a temporary residence permit once in Greece, and register your address in person with the regional police within 90 days. Those who were living in Greece before 1 January 2021 have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement and a biometric residence document. Our article on moving to Greece from the UK covers the details.
What comes after the certificate?
Activate the AMKA, register with a family doctor, and check that your lease declaration is accepted on myAADE. The order of all these steps is in the moving to Greece checklist.
What is the difference between registration and permanent residence?
The registration certificate says you live in Greece as an EU citizen. After five years of lawful residence, EU law gives you the right of permanent residence, which is a separate right and a separate document; Your Europe has a page dedicated to it. The five years count from your lawful residence, so keep your registration certificate, your leases and your payslips or pension statements as evidence. The Greek certificate itself has no expiry date, according to the national procedure register.
What should you bring on the day, in practice?
- The originals and a photocopy of every document, in a folder you can hand over page by page.
- Three photos, already cut to 4 x 4 cm.
- The e-Paravolo receipt printed or on your phone, if you paid the €0.50 stamp online.
- For retirees: your S1 form or your insurance policy, and the latest pension statement.
- A pen and, if possible, a Greek speaker to come with you for the conversation.
Aim to arrive early in the day. The official estimate of about three hours for the whole procedure is a useful planning figure; do not book anything important immediately afterwards. Once you have the certificate, you can start the residence registration paperwork's last link: the AMKA and the family doctor, described in healthcare in Greece for expats.
Who can help with residence registration in Greece?
The police department that handles foreigners for your address is the only office that issues the certificate, so the best help is a good folder and a Greek speaker. The national procedure register MITOS lists the documents and fees for each case, including students and family members, who follow separate procedures. For residence registration in Greece as a pensioner, add your S1 or insurance policy and the latest pension statement. If your case is unusual, such as a long break in your residence history, ask a lawyer to check the file before you queue.