What The Diference Between To Register Permanent Residence Then Aply For A Residence

You will need to become a residence permit in Greece if you would like to alive in this beautiful Mediterranean land for longer than ninety days. Any mention of doing bureaucratic or paperwork related stuff in Greece fills a lot of people with panic.

The reality is that most things hither are pretty straightforward – including applying for Greek residency. The principal thing that you need is patience.

Folio Contents

ane Different Types of Residence Permits in Hellenic republic
2 Applying for Your Biometric Greek Residence Permit
- ii.1 Switching Over to a Biometric Allow
- 2.ii How to Employ for a Greek Residency Permit
3 Application Process for EU Citizens and Third State Nationals
4 How to Get a v Yr Residence Permit in Greece (ΒΕΒΑΙΩΣΗ ΕΓΓΡΑΦΗΣ)
- four.1 How to Get Your Five-Year Residence Permit in Greece
- 4.ii How to Get a Greek Residence Permit Via the Hospitality Route
- iv.3 Process for Non-EEA Citizens
- 4.4 KEP
- 4.5 Additional Assistance
5 What to Look at Your Appointment
6 How to Upgrade to a X-Year Residence Let (ΕΓΓΡΑΦΟ ΜΟΝΙΜΗΣ ΔΙΑΜΟΝΗΣ)
7 British Citizens Relocating to Hellenic republic Afterwards Brexit
- 7.1 Financially Independent Person's Permit
- 7.ii Greek Golden Visa
- vii.3 Spousal Allow
viii Parting Words
- 8.1 Melissa Douglas

Unlike Types of Residence Permits in Greece

The process for applying for residency permits and the types of permits supplied by the Greek government has recently been amended. Upwardly until December 2020, there were two different types of residence permits in Greece.

Namely, these were the biscuit residence let and the blue residence permit. You lot would utilize for a biscuit let upon inflow in Greece.

This would then exist switched to the blueish residence allow afterwards five years in Greece. This was more permanent. Blue residency holders had more rights in Greece.

As of January 2021, the beige and blue residence permits have been replaced by biometric permits. If y'all live in Greece and hold a blue or biscuit residence permit, yous need to apply for a biometric permit.

The paper permits are now essentially invalid. However, you should concur on to them until you receive your biometric permits.

If you are in the procedure of relocating to Greece and applying for your residence permit for the showtime fourth dimension, y'all should employ for a biometric permit in the starting time instance. This guide will discuss how to go a residence permit in Hellenic republic, and the paperwork y'all demand for your application.

Applying for Your Biometric Greek Residence Permit

New applicants and current permit holders are required to apply for a biometric permit.

The former "biscuit" residency permit has been replaced past a biometric residency allow that is valid for five years. Additionally, the blue residency permit has been replaced by a biometric residency permit that is valid for ten years.

If you lot are British and you lot are currently residing in Hellenic republic with an old blue or beige residency permit, the deadline for switching over to a biometric permit was previously communicated as the 30th of June 2021. If y'all accept non notwithstanding switched, contact your local Greek police department to get-go the process.

Switching Over to a Biometric Let

Applying for a residence permit in Greece

The process for obtaining a biometric allow differs depending on whether y'all currently hold a bluish or a beige permit. If yous agree a beige residency permit, you will need to resubmit all of your paperwork again in order to obtain the 5-twelvemonth biometric let.

This means proving in one case once more which residency category y'all autumn into. For instance, the hospitality route/partner of a Greek spouse, whether y'all are cocky-employed with sufficient funds, or whether you lot are employed past a Greek company.

If you held ablueish permanent residence certificate, you will automatically exist given a ten-year biometric permit. You don't need to provide any boosted paperwork or information if your allow was issued fewer than five years ago.

Conversely, if your permit was issued more than five years ago, you have to bear witness that you lot have non been absent from the country for more than than v continuous years. This menstruum runs from the engagement that you received the blueish permit up until the date you applied for the biometric.

Yous tin can apply rental contracts, tax returns, and flying tickets as proof of your time spent in the country. You will not demand to prove minimum income or health cover.

How to Apply for a Greek Residency Permit

How to apply for a Greek residence permit — How to apply for a Greek residence let

The application for the Greek biometric residency permit needs to be made in person. If you live in Athens or Thessaloniki, you should visit your nearest Hellenic Police station that has an Aliens Section.

Alternatively, if you alive anywhere else in Greece, visit your nearest General Regional Police force Directorate that has an Aliens' Department. If you alive in a pocket-sized town or island, you may have to travel a little further to find this.

For case, if you lot live in Skiathos, Skopelos, or Alonissos, y'all need to travel to the mainland and visit the Volos police force station. If you lot are unsure every bit to where to get, you can contact your local police station and inquire them to bespeak y'all in the right management.

Practise note that the application fee is €16 euros. You should accept the required paperwork, four passport photos, and a valid passport with yous to your appointment. After, y'all volition exist required to have your fingerprints taken at the regional passport office.

Application Process for EU Citizens and Third Country Nationals

It is important to note that the process for obtaining Greek residency varies significantly for Eu citizens and tertiary-country nationals. This article will discuss the various options bachelor for both types of applicants.

Consequently, not every section of this article will be relevant to you lot, depending on where you are from. Feel gratis to use the Table of Contents to jump to the applicable sections.

On 31st December 2020, the Brexit transition menstruation ended. The UK has officially left the European Union.

As a result, British people wishing to obtain residency in Hellenic republic tin can no longer simply apply for a residence permit on arrival. Instead, they must follow the protocols and options outlined for 3rd-land nationals.

Important Note Near British Applicants and Brexit

The Brexit transition period has officially ended as of 31.12.2020. British people living in Greece and wishing to remain in the land for more 90 days in a 180 day period ought to have applied for their residency permit before this deadline.

If yous do non accept any grade of Greek residency permit in paw and you lot are all the same living in Greece in 2022, you may still be able to obtain i after the transition deadline. You ought to be able to demonstrate that you were residing in Greece earlier the Brexit borderline. This can be done by providing show of utility bills, rental contracts, etc.

Equally such, it is advisable to keep a paper trail of everything to testify that you have done all that yous can. For instance, emails with the police, emails with the British Diplomatic mission, etc.

How to Get a 5 Twelvemonth Residence Permit in Greece (ΒΕΒΑΙΩΣΗ ΕΓΓΡΑΦΗΣ)

The 5-twelvemonth biometric residence permit acts as proof that y'all live in Greece. EU citizens should apply for this within 90 days of arriving in the country. This replaces the former biscuit residence permit (ΒΕΒΑΙΩΣΗ ΕΓΓΡΑΦΗΣ).

This is a relatively straightforward process that requires you to make an appointment at your local constabulary station. Information technology is advisable to commencement this process as soon as possible one time arriving in Greece.

This helps you to avoid any previously unforeseen delays. The procedure for processing permits and the specific forms required to be completed varies in different regions of Greece.

If you accept any concerns or queries, sometimes the easiest thing to do is to brand a telephone call or show up in person at the police station. Unfortunately, emails often go unanswered or get lost.

How to Go Your Five-Twelvemonth Residence Permit in Greece

The documents that you need for your five-year residency permit when moving to Greece are:

Completed application grade
two ten Passport-sized photos
A photocopy of passport
Medical insurance certificates
Clear health cheque demonstrating no contagious diseases, etc. (You lot tin download a template for a medical certificate via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website here)
Proof of address in Greece (rental contract)
Utility pecker with your name printed on it
Proof of employment (a signed contract is sufficient) OR proof of sufficient funds in a Greek bank account if unemployed/cocky-employed (4000 euros).

Every certificate detailed above must exist submitted in Greek. Official documents need to exist translated by a Lawyer, a certified Translator, or the Greek Foreign Ministry building's Section of Translation.

How to Go a Greek Residence Permit Via the Hospitality Road

If you are an EEA resident, and you are moving to Hellenic republic to be with a partner or family fellow member, you tin also opt to become down the "hospitality road". You do not have to be living with the person in order to become down this route. In this case, the Greek citizen essentially "vouches" for you while you are in the country.

To get a residence permit via the hospitality route, your Greek partner/relative needs to go to the police force engagement with you and fill out a form. They can provide their proof of address information, etc if your name is not on any bills.

Process for Non-EEA Citizens

It can be difficult for not-EEA citizens to move to Greece. You lot may be eligible to relocate if you are married to a Greek denizen or if yous are of Greek descent. However, you will demand to organise the appropriate visas before travelling to Greece.

There are options for travelling to Greece under a aureate visa plan. This ways investing a minimum of €250,000 into purchasing a property in Greece. A new, additional option that has been recently introduced and which may be preferable is the financially independent person'southward permit.

You may besides be able to relocate hither if you plan on opening a business in Greece. Nonetheless, just know that the criteria are strict and you lot typically need to show at least €300,000 worth of funds.

You will need to cheque the specifics of the route that you lot desire to take. Some gilt visa programs may not include the correct to work in Greece.

KEP

The Citizen's Service Part (KEP) can provide additional information on how to get a Greek residence allow. However, their site is displayed in the Greek language merely. You can visit their website here.

Additional Assistance

You may wish to contact the Hellenic Police if you accept additional questions or uncertainties nearly your application. British applicants can contact the AIRE Heart if they have difficulty completing paperwork.

Hellenic Police Contact Information

Hotline: 0030 213 15 20 132 / 213 fifteen 20 427, available Monday to Friday from 7 am to three pm
Email: [electronic mail protected]

Aire Centre Contact Information

Hotline: 0030 698 85 91 229, available Monday and Wednesday from 10 am to 12 pm
Email: [email protected] (delight contact The AIRE Centre by electronic mail if the hotline is busy)

What to Await at Your Appointment

Appointments at your local police station are fairly straightforward. The Role that yous speak to will simply review your forms, briefly talk over what you lot are doing in Greece, and take copies of your passport and other supporting documents.

You volition be handed a blue receipt (βεβαίωση / veveosi) that shows that you lot have applied for residency. Your permit will exist set several weeks afterwards.

Some stations work faster than others. Many people who employ for residency at small island police force stations may find that they receive their permits in a matter of days, not weeks.

There is no time limit regarding how long you can stay in Hellenic republic once you have received this receipt. You are also free to travel internationally from Greece, or return to your domicile country during this period equally you desire.

How to Upgrade to a Ten-Year Residence Permit (ΕΓΓΡΑΦΟ ΜΟΝΙΜΗΣ ΔΙΑΜΟΝΗΣ)

If you have been living in Greece for v years, you are eligible for the ten-twelvemonth biometric residence let. This replaces the former blue residence permit (πιστοποιησης μονιμης διαμονης). To utilise for this, y'all will simply need to make another date with the local police authorities and swap out your allow.

This is Hellenic republic, and sometimes frustrating things happen. You should notation that there have been instances in the past where the Greek police force have refused to change people's permit types and said that doing and so was not necessary.

Your request to change to a blue residency permit should not be refused. If this happens to you, you should stress with the Greek regime that you need a blue let. Failing that, you lot should contact your land's embassy in Greece.

Blue let holders accept more rights to remain in Greece. As such, it is advisable that you switch your beige permit for this every bit soon as y'all are able to do and then. Those who have lived in Greece for five years or more than nonetheless did not register themselves correctly tin utilize directly for a blue let.

British Citizens Relocating to Greece Afterward Brexit

British expats living in Greece make a huge contribution to the Hellenic community and economic system. Fortunately, the Greek authorities recognise this.

They have already proposed some new manners in which British people can apply for residency later the Brexit deadline of 31st December 2020. The options available to British citizens hoping to obtain a Greek residency let in 2021 and beyond are outlined below.

Financially contained person's permit
Greek Golden Visa
Spousal visa

British applicants should go on in mind that every bit a consequence of Brexit, they are no longer free to merely enter Greece and utilise for a residency allow on inflow. Instead, yous will need to obtain a Type D entry visa before departure from the UK.

Y'all can obtain a Type D entry visa from the Greek embassy in London. Contact them via telephone or e-mail to institute if y'all need to go in for an date.

The financially independent person's permit road is relatively straightforward. However, if you are hoping to obtain Greek residency via the spousal route, or apply for the Golden Visa scheme, it is appropriate to consult with an Clearing Lawyer.

Financially Independent Person'due south Permit

From 1st January 2021, British citizens can apply for a financially contained person's permit. Applicants are required to have an income of at least €ii,000 per month to back up themselves without employment in Greece.

This amount must be deposited into a Greek bank business relationship. You also demand to demonstrate that you have sufficient savings already in your account.

This permit would conform remote workers or self-employed international business concern owners. If you intend to add children or your spouse to your permit application, you must evidence proof of additional income.

This is calculated at 20% for your spouse, and 15% for children. The fee for applying for this permit is €1,000. It needs to be renewed every two years.

Greek Golden Visa

The Greece gold visa program was introduced in 2013. Information technology is a means of obtaining Greek residency by investment.

A minimum investment of €250,000 in Greek existent manor is required. This visa is renewable every v years.

Spousal Permit

If you lot are married or in a ceremonious marriage with a Greek or registered European citizen, you will be able to obtain a Greek residency allow through them.

Departing Words

The procedure of applying for a residence allow in Greece is more straightforward than it may seem. Of course, in that location are several other things that you need to do when y'all motility here too.

Don't forget to utilise for your AFM tax number, and your AMKA number if applicable. I take written this comprehensive guide on moving to Hellenic republic which aims to accost all aspects of relocating here.

Have whatsoever further questions about this process? I have lived in Greece for three years now and I'm happy to help out if y'all take any issues.

Feel free to driblet me a annotate below and I'll get back to you lot as presently as I can. Geia sou! Melissa xo

Melissa Douglas is a British Travel Writer and Blogger based in Athens, Greece. She writes for numerous high profile travel publications across the globe - including Forbes Travel Guide, Matador Network, The Times of Israel and The Huffington Post.