How to get or renew your Residence Permit in Greece – A guide for EU, Non-EU & UK expats living in Greece

Foreigners who want to stay in Greece for a period over 90 days need a Residence Permit issued by Greek authorities in Greece. The application should be made within the first 2 months after arriving in Greece, although it is highly recommended to be fulfilled immediately on arrival in case of common bureaucratic delays.

The application for a residence permit, either first-time permit or extension should be accompanied by a letter certifying that the applicant is covered for outpatient medical expenses, hospitalization, medical evacuation/repatriation, and medical care related to accidents for at least one year from the start date of the visa.

This letter is issued as soon as a special health insurance plan for residence permit applicant is purchased.

The health insurance coverage required includes the following:

• Hospitalization (minimum coverage: €10,000/year)
• Outpatient care / Medical Expenses (minimum coverage: €1,500/year)
• Accidents (minimum coverage: €15,000/year)
• Emergency evacuation/repatriation of remains
• A statement that the coverage is valid in Greece (or “worldwide” or “in the Schengen Zone”).

The required coverage for hospitalization and for outpatient care is low because the authorities stipulate that the insurance company will cover 80% of a bill. The new law (December 2014) does not include a deductible requirement but insurance policies requiring patients to pay more than 20% of a charge will not be acceptable. Please be aware that some residence permit issuing authorities in Greece may require 100% insurance coverage (although 80% is required by the law) in order to issue your permit. Please make sure you confirm their requirements before applying for the required insurance.

The Hellenic Administration from January 2021 requires now electronic, biometric residence permits for EU and non-EU nationals living in Greece. This permits also act as identity cards. Within 30 days of receiving a residence permit application, the Greek authorities will arrange for an appointment with the applicant to register their biometric data (photo and fingerprints) which are recorded on the card’s electronic chip. This card will also act as a work permit id showing whether the holder has the right to work in Greece.

Non-EEA citizens may enter and remain in Greece for up to 3 months. Always check with your Embassy regarding visa restrictions, residence and work permits. Passports of non EU Nationals must be valid for at least three months after the period of intended stay.

Residence permits for non-EEA nationals are difficult to obtain unless you are married to someone of Greek origin. First you have to obtain a long-stay visa from the Greek embassy or consulate in your country of origin in order to stay for longer than 90 days Greece.

When you arrive in Greece you will have to apply for a residence permit (Άδεια Παραμονής / Adia Paramonis) at the nearest Police station or Aliens Office within two months.

EU-EEA nationals are entitled to reside in Greece for 3 months without a residence permit; the only condition is that they must be in possession of a valid ID card or passport.

EU citizens may remain for longer than 3 months if:

• they are employed or self-employed in Greece;
• they are students or are in vocational training or are unemployed, provided they have sufficient funds and health insurance;
• they are family members, regardless of nationality.

EU nationals that plan to stay for longer than 3 months, they have to register and obtain a Certificate of Registration or Residence Certificate (Βεβαίωση Eγγραφής Πολιτών Ευρωπαϊκης Ενοσης / Veveosi Egrafis Politon Evropaikis Enoseis) at the nearest police station or Aliens Office (at police stations with a foreigners department) within 90 days of arriving in Greece.

The Certificate of Registration has unlimited validity. You need to present your passport or identity card, four passport photographs, proof of accommodation (e.g. title deeds or rental contract), proof you have sufficient income (e.g. bank statements or certificate from the employer) and proof of health insurance cover (EU Health Card – or a private health insurance policy).

From 1 January 2021, there will be new rules for UK nationals and family members, either UK or third country nationals, living in Greece and the EU. These rules will apply to two categories of UK nationals and family members:

• those not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, who did not exercise free movement rights prior to the end of the transition period and move to the EU for residency, study or work after the end of the transition period
• those covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, who exercised free movement rights and lived in the EU prior to the end of the transition period (31 December 2020)

If you are a UK national and you are not resident in Greece prior to the end of the Brexit transition period (you don’t fall under the personal scope of the Withdrawal Agreement), but wish to live in Greece after 1 January 2021, you need to follow the relevant rules and procedures of the Greek Immigration Code regarding third country nationals wishing to reside in Greece (see Law 4251/2014) or the free movement legislation (see PD 106/2007).

UK nationals who exercised their right to reside in Greece in accordance with Union law before the end of the Brexit transition period and continue to reside here thereafter, fall under the personal scope of and are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement.

If you are a UK national and you and your family members are already resident in Greece and wish to remain after the end of the transition, you are covered by the provisions of the Withdrawal Agreement for as long as you remain resident in Greece.

All UK nationals resident in Greece should apply for a registration certificate whatever their status.

The former beige residence permit will been replaced with the new biometric permit that will be valid for 5 years. You will need to re-submit all of your paperwork again in order to obtain the new 5-year biometric permit.

The former blue residence permit will been replaced with the new biometric permit that will be valid for 10 years. You will not need to re-submit your paperwork again unless your blue permit was issued more than 5 years ago. In this case you need to provide proof (airline tickets, rental contracts, etc) that you have been absent from Greece for more than 5 continuous years.

All UK nationals resident in Greece before 1 January 2021 should get the new biometric residence document. The deadline for getting the new document is 30 June 2021.

This deadline is 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 it as soon as possible.

If you have been a legal 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.