How long does it take to move to Greece?

There's no fixed number of days - it depends on appointment availability and how much paperwork you're bringing. The guide breaks the move into 5 stages (Before you leave, First few weeks after you arrive, First three months, Steps for the children, If you are buying property) covering 13 individual steps, so you know what's next instead of guessing.

What catches people out when moving to Greece?

The AFM is your tax number, needed for almost everything administrative. AMKA, the separate social security number that actually gives access to public healthcare, is not automatically issued to most non-EU visa holders - Golden Visa, Digital Nomad Visa and Financially Independent Person visa holders typically don't qualify for it without local employment, so private health insurance is the real starting point, not a backup.

How much of the Greece guide can I see for free?

The first three steps of your route are free to preview, no account needed. The full route - every step, what to bring, the cost and the official source - unlocks with one payment once you've picked where you're moving from.

Settle Steps / Moving to Greece

Moving to Greece, step by step

13 steps for your move to Greece - which office, what to bring, what it costs and how long it takes - checked against official sources where an official answer exists, and marked clearly where it depends on your situation instead.

See the free preview for Greece

How the move breaks down

1
Before you leave
Which route applies depends entirely on citizenship - EU/EEA free movement is automatic, everyone else needs a specific visa arranged before arrival.
4 steps
2
First few weeks after you arrive
The AFM tax number unlocks almost everything else - get it early.
2 steps
3
First three months
Healthcare access and banking both depend on paperwork that takes real time to process, so start them as soon as you land.
3 steps
4
Steps for the children
School enrolment and the AMKA number both have their own timelines worth starting early.
2 steps
5
If you are buying property
Optional - skip if you are renting. A high enough purchase can also be the basis of a Golden Visa residence permit.
2 steps

2 of the 13 steps are checked against an official source, with the date it was checked. The rest depend on your own circumstances, or are practical guidance no authority publishes - each step says which.

If you get stuck in Greece

112 Emergency services
1517 KEP citizen service centres - general information line

Things people don't expect about moving to Greece

An AFM number is not the same as being covered by healthcare
The AFM is your tax number, needed for almost everything administrative. AMKA, the separate social security number that actually gives access to public healthcare, is not automatically issued to most non-EU visa holders - Golden Visa, Digital Nomad Visa and Financially Independent Person visa holders typically don't qualify for it without local employment, so private health insurance is the real starting point, not a backup.
The Digital Nomad and Financially Independent Person visas both ban local work
Both routes require income from outside Greece and explicitly forbid working for a Greek employer or Greek clients - they're designed for people who are passing income through Greece, not earning it here.
Golden Visa thresholds vary sharply by location and recently changed
The property investment required ranges from €400,000 to €800,000 depending on the area, and investors can no longer combine several smaller, cheaper properties to reach the threshold - it now has to be a single property of at least 120 square metres.

Questions people ask about moving to Greece

How long does it take to move to Greece?
There's no fixed number of days - it depends on appointment availability and how much paperwork you're bringing. The guide breaks the move into 5 stages (Before you leave, First few weeks after you arrive, First three months, Steps for the children, If you are buying property) covering 13 individual steps, so you know what's next instead of guessing.
What catches people out when moving to Greece?
The AFM is your tax number, needed for almost everything administrative. AMKA, the separate social security number that actually gives access to public healthcare, is not automatically issued to most non-EU visa holders - Golden Visa, Digital Nomad Visa and Financially Independent Person visa holders typically don't qualify for it without local employment, so private health insurance is the real starting point, not a backup.
How much of the Greece guide can I see for free?
The first three steps of your route are free to preview, no account needed. The full route - every step, what to bring, the cost and the official source - unlocks with one payment once you've picked where you're moving from.

Moving to Greece from an EU country, or from outside the EU

The steps differ depending on where you're moving from. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens generally register locally with no visa required; moving from outside the EU usually means a visa or residence permit arranged before you travel. Pick your own country on the guide and you'll only see the steps that actually apply to you - not a generic list for everyone.

Get the full guide

Pick where you're leaving from on the main guide, and the first three steps are free. The full route for Greece - every step, what to bring, the cost, the timing and the source - unlocks with one payment, on the page itself.

Choose your route to Greece

Moving to Greece, step by step

How the move breaks down

Before you leave

First few weeks after you arrive

First three months

Steps for the children

If you are buying property

If you get stuck in Greece

Things people don't expect about moving to Greece

An AFM number is not the same as being covered by healthcare

The Digital Nomad and Financially Independent Person visas both ban local work

Golden Visa thresholds vary sharply by location and recently changed