Moving to Greece from the UK
British citizens need a Greek national visa for a longer stay, followed by a residence permit after arrival. The UK State Pension receives annual increases in Greece.
By Flight Risk Capital. Last updated: .
How can a British citizen live and work in Greece?
British citizens can visit for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but a longer stay needs a national visa. Source: GOV.UK’s Greece entry requirements, undated.
A national Type D work visa is a route for employment in Greece.
A digital nomad visa is a separate route for a digital nomad stay.
A study visa is a route for studying in Greece.
A family visa is a route to live with family in Greece.
A retirement visa is a route for retiring in Greece.
Apply for a temporary residence permit within 90 days of arrival. Source: GOV.UK’s Living in Greece guidance, 17 March 2026.
Does this guide calculate take-home pay?
This guide has no take-home calculation yet.
What are the Greek income tax bands?
For tax years from 2026, the Greek Ministry of Finance’s income taxation guide gives these employment and pension income rates for a taxpayer with no dependent children: 9% up to EUR 10,000; 20% above EUR 10,000 to EUR 20,000; 26% above EUR 20,000 to EUR 30,000; 34% above EUR 30,000 to EUR 40,000; 39% above EUR 40,000 to EUR 60,000; 44% above EUR 60,000.
Each rate applies to a slice of taxable income. The ministry page is undated but explicitly labels this scale as applying from 2026; it gives lower rates for people with dependent children.
Greece has special regimes for new residents (articles 5A to 5C of its income tax code). These need a separate eligibility check.
What social contributions do employees pay?
Employees pay social contributions of 13.37%, up to monthly earnings of EUR 7,761.94 from 1 January 2026. Source: OECD social security contributions annex, April 2026.
Will my UK State Pension rise in Greece?
Yes. The UK State Pension receives annual increases for people living in Greece. See DWP’s country list (9 June 2014) and the frozen State Pension guide.
See the Budget tracker for announcements and effective dates.
Does the UK have a double taxation agreement with Greece?
Yes. The 1953 UK-Greece Double Taxation Convention is in force. Read GOV.UK’s Greece treaty documents, dated 14 August 2008.
How does healthcare work in Greece?
The Greek National Organisation for Healthcare Services Provision (EOPYY) runs public healthcare. GOV.UK says you need a Greek residence permit to access its services as a resident. Source: GOV.UK’s Living in Greece guidance, 17 March 2026.
Where can I check investment residence rules?
Read the Greece investment residence thresholds alongside the investment residence comparison. Immigration permission and tax residence need separate checks.
Getting residence
Apply for the appropriate national visa before travelling, then a residence permit after arrival. Work, digital nomad, study, family and retirement routes have different conditions. The Ministry of Migration and Asylum handles residence questions.
FCDO, Living in Greece. Source date: . Checked .
Healthcare
Workers register for a social insurance number and pay contributions to access public healthcare through EOPYY, the public healthcare organisation. Patient charges can apply. Non-workers without an S1 need private health insurance.
Department of Health and Social Care, healthcare in Greece. Source date: . Checked .
An eligible UK State Pension recipient can ask NHS Overseas Healthcare Services for an S1 certificate, which confirms UK-funded healthcare. Register it with the Greek authorities. Eligibility depends on which country is responsible for your healthcare.
Department of Health and Social Care, healthcare in Greece. Source date: . Checked .
Schools
Public primary school admission normally follows the family’s home address. Contact the local school with previous school records, identity, address and health documents. Ask about placement and language support for a child arriving from abroad.
Greek national Eurydice unit, organisation of primary education. Source date: . Checked .
Banking and money
Lawful EU residents can request a basic payment account here, subject to identity and anti-money-laundering checks.
European Commission, basic payment accounts. Source undated. Checked .
The currency is the euro (EUR).
European Central Bank, euro area countries. Source undated. Checked .
Declare cash of EUR 10,000 or more when entering or leaving the EU.
European Commission, EU cash controls. Source undated. Checked .
Cost of living
Household price level: 87.4 in 2025, EU average 100. Preliminary national comparison; your household budget will differ.
Statistics Norway, Eurostat price level survey. Source date: . Checked .
Driving
After 6 months of residence, exchange your UK licence for a Greek one. Contact the regional transport authority about the application and the documents needed before continuing to drive as a resident.
FCDO, Living in Greece. Source date: . Checked .
UK pensions
The UK State Pension receives annual increases in Greece.Frozen State Pension guide.
DWP, State Pension annual increases country list. Source date: . Checked .
See the Moving abroad checklist for UK reporting and residence checks, school questions and bank account checks.
Which tracker cases link to Greece?
The sourced leavers tracker records moves, plans and returns with their reporting status; a listing change is separate from a personal move.
People
Monthly count chart
November 2024:
December 2024:
January 2025:
February 2025:
March 2025:
April 2025:
May 2025:
June 2025:
July 2025:
August 2025:
September 2025:
October 2025:
November 2025:
December 2025:
January 2026:
February 2026:
March 2026:
April 2026:
May 2026:
June 2026:
July 2026:
August 2026:
September 2026:
October 2026:
Last 24 months by first-report date. Year-only dates are excluded. Source: the reports linked below. Prepared 29 October 2026.
September 2026
Chris Rokos. Preparing.
Basis: Hedgeweek reported in September 2026 that Chris Rokos planned to move to Greece. Reports differ on whether the move is complete (Hedgeweek, September 2026).
Source: Hedgeweek, 8 September 2026.
What else do readers ask?
Can a British citizen live in Greece?
Apply for the appropriate national visa before travelling, then a residence permit after arrival. Work, digital nomad, study, family and retirement routes have different conditions. The Ministry of Migration and Asylum handles residence questions.
How do residents get healthcare in Greece?
Workers register for a social insurance number and pay contributions to access public healthcare through EOPYY, the public healthcare organisation. Patient charges can apply. Non-workers without an S1 need private health insurance.
Can I exchange a UK driving licence in Greece?
After 6 months of residence, exchange your UK licence for a Greek one. Contact the regional transport authority about the application and the documents needed before continuing to drive as a resident.
Is the UK State Pension frozen in Greece?
The UK State Pension receives annual increases in Greece.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Foreign travel advice Greece, entry requirements, .
- GOV.UK: Living in Greece (healthcare), .
- Greek Ministry of Finance: Income taxation guide, .
- OECD: Social security contributions explanatory annex (April 2026), .
- GOV.UK: Countries where we pay an annual increase in the State Pension, .
- GOV.UK: Tax treaties collection, .