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Greece Emigration

Visas and residency

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 legally 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

To request the document:

• if you live in Attica and Thessaloniki regions, visit your nearest Hellenic Police station that has an Aliens Department
• if you live elsewhere, visit your nearest General Regional Police Directorate that has an Aliens Department
• non-EU family members should visit their nearest Directorate for Aliens and Migration of the Decentralized Administrations

Additional support

UK nationals who are resident in Greece, and need help to complete their residence application or registration, can get support from organisations funded by the UK Nationals Support Fund.

This support is only available to people who need additional help to secure their rights under the Withdrawal Agreement. They may include pensioners, disabled people, people living in remote areas or people who have mobility difficulties. Support available includes:

• answering questions about residence applications, such as the documents you need and how the application process works
• guiding you through the process, if necessary
• support if you experience language barriers or difficulty accessing online information and services

If you, or someone you know, are having difficulty completing residence paperwork or have any questions, contact the Aire Centre

The AIRE Centre

Contact details:

• AIRE Centre website
• hotline: 0030 698 85 91 229, available available during the following hours: Mon and Wed 4pm to 7pm and Tues 10am to 1pm
• email:eurobrits@airecentre.org (please contact The AIRE Centre by email if the hotline is busy)

Passports and travel

You should carry your residence document (registration certificate or permanent residence certificate), as well as your valid passport when you travel.

If you have not yet applied for a residence document, you should carry evidence that you are resident in Greece. This could include a tenancy agreement or a utility bill in your name, dating from 2020.

If you cannot show that you are resident in Greece, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the Schengen area, and your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. This will not affect your rights in Greece.

Passports

You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This requirement does not apply if you are entering or transiting to Greece, and you are in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement.

If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.

Click here to Ask an Expert about Emigration and Visas in Greece