Immigration to Greece

Greece, officially called the Hellenic Republic, a country with mesmerizing beaches, beautiful market places. Philosophers like Pluto, Aristotle, Socrates, etc. were born in Greece, these people are best known and recognized for their work. Greece is also famous for its monuments, temples and their columns created by the ancient Greeks and a country where the Olympic Games and theaters were first introduced. Greece is surrounded by Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, Türkiye to the north east and Aegean Sea to the east, Ionian Sea to the west, Sea of Crete and Mediterranean Sea to the South. Athens is the capital and the largest city, followed by Thessaloniki and Patras. There are many tourist places in Greece to visit like Navagio (shipwreck) bay, Zakynthos Island; the Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the white tower of Thessaloniki, which is one of the best known Ottoman structures remaining in Greece, etc. Greece also has 1,200 to 6,000 islands in which Crete is largest and most populous island followed by Euboea, Lesbos and Rhodes. Greece has the largest economy in the Balkans and is a major regional investor. Greece is an upper middle class country. 

Many foreigners, who have come here to work or study, praised Greece for its diverse environment and high quality living. Greece is a safe country to relocate without minor issue. Greece has pleasant climate, rich history, a good lifestyle and a distinct Greek culture. The cost of living in Greece is usually low than other European countries like United Kingdom and Germany, as a result most foreigners find that they get a decent value for money when they stay for a short or long term period in this country. To get work for a non EU and EEA citizen or a work visa is quite challenging. Although you can find work at many tourist places. Greece has a good business environment and has a blooming startup sector. The food here is amazing, the culture is unique and the prices are affordable. The process of getting the residence permit, work visa or Greek citizenship is a bit tricky but not impossible. All these elements of Greece make it an ideal and a better place to live and work. 

Traveling information 

All the restrictions regarding the Covid-19 pandemic have been lifted by the Greek Government and travelers entering this country need not to show the proof of vaccination or negative PCR test result but kindly note that these restrictions can be lifted anytime on a short notice. Precautions must be taken while visiting the hospitals, pharmacies and labs like applying masks and sanitizers in Greece. It is suggested to check with the airlines before you travel. Your passport must be valid for at least six months. There are some countries from where you can travel without visa for 90 days like countries of European Union, United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The citizens of rest of the countries require visas, so please check on the links given below. Reaching Greece by ferry or by flight is possible. 

Flight:

It is suggested to travel here by flight as this is the most comfortable and easiest way to reach here. Travelling to Greece by flight, also depends on the place you are travelling from. Direct flights are available to reach the major cities in Greece like Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhode and Heraklion, etc., from many foreign countries like Italy, United States, India, etc. Book safe and reliable flights from your destination to Greece on uemigrate.com

Ferry: Many companies operate ferries between Italy and Greece. All year round ferries provide services from cities like Venice, Bari, Brindisi, Ancona in Italy to cities in Greece like Patra, Igoumenitsa, Kefalonia and Corfu. These ferries also take allows you to take your car with you to one place from another.

Greece has several means of transport you can travel with like public buses, trains, taxis, cars (rentals) and commercial flights. Always carry a copy of your passport and visa. 

Flights: Expats prefer traveling by plane within the country also, however this can be expensive than local transport. 

Ferries: This is the most popular means of transport when it comes to travel in Greece, especially from one island to another. This id much cheaper option than flights.

Buses: On the main land, KETL buses have the most popular connections between cities, towns and villages. 

Trains: Trains operates in the northern part of Greece and runs between the capital city, Athens to Thessaloniki. 

Taxi: Taxis are not for long distance travelling as they are very expensive and are used only in case of emergency in Greece. These are available on the islands where bus services are not operated. 

Car rentals: Renting a car is a better option in Greece as you can reach to the remote locations with easy.

Documents Required: 

• Passport with six-month validity
• No visa required for less than 90 days stay (also depends on your nationality)
• No vaccination certificate required.
• Valid health certificate of pets (if travelling with animals) 

For more travel advice to Greece, visit: greeka.com

How to immigrate to Greece 

Visa: 

The following common types of visas are available for Greece:

• Tourist Visa (Schengen Visa) – for short stays up to 90 days.
• Student Visa – For non-EU students studying in Greece.
• Work Visa – For non-EU citizens employed in Greece.
• Family Reunification Visa – For joining family members in Greece.
• Digital Nomad Visa – For temporary remote workers residing in Greece.

Greece offers the Golden Visa, which grants residency to non-EU citizens who invest in real estate. The Blue Visa (EU blue card) is offered to highly skilled non-EU workers to live and work in Greece.

The nationals from an EU/EEA member state are allowed to enter Greece without visa and citizens from countries like UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand are permitted to get the visa free stay up for 90 days. US citizens can stay up to 90 days for tourism and business purposes. National of other countries, who do not have a visa waiver agreement with Greece can enquire about visa with their local consulate and will need to apply for a visa according to their purpose. The visa type depends upon the reason you travel like work, study or to live a peaceful life after retirement. Greece a famous Mediterranean destination is a part of the Schengen Agreement. While applying for a Schengen Visa required documents are:

• Application form (filled and duly signed)
• Passport size two photographs
• Valid passport
• Travel insurance
• Flight tickets, etc.

Spouse and children also require a visa and residence permit especially if they want to work and study respectively. For getting work in Greece spouses are permitted to apply for the work visa. If you are employed, then the following documents are mandatory:

• Contract of employment
• Leaving letter from the employer
• Bank statement of last six months
• Income tax return
• Business license (if self-employed)

Students must include the certificate of enrollment at the respective educational institute. As well as if you are a retired person then you must submit pension statement for the last six months. 

Work Permits:

Residence and work permits are combined now and if you are not a citizen of EU/EEA member state then it will be difficult to obtain a working visa as Greek citizens and EU nationals get the priority and get hired first. Still if you are willing to apply for the residence or work permit, then apply first for your visa at the local municipal office within a month after arrival in Greece. After this you need to apply for your Tax number (Arithmo Forologiko Mitro – AFM) from the local tax office (Eforia). It is also suggested to obtain your social security number from Socila Security Institute (AMKA). 

Documents required are:

• Visa
• Passport and photocopies
• Four passport size photographs
• Medical Insurance Certificate
• Health certificate from a State hospital
• Address proof (rental contract)
• Proof of the payment of required fee to the national tax office (Eforia)

For more information please visit:  schengenvisainfo.com and visaguide.world

People

Citizens of Greece are called Greeks or Hellenes. These people are spread all over the world but most of them are within the modern Greece and in Cyprus. Greeks are officially registered as members of the Greek Orthodox Church, following Christianity or its sub-religions and have pretty much influenced and contributed to culture, visual arts, exploration, theatre, literature, music, mathematics, cuisine, sports, etc. Also there are Muslim Greeks which are mainly situated in Lebanon and Syria. There are several renowned artists who were born in Greece, for instance, The king of ancient Greek – Alexander the Great, Ancient Greek philosopher – Aristotle, Mathematician – Archimedes, Physician – Hippocrates. Modern day born people includes Greek soprano Maria Callas, Painter Dominikos Theotokopoulos, writer, Angelos Roussos, Poet Andrea Kalvos, etc. 

They are pretty friendly, welcoming and hospitable and have a friendly reputation with expats. Greeks eat fresh and seasonal fruits, vegetables, grains, pulses, legumes, goat, sheep, fresh fish, olive oil, cheeses and yogurt etc. Eating and sharing food plays an important part in Greek culture. Greek attire is generally casual more than Western Europe. They love to wear baggy or comfortable pants of light colors, especially on the islands and t-shirts or shirts made up of natural fabrics like linen and hemp which are good for the heat and provides classy look. These people are open and welcoming as a result Greece is home away from home for many expats.

Job offers in Greece

Greece is a good place to work and live, however nowadays the job market is seeing some crisis, and henceforth finding jobs for foreigners is quite difficult. Although the economy of Greece is flourishing, expats and locals have lost their jobs and are leaving the country in search of better opportunities. However, it is believed that this situation will get better in the near future. There are several jobs where you can get good salary if you meet the requirements and in terms of your qualification like Product manager, Sales manager, Project Planners (Construction), Social Media Ads Specialist, HR Recruiters, Front office supervisors, Financial assistant, etc. 

There are other options like working in the Bars, Hotels, Tourism Industry, English Tutor, Internet freelancing, etc. Getting a job in Greece will be easier with the help of your network of international professional contacts. Making profile on platform like LinkedIn will be helpful and of course learning Greek or English languages. People speaking other languages can get jobs in international companies like Xiaomi, Adidas, Airbnb, TTEC, Salescode etc. who want to expand their business in international markets. 

There are several websites which helps you find and apply for job from their platforms. Some of the websites are linkedin, jobs-greece.gr, greeka.com, glassdoor.com and totaljobs.com. 

There are some points you must work on, like discovering yourself, access the hidden job market, search online and then apply for jobs. Prepare a perfect CV format and then submit it. To get a job in Greece you will need a work permit which will expire after a certain time and which will have to renewed. A type D visa (National visa) for work is necessary to get work in Greece for any non-EU national willing to stay for more than three months. This should be obtained from the local Greek consulate or Greek embassy in your own country, before arriving in Greece.

Unemployment rate

The unemployment rate in Greece has gone down to 10.9% in the Month of March 2023 from 11.3% in the previous month, which was the second lowest unemployment rate since the month of April 2022. The number of unemployed persons decreased by 14.1 thousand over the previous month to 508.7 thousand, and on the other hand the number of employed persons gone up by 59.4 thousand to 402 million. However, the number of people outside the labor force gone down from 47.7 thousand to 3.1 million. As compared to the month of March 2022, job seekers fell 16.5% and employment declined 0.1 percent. Unemployment rate is the share of labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. These days the unemployment is a growing problem in Greece because of the lack of opportunities which will provide plenty of jobs. Other causes are fast growing population and labor force, skill mismatching, lack of enough information in the market, structural adjustment programs, slow economic growth and the market setup. 

For more information please visit: tradingeconomics.com

Economy of Greece

The economy of Greece is expected to grow by 2.5% in the year 2023. This output will come because of a resilient labour market and the application of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP). The inflation was 9.3% in the year 2022, however it is set to become moderate till 2.5% in the year 2024 due to the decreasing energy prices. Greece is the sixteenth largest economy in the EU. Greece is a developed country with the economy based on the service sector by 80%, industrial sector by 16% and agriculture sector by 4%. The major Greek industries are consists of tourism industry and shipping industry with 31.3 million international tourists in 2019, making it the seventh most visited country in the EU and thirteenth in the world. Greece is classified as an advanced and high income economy.

Main industries are Shipping and shipbuilding, tourism, food, tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products, mining, and petroleum. Goods exported by Greece are petroleum oils, aluminum and articles thereof, electrical, electronic equipment, pharmaceutical products, plastics and articles thereof, vegetables, fruits, iron and steel products. Export partners are Italy, Germany, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Turkey, USA, UK, Romania, and Spain.

Good imported are Crude petroleum oils, electrical, electronic, equipment, pharmaceutical products, machinery, ships, boats, plastics, cars and car parts, motorcycles, etc. Import partners are Spain, Iraq, Bulgaria, Russia, Ireland, France, The Netherlands, Italy, China, and Germany. 

For more information please visit: en.wikipedia.org  and economy-finance.ec.europa.eu

Renting and buying of real estates for foreigners 

Renting: 

Renting a property is not a big deal in Greece for expats and there is a thriving rental business to support the tourists coming into Greece. The cost of rentals may be artificially inflated as the online marketplace Airbnb is unregulated in Greece. Therefore, it is necessary to hire a real estate agent who is fluent in Greek language and who will able to guide you in the legal aspect and cost of renting. The agency fees are a bit high but it helps you save money and avoid lots of future troubles. Likely the agent fees are one month’s rent. 

It is also suggested to look for the sign called “For Rent” (enoikiazetai) and online advertisement or in local newspapers. Usually three-months rentals are the minimum duration for rent, however, if there is a need you can negotiate for a short term. Longer the stay, lower is the monthly rent. The lease continues as long as you stay unless it is mutually terminated. A deposit usually amounts to 2-3 month’s rent is taken in advance which is refundable at the end of the contract but any damages done will in the property will deducted, therefore before moving in take a through stock of the house and any equipment it has. 

Websites for renting a property: 

• Xe.gr
• Spitagatos
• Spititi24.gr
• Tospitimou

Buying:

Foreigners and expats can buy a property in Greece. Citizen from an EU country can buy a property in Greece however, it is necessary for all the buyers to register the property whether it is for residential, investment or rental purpose. The annual property tax on residential property tax will be levied by the Greek Government. Therefore, all the owners should be registered as taxpayers and must have a Greek bank account a then apply for a tax number. Properties close to the coastal areas like Crete, Rhodes and in Northern Greece cannot be purchased by foreigners (non-EU residents). 

It is difficult to get a mortgage from a Greek bank, therefore consider using a bank or a lender from outside of Greece. Documents showing detailing of the funding source to ensure the money is not taxed as income is required. The estate agent fee, notary fee and surveyor fees as well as an initial 10% deposit is mandatory which you must also consider while planning to buy a property in Greece. After the documents have been approved, the notary finalizes the transfer of the ownership. The buyers are eligible for residency after purchasing the property and people who buy a property of more than $250,000 are also eligible for the Greek Citizenship. 

Documents needed: 

• Passport
• Tax Registry Number (AFM)
• Greek visa for Non-EU citizens
• Residence proof (Greece)
• A copy of annual tax return, etc.

For more information please visit: residence-greece.com, expatfocus.com

Climate 

The climate in Greece is Mediterranean Climate. It is hot and dry in summer and in winter days are mild and rainy. Greece is mostly sunny throughout the year; however, the northern part is much cooler in winters with a little bit snowfall in some areas. July and August are the best months to visit as these months have the perfect whether for outdoor adventures and trips. Greece has four distinct seasons. Temperature varies, making Greece a perfect holiday destination. 

Winter: This season starts from the month of December and ends in February. The weather is cool, rainy and snowy but sometimes you might also experience some sunny and mild days in this season. In the northern part it is as cold as you might also come to see a snowfall. The average temperature goes from 12.77°C to 13.33°C. 

Spring: This season lasts for three months only as it starts from the month of March, ends in the month of May. At this time various multi colored flowers, trees can be seen. The weather is temperate and mild with little rain throughout the country. The average temperature dwells from 15.55°C to 25°C. 

Summer: This season starts from the month of June and ends in the month of August. Days are warmest, as a result people go to the seaside to swim and take sunbath. Activities like surfing, parasailing and paragliding are done. The average temperature goes from 30°C to 32.22°C 

Autumn: This season starts from the month of September and ends till the month of November. Fall in Greece is pretty mild and enjoyable. Weather is moderate, days are shorter and you will also experience some rain during this season. The average temperature fluctuates from 17.77°C to 28.33°C 

For more information please visit: ripsavvy.com

Languages 

Greek the official language in Greece. Greek is spoken by more than 99% population of Greece. It is used in educational institutions and government offices. There are many other non-official, minority languages and some Greek dialects are used by the locals. Foreign languages learned and spoken by Greeks are English, German, French and Italian. Regional languages spoken in Greece are Cretan, Cappadocian, Pontic, Maniot, Thracian, Tsakonian, Yevanic. Languages used by the minority of the people are Albanian, Turkish, Russian, Romani, Bulgarian, Macedonian and Armenian. 

Greek sign language is also used by the deaf and mute people in Greece. Georgian is one of the languages which is widely spoken particularly in Thessaloniki and other parts of Greek Macedonia by the immigrants settled in 1990s. English is spoken by 50% of the population especially in the tourist destination. It is suggested to take a tour guide or a Greek friend with you to communicate in the rural areas or the areas where people don’t speak English. It is always helpful either learn the language or learning some basic words from that language, of the country you are visiting.

Modern Greek languages: 

• Cappadocian Greek
• Cretan Greek
• Cypriot Greek
• Maniot Greek
• Pontic Greek
• Thracian Greek
• Sarakatsanika
• Tsakonian Greek
• Yevanic Greek

For more information please visit: en.wikipedia.org

Traffic 

Foreigners who are tourists and expats can drive on Greece with an International Driver’s License except citizens from EU/EEA member states as the license from these states are valid in Greece. Traffic rules in Greece are almost the same as other European states. Visitors from Australia, UK, Canada and UK do not need to get an International Driving Permit to drive in Greece. The License issued in those countries are valid in Greece. Cars are easily available on rent here and are very convenient to reach places that are not possible by bus or train.   

It is observed that Greeks obey traffic rules in most places, but still lots of attention is need to drive here. Major cities like Athens and Thessaloniki have traffic congestions and driving there can be challenging. There are often speedy motorbikes riders especially in Athens. Basic traffic rules are:

• traffic runs on the right hand side of the road
• Vehicles have the steering wheels on the left side
• Seat belt for driver as well as passenger is mandatory. Fine up to €350 is issued for not wearing seatbelt.
• Children below the age of 12 can sit on front seat only on special child seat.
• Jay Walking is illegal. Use Pedestrian crossing to cross however caution is needed as many drivers won’t stop
• High beam is prohibited in good visibility conditions
• During heavy rains, fog or snow low bean is advised due to low visibility
• Mobiles are not allowed while driving
• Radar Jammer is illegal and can result in ban on driving or fine up to 2000 Euros.
• Fine of €700 for illegal overtaking on places where “No Overtaking” road sign is placed. 

The national speed limit is:

• Motorways is 130km/h (80 mph)
• Outside rural and urban areas is 90km/h to 110km/h
• Within urban and rural areas is 50km/h to 70km/h

Fines are strict for breaking traffic rules in Greece, for instance running a red light or neglecting a stop sign can get you fine upto €700. Fines are imposed for crossing speed limits. Crossing zebra crossing and not let pedestrian cross. Few places like Cyclades Island has not traffic lights, so keeping watch on the roads signs are very important. They are mostly printed in Greek and English, but only in Greek in some places. Tolls on highways are highs. Traffic on highways on weekdays and off-season are very less.

Emergency numbers while traveling on road: 

• 112 (unique number to contact in all of the EU in case of emergency)
• 100 (Police)
• 166 (Ambulance Service)
• 199 (Fire brigade)

For more information visit: athensguide.com

Payment Transaction 

For any business transactions only Euros are used in Greece. Foreign currency will be declined therefore it is always advisable to carry Euros when visiting Greece. Credit & Debit cards are more convenient so you need not spend more time in ATM withdrawing money however be cautious of the bank fees. Hotels, Chain Stores, Fuel Stations and many business in Greece are equipped with credit card machines and they accept Visa and MasterCards. Digital wallets are becoming common as people are becoming tech savvy. Visa and MasterCard are the most popular credit and debit cards. Cheques and invoices are some offline methods to transfer money in Greece. 

Cash is the most common payment method, used by more than 90% Greek population. Bank transfers and Digital wallets like Alipay is also popular. There are many ways to make and receive payments online, such as ApplePay and American Express (AMEX), etc. 

List of six most common payment methods in Greece are: 

• Cash
• Credit and Debit Cards
• Bank Transfers
• Paypal
• Google Pay
• Apple Pay

To find more about the top 6 top payment methods in Greece, please visit: pay.com

Cost of living in Greece

Greece is one of the cheapest countries in the Western European Continent and cost of living here is cheaper more than fifty percent of countries in the world. Major cities like Alexandroupoli, Chania, Athens, Rhodes are expensive than rural areas. Average living cost in Greece also depends upon your lifestyle or your current situation, like whether you are working or a student. Cost of living varies from city to city and the number of family members staying with you.

The average monthly expense for a single person is approximately €1,500. The approx. monthly expense will be €3,100 for a family of four people. Food items and beverages are cheap compared to housing or dining. Staying close to the university or office will be feasible or to live in a city with a good public transport system will cut the cost of living. Monthly rentals cost more in the main city than in rural areas. Smaller accommodation will reduce the cost of living rather than living in bigger apartments. 

Here are some products mentioned below, so that you get a clear idea of the cost of living in Greece: 

 For more information on the cost of living in Greece visit:  expatistan.com

Apartment Rent 

The average size for a apartment in Greece is 890 square feet, however it varies depending of the type of the apartment. One-bedroom apartment generally is 890 sq,ft., while two to three bedroom apartments are bigger in size. Studio apartments are the smallest and most affordable. The Rhodes has the expensive apartments followed by the capital city Athens, and Chania. Fully furnished one-bedroom apartment in the city centre will cost you approximately €528 and same apartment, outside city will cost approximately €360. A furnished studio apartment of 2 to 3 bedrooms in the city centre will cost you approximately €870 and outside the city it will cost you approximately €650. Finding accommodation here is challenging so asking your colleagues, friends, shopkeepers or waiters in the nearby café or restaurants will be helpful. If your stay is for short term, then there are many sites on the internet to help you get your accommodation : 

• en.spitogatos.gr
• housinganywhere.com
• spiti24.gr
• flatio.com

While talking to the landlord take along the real estate agent or a Greek speaking friend with you so that the conversation will be clear and easy as not everyone here is fluent in English. The below mentioned site will give the cost of monthly rent. The below mentioned websites also shows property with proposed prices from where you can choose.

For more information visit: expatistan.com

Currency 

Euro is the official currency of Greece. It replaced drachma on 1^st January 2002. The Euro is a European monetary unit used by more than twenty EU countries out of the twenty-seven European Union countries. The symbol used for Euro is (€) and the currency code is EUR. Euro is divided in 100 cents (c).

The Euro in Banknote is available in the following denominations:
€5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, €500

The Euro in Coins is available in the following denominations:
€1, €2, 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, and 50c

The bills of €200, €500 and the coins of 1c, 2c are rarely used but still in circulation. Coins 1c, 2c are also rarely used in Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Italy and The Netherlands. The Euro is issued by the European Central Bank and is one of the most traded currencies in the world’s foreign exchange markets. 

Taxes 

Taxes play an important part in the economy of a country. In Greece income tax is progressive which means when the income of an individual increases the tax rate will increase eventually. 

Types of taxes in Greece other than income tax:

• Social security tax
• Capital Tax
• Value Added tax (VAT)

It will be necessary to pay taxes as an employee or a self-employed person. If you a permanent resident of Greece, then the taxes depend on your income source like i.e. income earned within the country or from outside of Greece. Foreigner or a non-resident in Greece are subject to pay taxes only on income generated in Greece as per the Double Taxation Treaty. The residents of EU member state can get benefits from various deductions and credits on 90% of all personal income generated from Greek income sources. They must pay taxes in the following scenarios: 

• Have a permanent residence in Greece
• Lived more than six months in Greece
• Employed or doing a professional activity in Greece
• Having a business or has invested in Greece
• Earn an annual income of more than €3,000 (from salaries, employment, pensions, alimony or agricultural activity), etc. 

For more information on Taxes in Greece, please visit: getgoldenvisa.com

Education 

Greece is one of the countries that is not only beautiful but also the idyllic study abroad destination worldwide. Greece is rapidly becoming a tech hub which will provide plenty of internship opportunities for foreign students. They have a good opportunity to get a job if they have studied in Greece after graduation. Greece Universities provide a wide range of International Bachelor’s & Master’s programs, offering research and innovation, Greek Universities offer a diversity of Academic programs in English for international students. There are 24 Universities in Greece with 173 international programs for under gradates and post graduates in 60 different cities. 

 Some of the top popular universities are:

• Ionian University – ionio.gr
• University of the Aegean – aegean.gr
• University of Peloponnese – uop.gr
• University of Thessaly – uth.gr
• Agricultural University of Athens – aua.gr
• Technical University of Crete – tuc.gr

Tuition fee are applicable to all the non-EU member state residents; however, it is very cheap compared to the other European countries. International students from EU, the EEA and Switzerland do not have to pay for their bachelor’s studies or for master’s programs in Greek public universities. The cost for non-European international students is approximately €1,500 per year for under graduates, including the cost of books. For master’s degree in public universities the fees are approximately €1,500 to €2,000 per year. Private universities or schools have slightly more cost ranging from €10,000 or more per year. There are different institutions providing scholarships to the deserving candidates. For more information on study in Greece – A guide to international studients, please visit: educations.com

Homeschooling is not generally legal in Greece, as the country mandates formal education through its school system. Children between the ages of 6 and 15 are required to attend school, and homeschooling is only allowed in rare cases for children with special needs, under strict conditions. Due to these restrictions, the number of homeschooled children in Greece is very low and not officially tracked. Families wishing to homeschool typically need to enroll their children in international online programs or consider moving to countries where homeschooling is permitted. 

Health Insurance 

Healthcare in Greece has both private and public healthcare system. Greece also has universal healthcare which is called EFKA. The healthcare standards are very strong and give access to the citizens as well as to the international residents under this EFKA. It is a largest social security organisation in Europe, which offers services like Pensions, health insurance which includes wide scope of medical treatments.  Under EFKA unemployed individuals, dependants are eligible for medical benefits in kind in the public healthcare system. To know the eligibility and how to claim the services and benefits of EFKA, please visit:ec.europa.eu

Public healthcare:

Here you are eligible for free healthcare even if you are an expat, EU citizen or are unemployed. The state healthcare system provider services like surveillance of public health, control of infectious diseases, health promotion hospitalization, laboratory system, maternity care, discounted medicines, medical appliances, transportation, etc. There are long waiting queues in public healthcare system. The medical staff in the public healthcare speak limited English. The free healthcare is funded by the amount deducted as tax from the salaries of the employees. 

Private healthcare:

Private healthcare facilities provide better services as they have all the latest equipment’s than public healthcare facilities. Expats and Foreigners can take medical services from these private healthcare units by buying a private health insurance. The treatments are advanced and the doctors and staffs can communicate in good efficient English. There are different companies which offer private insurance such as Alico AIGlife, Allianz, Bupa Global, Cigna Global, Ethiniki Asfalistiki, Generali and Piraeus Bank. They cover the basic primary health care as well as specialist’s fee, treatment in the best hospitals, advanced dental treatments and cosmetic surgery (selective). 

For detailed information on Healthcare in Greece for Expats and Foreigners, please visit: getgoldenvisa.com

Summary

Greece is a country with rich history, breathtaking views, lush green nature and delicious cuisines. Greece is a destination where tourists, foreigners, expats come for education, job and tour. Greece is a good place to get job if you are skillful and  have strong professional connections. Athens is the capital city and a centre for performing arts, Opera and Orchestras and theaters. In Greece everybody has to pay income tax. Healthcare is free for both the citizens and expats. Greece has colorful markets, history beautiful houses, monuments, food and beverages. The Greeks are jovial, warm, and respectful people. They are known for their hospitality. Nightlife here is vibrant with lit lantern streets, music, pubs and lounges. The city like Athens and Thessaloniki has plenty of bars and restaurants. Many Places are safe and fun to visit, keep a local friend with you so that you know where to go and what areas to ignore. Greece is safe to visit as crime rate is relatively low but it is suggested to stay alert all the time and safeguard your valuable things. Greece is a country which allows everybody to follow their religion and this makes it a culturally diverse.