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• Living in Greece
• Registering
• Pensions, Benefits and Healthcare
• Births, deaths and marriages
• Vehicles and Driving
• Education in Greece
• Employment
• Legal/Tax issues
• Voting
• Important Notes
• Useful Contact Details
• When things go wrong
• Travel advice
• How to stay safe abroad
• Consular complaints procedure
• Giving us feedback on our services

Pensions, Benefits and Healthcare

Health Care in Greece

Information can be obtained by contacting the local office of the Greek National Health Service: IKA, www.ika.gr. Appointments to see an IKA doctor may be made by calling 184.

The Greek National Health service provides the basic medical service to Greek NI contributors and has a reciprocal agreement with the British National Health Service. Visitors to Greece should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK.

The EHIC is available free of charge through most UK post offices or from the UK Department of Health via their website at www.dh.gov.uk or by calling 0845 606 2030 to obtain the leaflet “Health Advice for Travellers”.

The EHIC entitles you to emergency medical treatment on a par to treatment received by Greek Nationals. You will not be covered for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature.

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling abroad. There are many public and private hospitals and medical centres of varying standards around Greece. The level of nursing and after-care may differ from what is normally available in Britain.

From 1/10/2009 everyone (regardless of age) who lives and works in Greece is required to obtain an AMKA number. AMKA is citizens “Identity” Social Insurance Number. It is an eleven digit number and the first six digits reflect the holders’ date of birth. It is essential for those who plan to a) work b) be insured c) obtain medical and hospital care and d) receive a pension or benefits. Your AMKA number can be acquired at your local KEP office.

Health Cover & Pensions

British residents in Greece should apply to the Pensions Service for the following forms when they require long-term health cover; if you are in receipt of a state pension then you need to apply to the UK Pensions Service for an S1 form (previously known as the E121.) When you receive this, you should complete it and take it to your local IKA office. You will be issued with an IKA health booklet in exchange. This booklet can then be renewed by IKA each year. Usually, the person who receives a pension is entitled to name his/her spouse as a dependent and this renders the dependent person eligible to apply for an S1 from the Pensions Services and therefore obtain a separate health booklet. Unlike the UK, Greece, at the present time, does not recognise partnerships - be it man & woman or same sex - so it is therefore not possible for a partner to be listed as a dependent.

If a person has worked in the UK for the past 2-3 years and plans to take up residence in another EU country, he/she can apply to the UK Pensions Service for an E106 form. This form should then be taken to the IKA office where it will be exchanged for a health booklet, which will only be issued for a maximum of 2 years. The number to call for these services is (0044) 191 218 7777. A person coming to look for work in Greece, who was previously unemployed in the UK, is entitled to free medical treatment in Greece provided he/she produces an E119 to their local IKA office. This may be obtained by calling (0044) 191 218 7652.

Furthermore, to enable a pension to be paid directly into a Greek Bank Account, a form must be obtained from the Pensions Service. This needs to be completed by the pensioner giving all his/her Greek bank account details and sent back to the Pensions Service who will then make the necessary arrangements.

For information on medical benefits you can contact The Pensions Service, Medical Benefits, Tyneview Park, Newcastle NE98 1BA, Tel (0044) 191 218 1999 – website: www.thepensionservice.gov.uk

Important Update: As of 01 May 2010, the E121 is now known as an S1.  All E121 forms already issued will remain valid.  Entitlement to healthcare will not be affected by this change.

Jobseeker’s Allowance (Unemployment Benefit)

If you receive unemployment benefit in the United Kingdom and wish to move to Greece in an effort to find work, you may continue to receive unemployment benefit in Greece from the local Manpower and Employment Organisation Office (OAED) for a period of three months. Before your departure from the UK, you need to let your local Jobcentre Plus (Tel: 0800 055 6688) know of your decision in good time so that they can give you the necessary forms to fill in prior to your departure. According to Greek regulations, you will have to have remained at the disposal of Jobcentre Plus to look for a job for four weeks after you have registered the commencement of your unemployment.
When you move to Greece you must register yourself with your local OAED office, as unemployed, within 7 days of leaving the UK. You will need to submit the E303 form to OAED, issued by your local Jobcentre Plus in the UK. For further information on the documents required you should refer to your local OAED office (Tel: 210 998 9000, www.oaed.gr). If you do not find work within three months you must leave the country.

Useful links: www.oaed.gr

What happens when you retire

Going to live abroad is a major decision to take. It makes sense to get a wide range of information and advice to help you plan and make sure the move goes smoothly.
Before you go, you should:

• Make sure you have a valid passport, any visas you might need and a full health plan
• Be clear about your financial situation. For example, find out about tax liability in the UK, social security benefits and National Insurance contributions, and get a pension forecast. Useful websites include the Department for Work and Pensions; HM Revenue and Customs; and Directgov (under 'Britons living abroad’). You can also find out whether offshore banking is appropriate
• Make a will
• Check whether you can continue to vote in UK parliamentary and European parliament elections on the Electoral Commission website
• Find out about accommodation. We can provide lists of lawyers to help you buy property, although we cannot give you legal advice ourselves or get involved in purchases or disputes
• Make sure your car is in line with local regulations and you have the necessary driving permit
• Try to learn the language before you go
• Contact associations and charities for advice. For example, if you are retiring overseas, you could contact Age Concern or Help the Aged. There is also a guide to going abroad for the over-50s on the Saga website. We also have a leaflet called Going to Live Abroad, which you can find on our website
• It sounds obvious but let people know your new address (and any future changes). As well as friends and family you also need to inform the authorities such as HM Revenue and Customs, National Insurance and the Department for Work and Pensions
• When you arrive, register with the local authorities and get a residence permit. You can also register with the local British embassy. You may also need a local bank account
• British nationals who live overseas can receive the same support as visitors
• And you’ll need full travel insurance for your trip or health care and other appropriate cover if you are living abroad. The Government cannot cover medical costs or refund you for lost property.
• There is a charge for some types of consular support. This is to help cover the cost of providing support worldwide. We do not make a profit from these charges.