Post by daveh on Dec 17, 2022 8:05:21 GMT 2
Applying for a Greek Residency Permit
To make your initial appointment with the Immigration Office you will need the following;
1. Your Passport (have 2 photocopies as well…….one of which will be kept at your 1st meeting).
2. 4 bio-metric passport photos……..if you get them once here you can go to the photo shop almost opposite Marks & Spencer in Corfu Town or the small shop on the same side but nearer to San Rocco…………allow half an hour for this to be done.
3. A Bank Statement dated within 2 months of your Appointment showing a balance of at least £4.000 (or Euros if a Greek account). If you are a couple applying and have a joint account you will need a balance of £8,000. Alternatively you can take other proof that you have an Income of at least £350 a month each and have had for at least 6 months prior to your application and that it continued going forwards……..this can be a letter from your Employer on headed paper or if retired an HMRC letter confirming your pension..
4. Proof of Valid Health Insurance cover. This must be for at least a year. (if you own a house here you can apply for cover by visiting the Insurance Agent (Napoleon) who has a shop near Roda traffic lights opposite the Pegasus Hotel……….simple procedure and cover will cost around €140 for the year………again allow half an hour or so and take your Passport along. If you are a State Pensioner who wishes to reside in Greece you can apply for IKA……get a form S1 from HMRC and then contact the IKA office in Corfu Town…….0030 2661096814…..ask for Mrs Armeniakou. The office is at 9th Par Theotoki near where old Green Bus station was. She will arrange for you to get IKA and once you have your papers you can get Residency (it may mean you need a years’ Health Cover while this is sorted out as nothing happens quickly here).
5. Electronic payment of €16 per applicant (code to use is 2296). You can sort this buy visiting the KEP Office on the Ground floor (door to back right side from entrance) of the Town Hall in Acharavi. You will then have to go away to a Bank to make payment (N.B. there is no longer a Bank in Acharavi) before returning to them to collect the necessary paper. If you have an Accountant here I suggest you ask him to do it for you. You take the confirmation form with you.
6. Your old ‘blue’ Residency Card if you have one.
In addition I would suggest you take along the following further information as this could save you having to return again at a later date. It may not be requested but it was for me so better to have than to delay.
House owner in Greece-
a. At least last 5 years Greek tax returns (unless you have owned your house for a shorter period). Your Accountant can help you here if you don’t have them to hand.
b. Original (plus copies) of Utility Bills: one bill with payment confirmation for both Electric and Water for each of last 5 years.
Non house owner in Greece –
a. Proof of where you intend to stay; a letter from your landlord will suffice.
b. Details of why you wish to have a Residency Permit. E.g. you wish to work here for the season, retired and want to live here, a student coming here to study; if retired proof (HMRC letter should suffice from when your pension was set up or recent letter advising of increase to your pension).
c. Some paperwork to support your reason in (b) above. i.e Employer letter with contact details. Just giving your AMKA and IKA numbers will not suffice but you will still need both and a tax code to work here (again if you need all this see an Accountant as you need a Greek to apply for you for the Tax Codes or be with you to get them).
How to make an appointment at the Immigration Office
Either phone them on 0030 2661029178 or send an email to d.kontostanos@astynomia,gr. If arranging whilst still in UK tell them when you will arrive in Greece. N.B. it is not unusual to be given an appointment many months hence so contact them at least 3 months (if not more) before you arrive in Greece. They are open 4 mornings a week.
Where is the Immigration Office?
It is in Room 103 (1st Floor – upstairs and along corridor to left) of the Police Offices which are in the Old Hospital in Corfu Town situated on Odos (road) P Kostanta which is off SanRocco Square (actually known as Theotoki Square but everyone uses San Rocco) on the right side just after you pass a School (about 5 minute walk from the Square).
What happens next?
Once the Immigration Office is happy they have sufficient information and paperwork and will grant you Residency (this may take two visits to them) they will give you a one page Temporary ID and ask you to make an appointment to have your fingerprints. However you will be told NOT to phone them for at least 4 weeks from the date to get the Temporary ID paper.
How do I contact for finger prints and Where do I go?
Phone 0030 2661025515. They are in the Passport Office which is on the Ground floor (again left hand corridor…..far end on right) of the Police Building you visited previously. Expect your appointment to be maybe a month hence; so if you are to leave for UK within that timescale it would be best to ask if they can see you sooner and explain. You need to take with you;
1. your Passport plus a photocopy
2. 1 passport photo (bio med style). You will initially get 4 when they are taken; the Immigration Office keep 2 of them.
3. Your Temporary ID paper.
They will give you a paper of confirmation and ask you to go back to the Immigration Office to collect your Residency Permit.
When can I collect my Residency Permit?
You visit the Immigration Office on the 1st Floor, Room 103, of the Police HQ (where you originally went). You must visit them only on a Friday only between the hours of 12:00 and 13:00 and you cannot go until at least 3 weeks have passed since your finger print appointment. So its 3 weeks and then the following Friday at the earliest…..or any Friday thereafter if you have to wait to return to Greece (if there will be a delay before you can go to them to collect I would suggest you phone or email them to let them know). Take with you the following;
a. Your Passport
b. Your Temporary ID paper which they will keep
c. The form the finger print office gave you.
Once you have your Permit you can stay in Greece as long as you like (card will have an expiry date on it…….usually 5 years or 10 years for a house owner……when you will need to renew).
To make your initial appointment with the Immigration Office you will need the following;
1. Your Passport (have 2 photocopies as well…….one of which will be kept at your 1st meeting).
2. 4 bio-metric passport photos……..if you get them once here you can go to the photo shop almost opposite Marks & Spencer in Corfu Town or the small shop on the same side but nearer to San Rocco…………allow half an hour for this to be done.
3. A Bank Statement dated within 2 months of your Appointment showing a balance of at least £4.000 (or Euros if a Greek account). If you are a couple applying and have a joint account you will need a balance of £8,000. Alternatively you can take other proof that you have an Income of at least £350 a month each and have had for at least 6 months prior to your application and that it continued going forwards……..this can be a letter from your Employer on headed paper or if retired an HMRC letter confirming your pension..
4. Proof of Valid Health Insurance cover. This must be for at least a year. (if you own a house here you can apply for cover by visiting the Insurance Agent (Napoleon) who has a shop near Roda traffic lights opposite the Pegasus Hotel……….simple procedure and cover will cost around €140 for the year………again allow half an hour or so and take your Passport along. If you are a State Pensioner who wishes to reside in Greece you can apply for IKA……get a form S1 from HMRC and then contact the IKA office in Corfu Town…….0030 2661096814…..ask for Mrs Armeniakou. The office is at 9th Par Theotoki near where old Green Bus station was. She will arrange for you to get IKA and once you have your papers you can get Residency (it may mean you need a years’ Health Cover while this is sorted out as nothing happens quickly here).
5. Electronic payment of €16 per applicant (code to use is 2296). You can sort this buy visiting the KEP Office on the Ground floor (door to back right side from entrance) of the Town Hall in Acharavi. You will then have to go away to a Bank to make payment (N.B. there is no longer a Bank in Acharavi) before returning to them to collect the necessary paper. If you have an Accountant here I suggest you ask him to do it for you. You take the confirmation form with you.
6. Your old ‘blue’ Residency Card if you have one.
In addition I would suggest you take along the following further information as this could save you having to return again at a later date. It may not be requested but it was for me so better to have than to delay.
House owner in Greece-
a. At least last 5 years Greek tax returns (unless you have owned your house for a shorter period). Your Accountant can help you here if you don’t have them to hand.
b. Original (plus copies) of Utility Bills: one bill with payment confirmation for both Electric and Water for each of last 5 years.
Non house owner in Greece –
a. Proof of where you intend to stay; a letter from your landlord will suffice.
b. Details of why you wish to have a Residency Permit. E.g. you wish to work here for the season, retired and want to live here, a student coming here to study; if retired proof (HMRC letter should suffice from when your pension was set up or recent letter advising of increase to your pension).
c. Some paperwork to support your reason in (b) above. i.e Employer letter with contact details. Just giving your AMKA and IKA numbers will not suffice but you will still need both and a tax code to work here (again if you need all this see an Accountant as you need a Greek to apply for you for the Tax Codes or be with you to get them).
How to make an appointment at the Immigration Office
Either phone them on 0030 2661029178 or send an email to d.kontostanos@astynomia,gr. If arranging whilst still in UK tell them when you will arrive in Greece. N.B. it is not unusual to be given an appointment many months hence so contact them at least 3 months (if not more) before you arrive in Greece. They are open 4 mornings a week.
Where is the Immigration Office?
It is in Room 103 (1st Floor – upstairs and along corridor to left) of the Police Offices which are in the Old Hospital in Corfu Town situated on Odos (road) P Kostanta which is off SanRocco Square (actually known as Theotoki Square but everyone uses San Rocco) on the right side just after you pass a School (about 5 minute walk from the Square).
What happens next?
Once the Immigration Office is happy they have sufficient information and paperwork and will grant you Residency (this may take two visits to them) they will give you a one page Temporary ID and ask you to make an appointment to have your fingerprints. However you will be told NOT to phone them for at least 4 weeks from the date to get the Temporary ID paper.
How do I contact for finger prints and Where do I go?
Phone 0030 2661025515. They are in the Passport Office which is on the Ground floor (again left hand corridor…..far end on right) of the Police Building you visited previously. Expect your appointment to be maybe a month hence; so if you are to leave for UK within that timescale it would be best to ask if they can see you sooner and explain. You need to take with you;
1. your Passport plus a photocopy
2. 1 passport photo (bio med style). You will initially get 4 when they are taken; the Immigration Office keep 2 of them.
3. Your Temporary ID paper.
They will give you a paper of confirmation and ask you to go back to the Immigration Office to collect your Residency Permit.
When can I collect my Residency Permit?
You visit the Immigration Office on the 1st Floor, Room 103, of the Police HQ (where you originally went). You must visit them only on a Friday only between the hours of 12:00 and 13:00 and you cannot go until at least 3 weeks have passed since your finger print appointment. So its 3 weeks and then the following Friday at the earliest…..or any Friday thereafter if you have to wait to return to Greece (if there will be a delay before you can go to them to collect I would suggest you phone or email them to let them know). Take with you the following;
a. Your Passport
b. Your Temporary ID paper which they will keep
c. The form the finger print office gave you.
Once you have your Permit you can stay in Greece as long as you like (card will have an expiry date on it…….usually 5 years or 10 years for a house owner……when you will need to renew).