Moving To Greece From The UK

Moving to Greece

If you are planning on moving to Greece, whether to Athens, Thessaloniki or one of the Greek Islands, Britannia Movers International has the expertise and the local knowledge to tailor the move to your specific needs.

	Importing Personal Effects to Greece All shipments to Greece from the UK will have to clear customs on arrival and you must ensure you can provide all relevant customs documents required at destination. Your contact at your local Britannia office will assist you with which forms are necessary along with what supporting documentation you will need to provide. However, the responsibility for completion and submission of these forms now falls with the customer and it is advisable that all these formalities are prepared for prior to the move to avoid potential delays in transportation and additional charges.
	Greece Customs Prohibitions and Restrictions In general, it is in your interest not to import the following items: Firearms & ammunition Inflammable goods & substances Plants & plant material Foodstuffs, perishables or otherwise Narcotics and dangerous goods Offensive materials Alcohol & tobacco
	Transit Times to Greece Transit times can vary subject to the method of transport chosen, size of your consignment and the final destination. Britannia will advise you once this information is established.
	Protecting Your Items for Transport to Greece All shared load consignments will be bar-coded before they are loaded into the vehicle. This will ensure that no items are left at origin.
	Moving to Greece with Pets Britannia can recommend a specialised shipper of animals to assist you in sending your family pet(s) from home to home. They will coordinate all documentation and necessary veterinary procedures. Find out more about pet transport.
	Moving Vehicles to Greece Importation of motor vehicles to Greece will be subject to compliance, it is probable that duty and tax will apply.
	Greece Currency Transfer When you are making international payments for individuals you can benefit from IFX expertise in seeking the best possible rate, whether you are sending or receiving foreign currency. IFX can help to protect you from exchange rate fluctuations and save you time and money on international payments. IFX offers: International payments Regular overseas transfers Prepaid currency card Forward contracts More info on the IFX website.

Moving to Greece with Britannia

• Your Move to Greece – Britannia has a dedicated network of removers who will assist you with moving to Greece. We provide computer tracking and bar coding, to ensure a safe and reliable removal service. Your household goods can be transported to Greece by land, in sea containers or by air, and transit times will vary depending on the size of your consignment.
• Packing & Delivery – Our trained packers can pack and wrap all your items to ensure that they are transported safely. If you choose a full door to door service, Britannia will deliver the goods to your new home. If you’ve ordered a packing service, we will unpack all your personal goods professionally, removing all used packing materials from the site.
• Additional Removal Services – Britannia can provide a variety of additional services when moving to Greece. We are authorised to provide a comprehensive insurance, can arrange storage prior to delivery, and can also take care of your pet transport.

If you are interested in moving to Greece, you can request a removal quote, and read more about our European removals, and our additional moving services, like pet transport or money transfer.

Living in Greece

Greece is a well-known tourist hotspot, and a great place to travel for those who want to delve into Western history or who are just looking for a relaxing holiday on a sandy beach. Expats moving to Greece will be relocating to the cradle of Western civilization, and a country that is regarded as one of the most comfortable and attractive destinations in Europe.

Greece is located on the southernmost tip of the Balkan Peninsula, extending into the Mediterranean, Ionian and Aegean Seas. Greece has one of the longest coastlines in the world, and its main peninsula is surrounded by a vast number of smaller islands, including Crete, Corfu and Paros.

Overall, Greece is a diverse and beautiful country, with a warm and sunny climate, sandy beaches, amazing landscapes, rich culture and history, and a more relaxed pace of life.

Germany Visas

UK citizens can go to Greece for up to 90 days without a visa. However, if you intend to stay longer than 90 days, you will need to register your residence within two weeks of your arrival and apply for a residence permit within 90 days of your arrival.

There are different types of work visas available for those who intend to find employment in Greece. One is the Employment Visa, which will be available for those who have secured a job offer with a Greek employer. This will often either be for a skilled role or for a role which there is a shortage of in Greece.

If you’re self-employed, you could apply for a Self-Employment Visa. To qualify for this, you will need to have relevant experience or qualifications in your field of work, and show a viable business plan and adequate finances to cover yourself while you’re in Greece.

Greece also offers a Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers, which could be suitable for those who want to continue to work for a UK-based company and work remotely. To qualify for this visa, you will need to show you have employment from a non-Greek company and have a minimum income of around €3,500.

Working in Germany

The Greek economy has faced a severe crisis in 2010, and unemployment levels increased, which also resulted in reduced job opportunities for expats. However, the economy has shown signs of improvement over the years, with unemployment levels dropping significantly since the crisis-era highs, although still above the EU average.

There are some thriving industries, such as tourism, technology, healthcare or education, where those moving to Greece can find employment opportunities. Finding jobs in Greece can be competitive, and knowing the Greek language can help put expats ahead of the competition.

Cost of Living in Germany

Living and housing costs in Greece are lower than in the UK, but wages can also be substantially lower. According to Numbeo, the cost of living in Greece is 20% lower, not counting rent costs. Rent alone are nearly 60% lower in Greece than in the UK. Salaries in Greece are, on average, 67% lower than in the UK.

You can check out some of the items you are likely to purchase regularly whilst living in Greece below. Prices are shown in Euros and converted to UK pounds alongside the price in the UK so you can see how costs match up.

Interesting Facts About Greece

• Athens, the capital of Greece is one of the oldest cities of Europe.
• Greece is one of the leading producers of olives in the world.
• Greek is one of the oldest languages in Europe.
• 80% of the Greek terrain is mountainous and there are over 3000 islands surrounding the main peninsula.
• The Ancient Greek civilisation consisted of Southern Italy, the coastal areas of Turkey, with colonies in North Africa, Spain and France.

Choose Britannia for Your Greece Relocation

If you are thinking about moving to Greece and want to find out more about our Greece removal services or request a removals quote, you can call us on 0845 6006661 or email sales@britannia-movers.co.uk. Our team will be happy to discuss how we can help you with your international relocation.