How-to

Moving to Greece from the UK: Visas, S1 Healthcare and Tax After Brexit

Moving to Greece from the UK now means applying for a national visa and residence permit, because British citizens lost EU free movement on 1 January 2021. The usual routes are the financially independent person (FIP) visa, the digital nomad visa, the Golden Visa, a work permit or a family permit. This guide covers each route, the 90/180 rule, S1 healthcare, the UK–Greece tax treaty, driving licences and pets.

Last checked: October 2026

At a glance

British visitors can stay in Greece and the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa.
Living in Greece needs a national (type D) visa first, then a residence permit applied for in Greece.
The FIP permit requires at least €3,500 a month in income, plus 20% for a spouse and 15% per child.
UK State Pension recipients may get Greek state healthcare through an S1 form registered with EOPYY.
The UK–Greece double taxation convention dates from 1953 and has been in force since 15 January 1954.
A UK driving licence should be exchanged for a Greek one once you have been resident for 6 months.

The 90/180 rule after Brexit

British citizens can spend up to 90 days in any 180-day period in Greece and the rest of the Schengen area without a visa. Staying longer requires a national visa, according to the UK government’s travel advice for Greece.

Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before you arrive and must be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave. Days spent in Greece on a Greek residence permit or long-stay visa do not count towards the 90-day limit.

The 90/180 rule matters for property owners too. Owning a home in Greece does not give a right to stay longer than 90 days. Owners who want to spend more time there need one of the permits below.

Visa routes for moving to Greece from the UK

There are five main routes. The right one depends on whether you will work, where your income comes from and whether you plan to buy property.

Route	Main condition	Can you work in Greece?	Permit length
Financially independent person (FIP)	At least €3,500 a month in income	No	3 years, renewable
Digital nomad	At least €3,500 a month net from remote work for employers or clients outside Greece	Only remotely for non-Greek clients	Visa up to 12 months, then a 2-year permit
Golden Visa	Property investment of €250,000, €400,000 or €800,000, depending on location and type	No	See our Golden Visa guide
Work	A job with a Greek employer and a work visa or permit	Yes, in that job	Depends on the permit
Family	A spouse or parent who is Greek, an EU citizen or a permit holder	Depends on the sponsor’s status	Linked to the sponsor

FIP visa

The FIP route suits retirees and people living on pensions, rents or investments. A Ministry of Migration decision of September 2024 sets the minimum at €3,500 a month, increased by 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child. The permit lasts 3 years and can be renewed for the same period, but it does not allow any work in Greece. The permit fee is €1,000. Our FIP visa guide covers the application in detail.

Digital nomad visa

The digital nomad route is for people who keep working remotely for employers or clients outside Greece. Law 4825/2021 (now Article 68 of the Migration Code, Law 5038/2023) sets the threshold at €3,500 a month net, with 20% more for a spouse and 15% for each child. The visa lasts up to 12 months and can be followed by a 2-year residence permit. See our digital nomad visa guide.

Golden Visa

Under Law 5100/2024, the Golden Visa needs €800,000 in Attica, the Thessaloniki regional unit, Mykonos, Santorini and every island with more than 3,100 residents. Elsewhere the threshold is €400,000. Both tiers require a single property of at least 120 m². A €250,000 tier applies to commercial-to-residential conversions and listed-building restorations anywhere. Our Golden Visa guide explains the rules.

UK buyers should also follow the bill tabled in Parliament on 3 November 2026, not yet law, that would set transfer tax at 15% when natural persons who are tax resident outside the EU and EEA buy a home, on final contracts signed from 1 July 2027 (article 16 of the bill). It was published for public consultation on 18 October 2026 (consultation to 1 November) before it was tabled. See our report on the transfer tax bill.

Work and family routes

To work for a Greek employer, you may need a work permit or work visa, according to GOV.UK. Professional qualifications may need recognition through the Greek NARIC centre (DOATAP). Family members can apply for a visa to live with family in Greece.

British citizens who were living legally in Greece before 1 January 2021 are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement. They do not need a work permit, but they do need the biometric residence document.

Healthcare: S1 and private insurance

UK State Pension recipients who live in Greece may qualify for Greek state healthcare paid for by the UK through an S1 form. Others who are not working in Greece need private health insurance.

GOV.UK says you may qualify for an S1 if you receive a UK State Pension or an exportable benefit. You request the form from NHS Overseas Healthcare Services. In Greece, you then register as a resident, get a social security number (AMKA) from a citizens service centre (KEP), and register the S1 with the national health provider (EOPYY). This gives state healthcare on the same basis as a Greek citizen.

If you are not working and do not have a registered S1, GOV.UK says you will need private health insurance. Greek migration law also makes full health insurance a general condition for most residence permits. People who work in Greece are insured through the Greek social security fund for their job.

A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) covers visits, not residence. Students can apply for a Student GHIC.

Tax: the UK–Greece treaty and the 7% regime

You become a Greek tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in Greece in any 12-month period, or if your main home or centre of vital interests is there. The UK–Greece double taxation convention then decides which country taxes each type of income.

The convention was signed in 1953 and entered into force on 15 January 1954. It covers income tax only, not inheritance tax. Its main points for people moving to Greece are:

Private pensions and annuities (Article X): a UK pension paid to a Greek resident who is taxed on it in Greece is exempt from UK tax.
Government pensions (Article VIII): pensions for UK government service are taxed only in the UK, unless the recipient is a Greek national and not a UK national.
Capital gains (Article VII): gains on capital assets are exempt in the other country when the seller has no permanent establishment there.

Greece also offers a special regime for foreign pensioners under Article 5B of the Income Tax Code. It taxes all foreign-source income at a flat 7% a year for 15 tax years. You must not have been a Greek tax resident in 5 of the 6 years before the move, and you must move from a country that has a tax administrative cooperation agreement in force with Greece. Our 7% flat tax guide explains how to apply.

Once registered with the Greek tax authority (AADE), you must file a yearly tax return. GOV.UK warns that you must also declare assets held outside Greece. You need a tax number (AFM) for almost everything, including renting a home and opening a bank account. See our guide to getting an AFM and bank account.

Driving licence exchange

You can drive in Greece on a UK licence for up to 6 months. Once you have been resident for 6 months or more, GOV.UK says you should exchange it for a Greek licence.

The same applies to licences from Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Gibraltar. You cannot renew or replace a UK licence while living in Greece, so it is worth exchanging before it expires. A UK Blue Badge must be returned to the issuing council once you live in Greece.

Bringing pets from the UK

Dogs, cats and ferrets need a microchip, a rabies vaccination and an animal health certificate to travel from Great Britain to Greece. A pet passport issued in England, Scotland or Wales cannot be used to enter the EU.

Have your pet microchipped before, or at the same time as, the rabies vaccination.
Vaccinate against rabies once the pet is at least 12 weeks old.
Wait at least 21 full days after the primary vaccination before travelling.
Get an animal health certificate from your vet. It is valid for 10 days after issue for entry into the EU.
Travel with no more than 5 pets, unless they are going to a registered event.

Pensions and money

You can claim the UK State Pension from Greece if you have paid enough National Insurance contributions. You must be within 4 months of State Pension age to claim, through the International Pension Centre.

If you paid social insurance in Greece, you can apply for a Greek pension through the Greek social insurance body (EFKA). For running costs, see our cost of living in Greece guide and our guide to retiring in Greece.

Frequently asked questions

Can I move to Greece from the UK after Brexit?

Yes, but you need a national visa and a residence permit. The main routes are the FIP visa, the digital nomad visa, the Golden Visa, a work permit or a family permit.

How long can a British citizen stay in Greece without a visa?

Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Longer stays need a national visa.

Can UK pensioners get free healthcare in Greece?

UK State Pension recipients who live in Greece may qualify for an S1 form. Once registered with EOPYY, it gives state healthcare on the same basis as a Greek citizen.

Will I pay tax twice on my UK pension in Greece?

The UK–Greece convention is designed to prevent that. A private UK pension paid to a Greek resident is generally taxed in Greece, while UK government service pensions are generally taxed only in the UK.

Can I use my UK driving licence in Greece?

Yes, for up to 6 months. After 6 months of residence you should exchange it for a Greek licence.

Does buying property in Greece give a British citizen residency?

Only through the Golden Visa, which needs a qualifying investment from €250,000 to €800,000. Owning a cheaper home does not give a right to stay beyond 90 days.

Buyers should confirm how this applies to them with a Greek lawyer or accountant.

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