In-Country Experts - British Expat Forum

Anyone from Greece. An option we are exploring is moving to Crete.

Enought ex-pats for a Greek section?

Victor

Hi Victor

Welcome to the forum! And thanks for joining in.

We haven't yet had anyone offering to host a Greece board, but there may well be people in Greece around. Let's hope so.

I noticed that you also posted a question on the Singapore board. I'm sorry but we've lost our moderator for that board. We don't seem to be of much help to you today. But please bear with us and stick around. Something might turn up.

BTW, if you're interested in looking for a new job, you're welcome to an ad in our recently set up classifieds section. Employment-related ads are free to both employers and job seekers. The classifieds section is still new but it may be worth a try. It's free and will only take a few minutes of your time.

Cheers

Kay 8)

Is there anyone who can help me with some advice please. We bought a house in Crete last September and would like to move there in the next 18 months. However, we do not know what formalities are involved when we decide to leave the UK. Do we need work permits, take new driving test, do they have reciprocal medical treatment. Naive of us I know to buy a property first but ..........

I can answer broadly as Greece is part of the EU, however that doesn't mean that they haven't also got their own rules which could go against the EU ideal.

As a citizen of another european state you should not need a work permit, however you might have to register as a resident before you can look for work. This shouldn't be a problem, I'm a registered resident here in Germany even though I'm paying taxes in the UK, I had to register in order for my kids to go to school.

The will be a reciprocal health care arrangement with the UK but this won't apply to you as you will be paying taxes etc in Crete and therefore you will be eligible for the standard cretan health cover. If you were still being paid from the UK you can get form E128 from the DSS (or whatever they are called now), this will in turn get you a E101 which entitles you to health cover for a year. After a year you can apply for a E102 which is a continuance for a year.

Your UK driving licence will be valid and unless you want to actually get yourself a grecian one there would be no need for you to take a test. Even then I know people here in Germany who have just gone to the authrities with their UK licence and swapped it for a german one, however I also know people who have been made to take a test for a german licence.

Officially, when changing your address you should tell DVLC and it is here where problems can occur ( a subject that has been covered elsewhere on the board). You might be better off changing the address to that of a relative.

As you have already got a property in Crete and I assume one in the UK you are in an ideal position to dip your toe in the water as it were. Don't burn your bridges but maybe go across for an extended holiday armed with your E101 for healthcare. This will give you the opportunity to identify potential problems, look at the job market, contact the local government etc.

Thank you for the advice, it is much appreciated. If there is anyone else forthcoming with advice please let me know.

You should also look at the official EU website nas that give a lot of information (but you have to dig abit). I have seen information on registration requirments there as well.

As for the driving licence. You dont (normally) have to change a pink EU UK licence to a licence from another EU country, but it is advisable to get the newer credit card format with picture.


Regards
Victor

Hi,
My sister drove around here, in Greece for 10yrs on her british licence with out any problems, okay so if you are a resident then you are supposed to change your licence (at the police station) for an international one !...but no one checks up on it...

There is no driving test, it`s just a swop over of your licence and I think there is a fee involved.......

I don`t drive here so...... can`t tell you in any detail.

Do register at your local consulate as they will have details on where to go and what to do, to get your residence permit ect!(you do that at the police station also)
And will also have a list of other people in your area, if you want to make contact with them... if they can`t give you the names, you can leave your details, about your self on their notice board for others to contact you....

I.K.A. is like the national health care system here, they will be the organisation you go to for doctors ect, .... or your local hospital has a clinic you can go to that, I`m assuming that Crete will have the same systems as here in Thessaloniki.

Hope you enjoy your time on Crete...