Your first 90 days in Greece: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · July 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
AFM-first sequencing: every other step — bank, lease, utilities, car — stalls without the tax number, and DOY offices run on queues and paper, so arrivals commonly delegate it via power of attorney.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Residence permit application + biometrics with the Ministry of Migration & Asylum
Before the type-D national visa expires; nomads file within the 12-month visa window
Filing yields a 'blue certificate' (βεβαίωση) that keeps residence legal while the card is pending — commonly many months — but travel outside Greece on it is restricted.
Get your AFM (Αριθμός Φορολογικού Μητρώου)
Nothing moves without it — lease, bank account, utilities, car purchase, even some phone contracts.
Issued by the local tax office (DOY) or online via myAADE/gov.gr; commonly obtained through a lawyer or accountant with power of attorney, including before arrival.
Open a bank account
Greek banks ask for the AFM, passport, proof of address and often proof of income — the document list is heavy and branch-dependent; most arrivals run on Wise/Revolut until the AFM and lease are in place.
Enrol in healthcare
Employees get an AMKA number and EFKA coverage through work; financially-independent and nomad residents must keep the full private insurance their permit requires — public access without contributions is minimal.
Sort your driver's license
A US licence converts to a Greek one without exams (the US is on the recognised list with Canada, Australia, Japan): filed at the regional transport office with a medical check, typically within the ~6 months the US licence remains valid to drive on.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Greece: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Greece?
Residence permit application + biometrics with the Ministry of Migration & Asylum — Before the type-D national visa expires; nomads file within the 12-month visa window. Filing yields a 'blue certificate' (βεβαίωση) that keeps residence legal while the card is pending — commonly many months — but travel outside Greece on it is restricted. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the AFM and do I need one?
AFM (Αριθμός Φορολογικού Μητρώου) is Greece's personal tax/ID number. Nothing moves without it — lease, bank account, utilities, car purchase, even some phone contracts. Issued by the local tax office (DOY) or online via myAADE/gov.gr; commonly obtained through a lawyer or accountant with power of attorney, including before arrival.
Can I drive in Greece on a US license?
A US licence converts to a Greek one without exams (the US is on the recognised list with Canada, Australia, Japan): filed at the regional transport office with a medical check, typically within the ~6 months the US licence remains valid to drive on. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Greece?
Employees get an AMKA number and EFKA coverage through work; financially-independent and nomad residents must keep the full private insurance their permit requires — public access without contributions is minimal. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Greece's system treats foreign residents.