Greece is a travel destination a lot of foreigners want to tick off their lists. The Mediterranean climate, landscape, history and culture that resonates is vibrant. If you’re moving to Greece, we’ve noted down some important points to help you on your way.
- Expat Clubs
- Schools
- Local News Sources
- Country Information
- Resident and Work visa information
- How to get a driving license
- Where to live and about the accomodation types
- Healthcare information including Hospitals and Insurance
Expat Clubs
American Women's Organization of Greece
In September 1948, Mrs. Henry F. Grady, wife of the Ambassador to Greece, conceived the idea of bringing together the women of the American community to study their international role in Greece. When she presented her thoughts to the visiting Secretary of State, he agreed that an organized group of well-informed women would be better equipped to act as ambassadors of good will to their host country. The American Women's Organization of Greece, which began as a study group, soon expanded its direction and purpose to include welfare work.
Website: www.awog.gr
Tower (Thessaloniki Organisation for Women's Employment and Resources)
Tower (Thessaloniki Organisation for Women's Employment and Resources) is a non-governmental, not-for-profit network of women focusing on career development for the foreign woman in Greece. Women from every country are welcome as members.
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.tower4women.gr
International Schools
American Community Schools of Athens, Inc.
Curriculum: International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement
Address: 129 Aghias Paraskevis Ave. & Kazantzaki Street, Halandri, Athens GR 15234
Tel: +30 210 6070 206
Fax: +30 210 6390 051
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.acs.gr
Byron College
Byron College was established in 1986 by a group of idealistic parents and teachers who believe that there was a need for a school in Athens that would provide a British Education that was egalitarian and inclusive and would pursue academic excellence whilst maintaining the highest standards of self-discipline, behaviour and community participation. The pupil body is now close to 250 and is divided fairly equally between Primary and Secondary pupils. These pupils come from over 40 different national backgrounds but about half of our children are permanent resident of Greece. The language of instruction is English and pupils follow progamme of study that is essentially based on the UK National Curriculum.
Curriculum: British
Address: 7 Filolaou Street & Aristotelous, Gerakas, 153 44, Athens
Tel: +30 210 6047722, +30 210 6047723, +30 210 6047724, +30 210 6047725
Fax: +30 210 6048542
Email: [email protected]
FB: www.facebook.com/ByronCollegeGR
Website: www.byroncollege.gr
Campion School
Campion School is situated in Pallini, 16 km east of the centre of Athens, in its own purpose-built facilities which opened in September 2000. Campion was the first international school in Athens for many years to build a fully equipped and modern facility for all of its children. There are separate Junior and Senior schools on the site which are managed independently, with a little overlap in the use of facilities and staff, particularly in Physical Education and Music.
Curriculum: English National Curriculum, International Baccalaureate
Address: Agias Ioulianis, Pallini 153 51, Greece
Tel: +30 210 6071800 (Junior Admission), +30 210 6071700
Email: [email protected] (Junior Admission), [email protected] (Senior Admission)
Website: www.campion.edu.gr
Thessaloniki International High School and Pinewood Elementary School
Pinewood School was founded by the Pinewood School Association as an American elementary/middle school for Kindergarten through Grade 8 in 1950. In the fall of 1996, a Pre-Kindergarten program for three and four-year-olds was added and the school is now allowed by the Greek government to enroll Greek students in Grades Pre- K, K and 7-12. Today, it enrolls a student body of around 210 boys and girls from approximately 35 different countries.
Curriculum: American, International Baccalaureate
Tel: +30 2310 301221
Fax: +30 2310 323196
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.pinewood.gr
Local News in English
Ekathimerini.com
Kathimerini English Edition is a daily newspaper published in Athens and is distributed exclusively with the International New York Times in Greece and Cyprus. Written by a dedicated editorial team, Kathimerini English Edition provides readers with a comprehensive summary of the main political, business, social and cultural news in Greece.
Website: www.ekathimerini.com/
To BHMA English
Greek news now. Latest breaking news from Greece in English. The Greek-language newspaper offers news on politics, business, sports, travel, arts & features.
Website: www.tovima.gr/en
Enet English
EnetEnglish is an independent, online news service focused on Greece, covering political and foreign affairs, the economy, immigration, social issues and sport. It will offer opinions and analysis from across the political spectrum. And it contains a special section, Community, dedicated to helping the international community living in Greece.
Website: www.enetenglish.gr
Country Information
Location: Europe
Capital City: Athens
Other Important Cities: Thessaloniki, Patras
Important Islands: Crete, Cyclades Islands, Dodecanese Islands, Ionian Islands, Santorini
Currency: Euro €
Language: Greek
Calling Code: +30
Internet TLD: .gr
Electricity: Greece runs on 220V 50 Hz. The Public Power Corporation S.A. is the biggest producer and provider of electricity in Greece.
Address: 30 Halkokondili Str., 10432, ATHENS
Tel: +210 52930301
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.dei.gr/en
Emergency Numbers:
Medical Emergency: 112
Fire: 199
Police: 100
Country Information
en.wikipedia.org
Embassy Information
embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-in/greece
Residents Visa and Work Permit information
Greece is part of the Schengen Territories; visitors from countries within the EU/EEA will only need either their Identity Card or Passport to enter and stay for up to 3 months. There are some non-EU countries who may also enter and stay for up to 3 months. The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs has outlined the regulations that apply for each country: www.mfa.gr/en/visas/visas-for-foreigners-traveling-to-greece/countries-requiring-or-not-requiring-visa.html
Beyond 3 months, EEA expats must apply for a residence permit. This can be done through the local police or the Grafio Tmimatos Allodapon or Aliens’ bureau. For non-EU members, applying for a residence permit can be more difficult.
For more information on moving to Greece please visit their ministry of foreign affairs site: www.mfa.gr/en/
Accommodation
In major cities, like Athens, most long-term rentals are usually unfurnished. It’s recommended to make sure your budget can cover the cost of fixtures and furnishings. Outside the city, majority are furnished, but conditions can be poor.
Other accommodation option, the bed and breakfast, are cheap alternative to staying at a hotel. These can be found by the coast and in other islands. Farmstays and self-catering (you have to do your own cooking etc.) and cheaper hostels are other options available.
Driving License
EU citizens may use their domestic license, while non-EU citizens must use an international driving license along with their domestic ones. For more information please visit: www.adcidl.com/Driving-in-Greece.html
Healthcare
Healthcare facilities are mainly found in Athens. Public and private institutions are available and are complementary to each other. Medical services are adequate within Athens, and varies as you move away from the capital.
Members of the EU can avail of free emergency medical treatment using their EHIC card. For non-EU citizens, free emergency services are available at public hospitals. There is also the Greek social security that expats may apply by giving regular contributions. This afford the individual free or subsidized healthcare.
Expats are advised to have a comprehensive health insurance that can cover or reimburse any medical costs incurred.
Insurance Companies
Bupa International
Bupa Global was established in 1971 to extend our health cover to expatriates around the globe. Since then, we've expanded our network to 190 countries and grown our membership to over 800,000 people.
Address: Victory House, Trafalgar Place, Brighton, BN1 4FY, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 1273 323 563
Website: www.bupa-intl.com/
Hospitals
Hygeia Hospital
HYGEIA Hospital is the first large Private Hospital that has operated in Greece since 1974, and is currently one of the largest private hospital units in Greece. It was founded in 1970 by a group of Greek physicians; their aim was creating a model hospital in Greece. HYGEIA Hospital has gradually alleviated the shortcomings of the Greek National Health System. HYGEIA Hospital throughout its thirty-plus years of operation continues to lead the way; its main objective is the provision of high quality services and the development of an integrated network of Health services in Greece and abroad.
Address: 4, Erythrou Stavrou Str. & Kifisias Av., Maroussi, Athens, 151 23, Greece
Tel: +30 210 68 67 000
Fax: +30 210 68 45 089
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.hygeia.gr/default.aspx
IASO General Hospital
IASO General Clinic has 237 specially designed and fully equipped beds of various categories; Two of the most modern Intensive Care Units (ICU, Cardiac ICU) at international level and the most technologically advanced in Greece; 11 operating theaters, equipped with cutting-edge technology that are able to cover all kind of incidents safely. It is worth noting that all cardiac surgery theaters have an ultrasonograph with transesophageal and an intraoperative probe for the continuous monitoring of the patient throughout the operation; State-of-the-art Emergency Department.
Address: 264 Mesogion Av., 155 62, Holargos, Greece
Tel: +30 210 650 2000
Fax: +30 210 654 1267
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.iaso.gr/en
Smile Design Ltd.
Smile Design Ltd provides an inclusive range of dental treatments carried out to a very high standard. Dentists working with Smile Design® Ltd are highly specialised professionals. They have pursued studies abroad and they are all members of the Attica Dental Association.
Address: 387, Mesogeion Avenue, Agia Paraskevi, Athens, 15343, Greece
Tel; +30 21 0608 3126
Fax: +30 210 6083 126
Women’s Care - Group Practice
This hospital provides comprehensive diagnosis, control and treatment for all cases of IVF, ranging from laparoscopic surgery, the method of bioidentical hormones for menopause treatment , to the special prenatal care, the gynecological ultrasonography and generally, everything technologically and scientifically advanced that has appeared up to date in the field of gynecology-obstetrics.
Address: 111 Marathonodromon Street, Paleo Psychiko, Athens, 154 52, Greece
Tel: +30 210 677 7747
Fax: +30 210 677 7187
Website: www.womens-care.gr
Athens General Clinic
Address: 15M Geroulannou, Athens, 115 24, Greece
Tel: +30 210 692 1484
Fax: +30 210 692 1408
Website: agclinic.gr
Eurocliniki
Address: Athanasiadou St No 9, Athens, Greece
Tel: +30 1 641 6600
Fax: +30 1 641 6555
Medical Centre of Athens
Address: Distomou st. No 5-7, Marousi, Athens, 15125, Greece
Tel: +30 1 689 8100
Fax: +30 1 689 8555
Metropolitan Hospital
Address: 9 Eth. Makariou & El. Venizelou 1, N. Falio, Athens, 185 47, Greece
Tel: +30 210 480 9000
Fax: +30 210 481 4887
Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center
Address: 356 Sygrou Avenue, Kallithea, Athens, 176 74, Greece
Tel: +30 1 94 93000
Fax: +30 1 94 93199
