Moving to Athens Checklist: What to Do in Your First 30 Days
Greek paperwork goes faster when you do it in the right order, because each step asks for the number from the one before. A practical sequence for your first month.
Your first 30 days in Athens go fastest in this order: get an AFM tax number, sign a lease the landlord registers with AADE, open a bank account, then apply for an AMKA and your residence document. Each step needs the number from the one before. The AFM can be done online before you arrive; the rest mostly needs an appointment or visit.
The plan below is a general sequence for adults moving for work, study or on a residence permit, as of November 2026. Non-EU citizens arriving on a national visa have a deadline to apply for the residence permit, so check the dates on your visa first.
What should you do first?
| Step | When | Online or in person | What it needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. AFM tax number | Before arrival or week 1 | Online with video call, or at a tax office (DOY) | Passport, address |
| 2. TAXISnet codes | With the AFM | Online | AFM |
| 3. Lease registered with AADE | Week 1 to 2 | Landlord registers online, you accept in your account | AFM of both sides |
| 4. Mobile SIM | Day 1 | Shop | Passport (registration is required) |
| 5. Bank account | Week 2 | Branch, some banks online | Passport, AFM, proof of address, proof of income or work |
| 6. AMKA | Week 2 to 3 | KEP or e-EFKA, in person | Passport, AFM, residence document |
| 7. Residence permit or EU registration | As your status requires | Migration platform or police, by appointment | Varies by permit |
| 8. Transport card | Week 1 | Online or ticket office | Photo and ID for a personal card |
| 9. Personal doctor | After AMKA and insurance | Online on gov.gr | AMKA, TAXISnet codes |
How do you get the AFM and TAXISnet codes?
The AFM is free. AADE issues it online with an identity check by video call on myAADElive, or at a tax office by appointment. Apply before you fly if you can, because landlords and banks ask for it immediately. Our guide to getting an AFM tax number has the steps and documents.
Your TAXISnet codes (username and password) are the login for AADE, gov.gr and most public e-services. Set them up as soon as the AFM is issued.
How does the rental contract work?
Greek leases must be declared to AADE. The landlord submits the lease on the AADE platform, and the tenant accepts it in their own account with TAXISnet codes. Without that registration you cannot use the lease as proof of address with most offices, and it matters for tax and the heating allowance later.
- Agree the rent, deposit (often two months) and length in writing.
- Give the landlord your AFM so they can declare the lease.
- Log in to myAADE and accept the declaration when it appears.
- Download the lease certificate. It is your main proof of address for the bank, AMKA and residence applications.
- Transfer electricity, water and internet into your name, or confirm in writing who pays.
Our guide to renting an apartment in Athens covers deposits, agency fees and warning signs.
Which steps need an appointment?
Appointment or queue: tax office visits, many KEP services, e-EFKA offices, residence permit biometrics and the police office that registers EU citizens. Usually online: the AFM (with video call), TAXISnet codes, the lease declaration, a personalised ATH.ENA Card application, choosing a personal doctor, and many certificates on gov.gr. Walk in: mobile phone shops and most bank branches, though some banks prefer an appointment for new customers.
What about residence papers?
This depends on your nationality:
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens staying more than three months apply for a registration certificate at the police aliens department for their area. See our guide to EU citizen registration in Greece.
- Non-EU citizens apply for the permit that matches their visa (work, digital nomad, financially independent person, student, family or investment) through the Ministry of Migration’s services, usually online with a later biometrics appointment. Our overview of Greek residence permit types compares them.
Immigration rules are detailed and change often. If your case is unusual, check with the migration service or a licensed lawyer before your visa runs out.
Which documents need translating?
Greek offices accept passports as they are. Foreign certificates are another matter: birth and marriage certificates, diplomas and criminal record certificates usually need an apostille (or consular legalisation for non-Hague countries) and an official translation into Greek. Official translations are done by the Translation Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or by a Greek lawyer. Get apostilles in your home country before you move, because doing it from Athens takes far longer.
What else should you set up in the first month?
- Transport: a personalised ATH.ENA Card gives access to monthly passes and reduced fares. You can apply online or at a metro ticket office.
- Healthcare: once you have an AMKA and insurance, register with a personal doctor on gov.gr. Until then, private clinics or private insurance fill the gap.
- Emergency numbers: save 112 (all emergencies, English spoken) and 166 (ambulance).
- Address updates: once you live in Greece, update your address with AADE so your tax file moves to the right office.
Bottom line
Keep one folder, paper and digital, with your AFM certificate, lease certificate, passport scan and AMKA certificate: almost every office asks for the same four documents. Book appointments for the AMKA and residence step on day one, because the wait is the slowest part of the month.
FAQ
Can I open a Greek bank account without an AFM?
No. Greek banks require an AFM to open an account. Get the AFM first; online issue takes about a day.
Do I need a Greek address before I get an AFM?
No. You can get an AFM with an address abroad and update it to your Athens address after you move.
Is Greek needed at government offices?
Many staff in Athens speak some English, but forms and decisions are in Greek. Bring copies of everything and, for complex steps, someone who speaks Greek.
How long does the whole process take?
The AFM, codes, lease and bank account usually fit into the first two weeks. The AMKA follows quickly once you have a residence document, while the residence permit itself can take months.
