23.06.2026
Moving your life to a new country brings enough to think about, including the costs. For those settling permanently in Greece, there is some welcome news on that front. Bringing your household belongings and even your car can come with relief from customs duty, VAT and vehicle registration tax. The Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) has recently set out clearer rules on how this works. It's important to clarify that this relief is not exactly new, but what has changed is a significant detail: a recent AADE circular (reference E.2027/2026) spells out the eligibility, the supporting documents and the procedure, with the aim of handling applications more consistently across customs offices.
The scheme exempts qualifying movers from customs duty, VAT and vehicle registration tax on the goods they bring with them. That includes furniture, electrical appliances, household equipment, personal possessions and a private passenger car. The items need to have genuinely been part of your household at your previous home abroad, owned and used by you before the move.
To be eligible, the AADE rules ask that you:
had your main home abroad for at least two years before the move
can show your real and permanent centre of life was abroad
are settling in Greece on a permanent basis
Note that a tax residence certificate on its own is not enough; the authorities look at the wider picture of where your life was actually based, including your personal and professional ties. One helpful change in the updated rules is that the exemption is now granted to each individual rather than to a household as a whole. Each family member who meets the conditions can qualify in their own right.
The vehicle side carries its own conditions. One car can be brought in per person, and it should have been owned and used by you for at least six months before the move. Older, high-emission cars are excluded. Once in Greece, the car needs to be presented to customs within a set period, with paperwork to complete before it can carry Greek plates.
Where you are moving from changes which parts of the relief matter to you.
Customs duty only applies to goods and cars arriving from outside the EU. That waiver is relevant if you are moving from somewhere like the United States or the United Kingdom. Within the EU, goods and vehicles already cross borders freely, so there is no customs duty to waive in the first place. VAT works in much the same way, and tends to come into play on imports from outside the EU.
The car is a different story: greek vehicle registration tax applies when a car is first registered here, wherever it has come from. So the exemption on that tax can be worth a substantial sum even if you are moving from another EU country and bringing your car with you. In short, the customs and VAT side mainly helps people arriving from outside the EU, while the car registration relief can help permanent movers from inside the EU too.
The key document is a relocation certificate, issued in your name by the competent Greek consular authority where you were living. Its date marks the official point of transfer, and it is valid for twelve months, during which your belongings can be cleared. Putting this in order early makes the rest of the process smoother.
There is a lot to look forward to in making Greece your permanent home: long warm summers, the sea never far away, and a daily rhythm that feels less rushed than the one you are leaving behind. The relief on your household belongings and your car simply makes getting there easier, taking some of the weight off the practical side of the move.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information and reflects the position at the time of writing. Tax and customs rules can change and depend on individual circumstances. For advice specific to your situation, please consult a qualified professional.
28.07.2026
As UNESCO recently announced, Mount Olympus – also known as the Home of Ancient Greek Gods, or Greece’s highest mountain – has been added to the list of World Heritage Sites. Of course, Greece welcomed the news with a wave of euphoria, as Mount Olympus is widely recognized for its cultural and natural significance.
14.05.2026
For many people who own, or plan to buy, a home in Greece, the journey is part of the experience. Some fly directly to Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, or Chania. Others prefer slower travel, combining trains, ferries, buses, and regional routes across Europe. Until now, however, planning a cross-border trip by train has often required patience, several booking platforms, and a healthy tolerance for uncertainty. A new proposal from the European Commission aims to make that process much simpler. The plan introduces a more unified system for booking cross-border journeys across Europe, especially train journeys involving more than one operator. The goal is clear: travellers should be able to search, compare, and book a complete journey through one platform, even when different transport companies are involved. For international buyers, second-home owners, and regular visitors to Greece, this could become an important step towards easier, more flexible travel across Europe.
07.05.2026
If you own property in specific areas of the Regional Unit of Rethymno in Crete, there is an important deadline to keep in mind. As of 30 April 2026, the posting of cadastral data begins for several areas in Rethymno, giving property owners the opportunity for the first time to review how their property has been recorded in the Hellenic Cadastre. This is an important stage in the cadastral process. It allows each owner to check the legal and technical details of their property before the records become final. In simple terms, this is the moment to confirm that your property has been correctly registered and, if something is wrong, to request a correction within the official deadline.
30.04.2026
Buying a home in Greece has always come with a long list of pleasures: sea views, sunny terraces, village squares, fresh fish by the water, and the small but serious joy of never being too far from a good bakery. Soon, for many destinations, there may be another reason to smile: better airports. Greece is preparing for a new wave of airport upgrades, with a major tender planned for 22 regional airports that are still under state management. The project is expected to mark the next chapter in the modernization of Greek aviation infrastructure, following the earlier upgrade of the 14 regional airports managed by Fraport Greece. For travellers, this means smoother journeys. For local communities, it means better connectivity. And for international property buyers, it could make certain areas of Greece even more attractive.
24.04.2026
Greece has long been associated with sun, sea, and unforgettable island landscapes, but Tripadvisor’s 2026 beach rankings offer a fresh reminder of just how powerful the country’s appeal remains. This year, Greece has made an especially strong impression, with four beaches appearing among the world’s top 15. Even more striking is the role of Crete. Two of the top three beaches in the world are located on the island: Elafonisi in second place and Balos in third.
A third Cretan beach, Falassarna, also appears in the global top 20, ranking 11th. Alongside them, Paleokastritsa in Corfu takes 14th place, giving Greece one of the strongest national showings in the ranking. At the very top of the list is Isla Pasión in Mexico, praised for its tropical scenery and distinctive natural shape. But while Mexico may hold first place, Greece clearly dominates the podium, with Crete claiming two of the three highest positions.
23.04.2026
Law 5293/2026 introduces a framework that redefines the role of the notary in property transfers in Greece. The notary is designated as a “one-stop shop” for the completion of transactions involving the transfer of property rights. The provisions apply to transfers arising from sale, donation, parental gift, or inheritance.
21.04.2026
Greece has announced that British travellers will be exempt from biometric checks when entering the country this summer.
20.04.2026
Syros, in the central Aegean, is being highlighted by international media as a compelling alternative to the more crowded Greek islands. British outlets, in particular, are presenting it as a destination that combines culture, architecture, and nature without the intensity of mass tourism.
