Documents
The paperwork spine
Greece runs on two numbers, and nothing works without them — no bank account, no lease, no health insurance, no employment contract, no utility connection, no mobile contract. Get the AFM first; the AMKA depends on it.
Last verified 12 September 2026 · 1 day ago · checked by spec-import Every figure on this page was checked against its source on this date.
- AFM — tax number Nine digits, issued once, valid for life, free in person. Available to non-residents, so you can get it before you move.
- AMKA — social security number Eleven digits. Healthcare and employment depend on it. Non-EU nationals need a residence permit first; EU nationals do not.
- The first 60 days The whole sequence in order, tickable and printable.
The two numbers
AFM (Αριθμός Φορολογικού Μητρώου) is your tax number: AFM length Nine digits, issued once, valid for life.9 — source and verification date
AMKA is your social security number: AMKA length Eleven digits. Required for healthcare and employment.11 — source and verification date
Taxisnet, gov.gr and the Wallet
Once the AFM is active, register for Taxisnet credentials and a gov.gr account — these unlock online tax filing, certificates and most digital services. Then install the gov.gr Wallet app, which stores the digital ID, AMKA card, European Health Insurance Card and driving licence. Many pharmacies and doctors accept the digital AMKA directly from it.
One piece of local knowledge worth having: KEP offices are materially faster than individual ministry offices for standard services such as certified copies and attestations. When you have a choice, choose the KEP.
The ADET
For non-EU nationals, the residence permit card itself is the ADET, a biometric card issued by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum. It becomes your main legal identity document in Greece — for banking, leases and services — and it allows short-stay travel elsewhere in the Schengen Area. See the residence routes for how to get one.
Apostilles and certified translations
Foreign documents generally need two things before a Greek authority will accept them: an apostille, which certifies that a foreign public document is genuine, and a certified translation into Greek by a translator Greek authorities accept. Where the issuing country is not party to the Hague Convention, legalisation through a consulate replaces the apostille and takes considerably longer.
Both take weeks, and both are the commonest reason an application is sent back. Start them the day you decide to apply. Each route page lists which of its documents need which.