Moving to Germany from Greece

Tax Residency and Greek-German Obligations

As a Greek citizen moving to Germany, you become subject to German income tax once you establish tax residency there. Germany treats you as a tax resident if you maintain a dwelling (Wohnsitz) or spend more than six consecutive months in the country ^[1]. Greece will typically stop taxing your employment income once you are no longer resident, but any Greek-source income (rental property, Greek pensions, investment returns) may remain taxable in Greece.

Double taxation relief.

Germany and Greece have a bilateral double taxation agreement that assigns taxing rights and provides relief through credit or exemption methods ^[1]. Employment income is generally taxed in the country where the work is performed. If you work in Germany for a German employer, Germany taxes that income and Greece exempts it.

German income tax.

Germany uses a progressive tax system with rates rising steeply at higher income levels, plus a solidarity surcharge. Church tax (Kirchensteuer) applies if you register a religious affiliation during your Anmeldung. Greek Orthodox registration triggers church tax. Register as "konfessionslos" (no religious affiliation) to avoid it, even if you are a practicing Orthodox Christian. The church tax is a German institutional arrangement and does not fund the Greek Orthodox Church.

Greek pension income.

If you receive a Greek pension while living in Germany, the bilateral tax agreement determines which country has taxing rights. Greek state pensions are typically taxed in Greece. Private pension income may be taxed in Germany as your country of residence. Verify the applicable treaty article with a cross-border tax advisor.

Social security coordination.

Under EU Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009, your Greek social security contributions are fully portable ^[2]. You pay into one country's system at a time (determined by where you work), and all periods count toward benefit eligibility in both countries. Greek EFKA contributions are preserved and aggregated with German Rentenversicherung periods when calculating your pension.

Self-employment.

Self-employed individuals registered in Germany pay income tax and trade tax (Gewerbesteuer) on German-source business income. EU coordination rules determine which country's social security system you contribute to ^[2].

Healthcare Transition

German mandatory health insurance.

Health insurance is mandatory in Germany. You cannot legally reside there without it. Germany operates two systems: public (GKV) and private (PKV). Employees earning below the insurance threshold (approximately EUR 69,300/year in 2026) must enroll in public insurance.

Transferring from Greek public insurance.

As an EU citizen, your Greek EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) provides temporary coverage in Germany for short stays and emergencies. For permanent relocation, the EHIC is not sufficient. Once you start employment in Germany, you must enroll in German health insurance. Your employer handles registration with a public insurer.

EU social security coordination.

Under Regulation 883/2004, your insurance periods in Greece count toward benefit eligibility in Germany ^[1]. If you worked and paid into Greek social insurance (EFKA) for several years, those periods transfer. You are covered by one country's system at a time, determined by where you work.

Public insurance costs.

Public health insurance premiums are shared between you and your employer. Coverage includes doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs (with small copays), mental health treatment, maternity care, and rehabilitation. Non-working spouses and children under 25 are covered free through family insurance (Familienversicherung).

Private insurance.

Available to employees above the income threshold and to self-employed individuals. Premiums are based on age and health status, not income. Shorter wait times and broader coverage, but premiums rise with age and each family member needs a separate policy. Switching back to public insurance after age 55 is nearly impossible. For most Greek employees, public insurance is the practical choice.

Prescription continuity.

Germany uses different brand names for many medications. Bring documentation from your Greek doctor listing generic names and dosages. Most medications commonly prescribed in Greece are available in Germany under European brand names.

Right to Work and Residence for EU Citizens

As a Greek citizen, you benefit from EU freedom of movement. You do not need a visa, work permit, or residence permit to live and work in Germany ^[1]. You can enter with a valid Greek passport or national identity card and start working immediately.

Anmeldung (address registration).

Within 14 days of moving into your apartment, you must register your address at the local Burgeramt (citizens' office) ^[1]. You need your passport or Greek ID card, your rental contract, and a landlord confirmation form (Wohnungsgeberbestatigung). The Burgeramt issues a Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate), required for opening a bank account, enrolling in health insurance, and registering with the tax office.

Tax ID (Steueridentifikationsnummer).

After your Anmeldung, the Bundeszentralamt fur Steuern automatically mails a tax identification number within a few weeks. Your employer needs this number for payroll. Until it arrives, your employer can request a temporary tax class from the local Finanzamt.

No residence permit required.

Your Greek passport or ID card, combined with Anmeldung registration, is sufficient proof of your right to live and work in Germany ^[1]. After five years of continuous legal residence, you can apply for a permanent residence certificate (Bescheinigung des Daueraufenthaltsrechts) ^[2].

Professional qualification recognition.

For regulated professions (medicine, nursing, teaching, engineering, law), you must have your Greek qualification recognized in Germany. The EU Directive on Professional Qualifications (2005/36/EC) facilitates mutual recognition across member states ^[2]. Greek medical degrees are well-established in the German recognition system, as Greece has been a significant source of doctors for Germany. For unregulated professions, formal recognition is not required.

Naturalization.

German citizenship is available after five years of legal residence, B1-level German, passing the naturalization test, and financial self-sufficiency ^[3]. Germany permits dual citizenship ^[3], so you would not need to renounce Greek nationality. The application costs EUR 255 per adult ^[3].

Banking and Finances

Opening a German bank account.

You need a German bank account for salary deposits, rent payments, and direct debits (Lastschrift). Major banks include Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, and the local Sparkasse network. Online banks like N26, ING Germany, and DKB offer English-language interfaces and faster onboarding. To open an account, bring your Greek ID card or passport and your Anmeldung confirmation.

Schufa credit score.

Germany uses the Schufa credit scoring system. Your Greek credit history does not transfer. You start with no Schufa record, which is treated as neutral. Opening a bank account, getting a phone contract, and paying bills on time build your Schufa profile. Landlords routinely check Schufa when screening tenants. Request a free copy once per year from meineschufa.de.

Keeping Greek accounts.

Both Greece and Germany use the euro, which eliminates currency conversion costs for transfers between your accounts. SEPA transfers between Greek and German banks are free or near-free and settle within one business day. Maintain your Greek bank account for any Greek-source income, property obligations, or family support payments.

Pension portability.

Under EU Regulation 883/2004, your Greek pension contributions (EFKA) count toward benefit eligibility ^[1]. You will not lose Greek pension rights by moving to Germany. At retirement, you claim pensions from both countries based on the contribution periods in each. Each country pays a proportional pension.

German retirement contributions.

German employees contribute approximately 9.3% of gross salary to the state pension (Rentenversicherung), with the employer matching 9.3%. Your combined Greek and German pension periods determine your total benefit, coordinated through EU regulations.

Remittances and family support.

Euro-to-euro transfers between Greece and Germany are SEPA payments with minimal fees. If you support family in Greece, set up a standing SEPA transfer from your German bank account.

Moving Logistics

Shipping household goods.

Greece to Germany is a manageable overland move. Road transport from Athens to Munich takes approximately two days. Moving companies operating the Greece-Germany corridor offer door-to-door service. Costs are lower than transatlantic shipping. As an intra-EU move, there are no customs duties on personal belongings.

No customs duties.

Moves between EU member states are free of customs duties and import VAT on personal belongings. You do not need a customs declaration for household goods, furniture, or personal effects.

Driving license.

Your Greek driving license is valid in Germany indefinitely. EU driving licenses are mutually recognized and do not require conversion. If your license expires, you renew it through the German Fahrerlaubnisbehorde with your Greek license and standard documentation.

Vehicle registration.

If you bring your Greek-registered car, re-register it at the German Zulassungsstelle (vehicle registration office) within a defined period of establishing residence. You need Greek registration documents, German insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung), a valid TUV inspection (Hauptuntersuchung), and your Anmeldung confirmation. Greek vehicles meet EU standards and pass the HU inspection without modification.

Apartments.

Housing in major German cities is extremely competitive. Vacancy rates in Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt are below 2%. Landlords require Schufa-Auskunft, income proof, previous landlord reference, and ID copy. For your first months, consider a furnished temporary rental. The Greek community in German cities, particularly Munich, Stuttgart, and the Ruhr area, can help with informal housing networks.

Pets.

Dogs and cats traveling within the EU need an EU pet passport, ISO-compliant microchip, and valid rabies vaccination. No quarantine applies. Germany requires dog registration and annual dog tax (Hundesteuer). Some breeds are restricted depending on the Bundesland.

Cultural Adjustment

Language.

Greek and German are not mutually intelligible. While many Greeks study English (and some study German), daily life in Germany operates in German. Government offices, landlords, doctors, and most workplaces use German exclusively. B1-level German is required for permanent residence documentation and B1-B2 for citizenship. Start language preparation before your move.

The Greek community in Germany.

Germany has one of the largest Greek diaspora communities in Europe, a legacy of the Gastarbeiter (guest worker) recruitment agreements of the 1960s. Cities like Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, and the Ruhr area have established Greek churches, cultural centers, restaurants, and grocery stores. This community provides a strong support network for newcomers.

Workplace culture.

German workplaces are direct and structured. Meetings start exactly on time. Feedback is explicit. The standard workweek is 35-40 hours with 25-30 vacation days. Overtime is less culturally expected than in Greece's private sector. Sick days are separate from vacation and fully paid for up to six weeks.

Bureaucracy.

German bureaucracy is thorough and often paper-based. Greek documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas) must be translated by sworn translators (beeidigte Ubersetzer) in Germany. Apostille your Greek documents before departure. Budget several weeks per document for certified translations.

Sundays and quiet hours.

Nearly everything is closed on Sundays (Ladenschlussgesetz). This is a notable adjustment from Greece, where Sunday shopping is more common in tourist areas. Quiet hours (Ruhezeiten) are strictly enforced, typically prohibiting loud activities between 10pm and 6am and all day on Sundays.

Weather.

Germany is significantly colder and cloudier than Greece. If you are moving from Athens or the islands, the transition to German winters (November through March, temperatures near or below freezing, limited daylight) requires adjustment. Invest in proper winter clothing. Seasonal Affective Disorder is common among southern European expats.

Food and dining.

German cuisine differs significantly from Greek. Fresh produce quality in Germany is generally lower than in Greece, especially for olive oil, tomatoes, and fruit. Greek grocery stores in major cities stock familiar ingredients. Mediterranean restaurants are common, though quality varies. Dining out is less central to social life than in Greece, and portions tend to be larger.

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