The Greek healthcare system is run by the Ministry of Health. The government pays for most of the costs, but out-of-pocket payments are about 33%, based on the European Commission’s Country Health Profile 2023 report. This means that healthcare in Greece is not entirely free, some services will still need additional payment. However, private healthcare works alongside state-funded healthcare, and most Greek residents use both.
If you’re thinking of relocating to Greece, one of the most important requirements you will need to meet is private health insurance. Our experts at Global Citizen Solutions, who have worked with thousands of clients from across the world, have noticed that healthcare is one of the most asked questions when looking for a country to relocate to.
This guide explains everything you need to know about how healthcare works in Greece, from how the system is organized to who qualifies for public healthcare, how to register, and more. .
Healthcare in Greece: Key Takeaways
How the Greek Healthcare System is Organized
The Ministry of Health is the authority responsible for the Greek healthcare system. Public healthcare is funded through social health insurance and the government. Additionally, the National Organization for Healthcare Services (EOPYY) runs the public healthcare services.
Private healthcare is available to everyone living in Greece regardless of residence status. Most private hospitals, clinics, and doctors work with the public system, so many residents rely on both.
According to Eurostat, Greece spends 48.2% on healthcare based on the 2024 data. On the other hand, the European Commission’s Country Health Profile 2023 report showed that out-of-pocket healthcare payments sit at about 33%. So, in practice, it means that even people with access to public healthcare will often pay something extra for the services they are given.
Who can use public healthcare in Greece?
In Greece, there are four things that determine your access to the public healthcare system. The first is your residence status, whether you are employed, your insurance record, and if you are listed as dependent on some who already had health insurance.
| Your situation | Likely pathway | What decides access |
|---|---|---|
| Self-employed in Greece | Public health insurance through self-employment | Social insurance contributions and registration |
| Employee in Greece | Public health insurance through employment | Insurance contributions and registration |
| Dependent of an insured person | Coverage through an insured family member | Proof of family relationship and the insured person’s status |
| Non-EU resident | Depends on residence permit and insurance status | Residence permit conditions and the responsible authority |
| EU visitor | Healthcare access through your home country’s EHIC or other applicable form | Home-country insurance and EU coordination rules |
| Privately insured or self-paying | Private healthcare providers | Insurance policy terms or direct payment |
How Greek Healthcare Works for Employees, Self-employed People and Dependants
As an employee or a self-employed person, you enter the public healthcare system through social insurance, not a separate application.
For people who are employed in Greece, they are registered through their employer, so their social contributions will be directly deducted from their salary. For employees the process is automatic. But for those who work for themselves, they will have to register and pay contributions themselves. If you have dependents, then they will be linked as your insured family members.
Private insurance is not always required. But if you are a foreign national looking to relocate to Greece, it will be a strict requirement. For instance, someone applying for the Greece Digital Nomad Visa, will need private healthcare to live in the country.
Greek Healthcare for EU Visitors and Residents
If you are visiting from another EU country, you can use the insurance that you already have. Make sure to carry your European Health Insurance Card and confirm with your insurer that it will be covered while you are in Greece. If you move to Greece, your legal status will change, meaning you will have to confirm with the National Health Services Organization how you will be covered.
How to Register for Health Services in Greece
Step 1: Get your tax number (AFM)
For most legal administrative processes in Greece, you will need an AFM number, which is your tax identification number. Therefore, the first step to starting your healthcare registration is applying for your tax number at the tax office in your area.
Step 2: Apply for your social security number (AMKA)
The AMKA is a unique number that you are given to access health services in Greece and it is the Unified Social Security Fund ( e-EFKA) (Unified Social Security Fund) that is responsible for issuing it. You can apply for your Greek social security number in two ways.
- At an e-EFKA office. You can book your appointment by calling 1555.
- You can also apply directly at the AMKA (as KEP in Greece), or at the Citizens’ Service Center.
For your appointment, make sure to bring your passport, your AFM certificate, and your residence permit or proof of your residence application.
Step 3: Register with e-EFKA (Social Security)
The next step is to register with the social security (e-EFKA), but how you register depends on your employment status.
- Employees are registered automatically through their employer, and the social contributions are taken straight from their salary.
- Self-employed people are required to register for e-EFKA on their own and make consistent contributions.
- Non-EU self-employed people are required to have private health insurance to qualify for their residence permit, so this step won’t be needed.
Step 3: Access your healthcare through EOPYY
When your e-EFKA registration is active, you will automatically be connected to the EOPYY, which is the National Health Services Organization. This means you officially have access to public healthcare in Greece. For your doctor, hospital, or health center visits, make sure you show your AMKA number.
Private Healthcare and Insurance: What to look out for before moving to Greece
Many foreigners use private healthcare insurance because it is one of the main requirements for a lot of residence permit applications. Aside from that, private healthcare comes with shorter waiting times and access to doctors and English-speaking staff. This also means you or your policy are responsible for making your private healthcare payments.
When comparing private insurance, especially when moving abroad, make sure to look at:
- What the policy covers and what it excludes
. - Whether it covers pre-existing conditions
. - Which hospitals and doctors are in its network
. - Whether it pays the provider directly or reimburses you
. - Whether it covers care outside Greece
.
Emergency Care, Pharmacies and Prescription in Greece
When you are in an emergency, you can call 112. This is the this is the EU-wide number. For an ambulance, you call 166. Emergency services are available to everyone in Greece, regardless of your residence status. But how you are billed after is determined by your legal status and the insurance you hold. It is best to keep all your insurance documents with you at all times.
For foreign nationals who have a prescription from their home country, another important thing to check beforehand is whether the insurance covers the medicine, what you will be required to pay yourself, and confirm with a Greek doctor if your medication is available in the country.
Mental healthcare in Greece
Mental health care in Greece is also under the national public health system (ESY). Services are organized through local mental health units (M.PS.Y.), and what is available can be different from one area of Greece to another. For non-urgent treatment, you need valid health insurance through registration with EOPYY, the national healthcare provider. Residency applicants who start with private insurance should check that their policy covers mental health care, as some policies limit or exclude it.
Healthcare Planning in Greece for Residency Applicants
For most foreign nationals who are planning on moving to Greece, the reality is that they will start off on private healthcare insurance, because it is one of the main requirements for any residence permit under Greece’s Migration Code (Law 5038/2023).
For example, someone on the Greece Golden Visa will treat their healthcare and visa application as separate entities. They will need to private insurance to qualify, but at the point that they become permanent residents, then they can weigh their options between public and private healthcare.
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