Relocations

Moving Residence to Greece

Certificate for domicile transfer exemptions

Individuals (citizens of any European Union member State, Greek citizens or persons married to a Greek citizen) that are residents abroad and wish to settle permanently in Greece, are exempt from import duties on their personal belongings (furniture, car e.t.c.).

Permanent residence is the place where an individual is resident for at least 185 days in a 12-month period and where he holds personal and professional bonds. The right for domicile transfer exemptions is founded on proof of residence and work of the applicant for a two-year period before settling in Greece or before the issuance of the relocation certificate:

If you have any further questions, you can also contact the relevant customs service at:

Documentation needed:
- Personal Statement (signed at the Consulate)
- Passport or Identity Card 
-Residence permit card
- Residence permit Card in Greece is required for third country (non-EU) nationals. Also, if you rent the house you live in Greece you have to submit the leasing contract or if you own the house you have to submit the title of ownership.
- Proof of work in Switzerland {Tax clearance (Quellensteuer- or Steuerdomizil Bestaetigung) or Payroll statements (Lohnausweis vom Arbeitgeber Unterzeigchnet at least for the last two years before settling permanently in Greece or before the issuance of the relocation certificate.
- Proof of social security in Switzerland.
- Certificate of termination of work.
- Registration and de-registration document from your Canton. 
- In the case that the applicant is a company owner or a self-employed person, the necessary supporting documents are defined as follows: company registration, tax clearance (self assessment tax return), invoices or pay slips, combined, for the last two years before settling in Greece.
-Other documents (e.g., utility bills, bank statements, etc.) proving the place of residence.

In case of a private use car, motorbike or motorcycle, pleasure boat or private aircraft are transported, the means of transport must have been in use for at least six (6) months prior to the issuance of the certificate of residence, and the following additional documents are required:
- Vehicle Registration in the name of the applicant issued by the relevant Swiss authority covering a period of at least six months before the application date.
- Driver’s license valid for the above-mentioned period.
- Other documents proving the 6-month use of the vehicle.
- Insurance policy.

It is pointed out that, if the cars do not meet the last effective Community Directive, with regard to the emissions of pollutants and exhaust fumes, or they are of conventional technology, the persons concerned must contact the Ministry of Transports and Communications (tel. 210-6508933) in order to ascertain the possibility of their registration.

All personal belongings (household effects, means of transport, other items), according to the conditions mentioned above, must be cleared once all together or even partially, before the expiry of the 12-month period from the date of issuance of the repatriation certificate. That is to say, they must be presented to the Customs House for clearance, at the latest within (12) months from the date of issuance of the repatriation certificate.

More specifically, the means of transport, within one month from their entry in Greece, must be presented to the Customs House for clearance, on the condition that this period does not exceed the effective duration of the repatriation certificate (12 months from its issuance).

Νote: copies of all the above supporting documents are required from the person concerned.

The application for the certificate for domicile transfer exemptions may also be submitted to the relevant H2 directorate of the MFA in Greece, Akadimias 3, Athens, tel. +30 210 3682360, email: or YDIS of the MFA in Greece, Αg. Dimitriou, Dioikitirio, 54123 Thessaloniki, tel. 0030 2310270092, e-mail:

For more information, the persons concerned may contact the Customs Regions and the 18th Directorate of Customs Economic Systems, at the following telephone numbers:
Customs Region, Attica               (+30) 210-4511288
Customs Region, Thessalonica      (+30) 2310-531220
Customs Region, Patra                (+30) 2610-339870
Customs Region, Kavala              (+30) 2510-836919
Customs Region, Volos                (+30) 24210-39186
Customs Region, Dodekanissos    (+30) 22410-29291
Customs Region, Corfu                (+30) 26610-39392
Customs Region, Heraklion          (+30) 2810-302616
Customs Region, Lesvos              (+30) 22510-28311
Customs Region, Syros                (+30) 22810-85132
18th Directorate of Customs Economic Systems:
a) Department of Tariff Exemptions
(+30) 210 6987502  -503-504-505
b) Department of Provisional Import and Repatriates
(+30) 210 6987498  -499-500-501
c) Department C
(+30) 210 6987508  -509-514

You are kindly requested to fill the application of relocation and the Certificate for domicile transfer exemptions and send via e-mail to our office (they will be signed at the Consular Office during your appointment).

Consular Fees: The equivalent of 120 EUROS in CHF

Payment in credit-debit card or cash.

For documents that authentication of the original signature is required, it is priced at 10 Euros for Greek/EU citizens and 30 Euros for third country nationals equivalent in CHF.
Appointment: Pre-booked appointment telephone. 031 356 14 14.