Getting a Residency Permit in Crete

This Residency Information Page is from the Completely Crete Making a Living in Crete Starting a Business Section.

Apparently, and despite being members of the EU, British passport holders wishing to stay in Crete (ie Greece) for more than three months, need to obtain a Residence Permit. How the Brexit will affect this in the future is unclear.

Although you are unlikely to face the full weight of the Greek Judicial System if you overstay without one, if you want to buy a car, it is essential. Even if you do not intend to be tax resident to stay more than 183 days.

To get a residency permit you will have to visit your local police station with passports, 2 photocopies of the passports, and 4 passport-sized photographs.

Although we did not intend staying longer than 4 months we wanted to buy a car so we were obliged to get the Permit.

This is our experience...

We were not at all sure where the police station was, as we were new to the area. Also, crime is virtually non-existent in Crete so we had had no need to seek it out in the past.

We did find the police station in the village and entered into a room with an open plan office. A television was showing Greek daytime TV with hints and tips on cooking, fashion and the latest music. Several Greek orthodox icons adorned the walls.

We thought we’d entered the wrong building as there were no uniformed police officers to be seen. Instead three young men, dressed in jeans, T-shirts and trainers were chatting, drinking café frappes and glancing at the TV.

We wondered where the police officers were and were just about to ask the young men. They WERE the police officers!

After entering our details onto a computer, much stamping of paperwork, signing of forms, and handing over 4 euros, we were now official residents of Crete and we had the papers to prove it.

Although the process was simple to us, we have heard of people who have had other experiences.