Removals UK to Greece

Greece draws British movers for reasons that are almost entirely its own. The combination of Mediterranean climate, affordable property by Western European standards, outstanding food culture, and a pace of life that stands apart from northern Europe has made Greece one of the most consistent destinations for British retirees and lifestyle movers for decades.

Athens, however, has changed the profile of who moves to Greece. A growing technology and entrepreneurship scene, an influx of international investment, and the city's remarkable cultural infrastructure are increasingly attracting younger British professionals alongside the established wave of island and peninsula retirees. Thessaloniki, Greece's second city, draws academics, artists and those who prefer a more grounded urban experience. And the islands, from Crete's year-round communities to Corfu's long-established British expat presence, continue to attract movers at every stage of life.

The UK-to-Greece route is one of the longer European removals journeys from London, typically around 2,000 miles by road through France, Italy and either direct ferry to Patras or overland through the former Yugoslavia. Greece's geography adds an additional layer of complexity for island deliveries: furniture for Crete, Corfu, Rhodes or any of the smaller islands requires ferry or interisland freight coordination beyond the road leg. Since 1 January 2021, Greece is an EU member state and the UK is a third country.

Every household goods removal from the UK to Greece now requires formal customs clearance with AADE (Ανεξάρτητη Αρχή Δημοσίων Εσόδων, the Independent Authority for Public Revenue). Qualifying for Transfer of Residence relief, which exempts your belongings from Greek import VAT at 24%, requires specific documentation prepared correctly before the vehicle or shipment crosses the Greek border.

RMV deals with Greek customs on your behalf, preparing the Transfer of Residence declaration, the valued inventory and the agent authorisation. Our AIM accreditation and company background are on About Us.

Greek Customs for UK Movers

Since Brexit, all removals from the UK to Greece require customs clearance with AADE. To import household goods duty-free, you must qualify for Greek Transfer of Residence relief.

AADE must receive a formal declaration for household goods coming into Greece from outside the EU. Transfer of Residence relief lets British nationals moving their main home to Greece avoid Greek import VAT (24% of declared value), as long as they qualify and the documents are ready before the shipment reaches the Greek border or port of entry.

Under the EU rules Greece applies, you qualify if you lived outside the EU for at least 12 months before moving, used the goods at your UK home for six months or more, import them within 12 months of becoming Greek resident, and do not sell or transfer them within 12 months.

Greece uses the euro. As a British national you need a residence permit to stay beyond 90 days in any 180. Since Brexit you must also register with the Greek authorities and obtain an AMKA (social security number) and AFM (tax number). We do not arrange visas or permits, but we plan your shipment around your confirmed Greek residency documents, which AADE needs for Transfer of Residence clearance.

Paperwork for Moving to Greece

These are the documents Greek Transfer of Residence clearance requires. Blank forms and a pre-departure check come as standard.

• Passport copy, identity and nationality confirmation for Greek customs (AADE)
• Greek proof of residence: rental contract, property deed or Greek municipal registration (Δήμος) confirmation
• AFM (Greek tax identification number) and AMKA (social security number) registration confirmation where available
• An itemised inventory with estimated second-hand values for each category of goods, signed and dated by you
• Completed Transfer of Residence declaration for Greek customs, covering import duty and VAT exemption
• Your signed confirmation of more than six months' ownership and use in the UK, and that nothing will be sold or transferred in the first 12 months after import
• Signed form appointing RMV as your direct representative with AADE
• Proof you lived in the UK for at least a year before moving: council tax bills, bank statements or a UK Certificate of Residence
• CMR form, completed at the point of collection by the driver

For island deliveries, additional ferry or interisland freight documentation may be required. RMV coordinates all island delivery logistics as part of the removal booking. Document errors are one of the primary causes of delays at Greek ports and border crossings. All packing materials for a Greece move are available through our Packing Shop.

Who We Move to Greece

Retirees and Lifestyle Movers to the Islands and Peninsulas

Greece remains the most popular Mediterranean destination for British retirees. Crete's year-round communities, particularly around Chania, Rethymno and Heraklion, have well-established British expat populations. Corfu's northwest coast has been home to British residents for generations. The Peloponnese, Rhodes, Kefalonia and Zakynthos all have active communities of British permanent residents. These relocations typically require full-load removals: the complete contents of a two to four-bedroom property, often including furniture that has been in storage since a previous UK sale. Our storage service frequently bridges the period between UK property sale and Greek property readiness.

Professionals and Entrepreneurs Moving to Athens

Athens' technology ecosystem has grown significantly in recent years. Initiatives like Elevate Greece, the Hellenic Startup Association and a growing venture capital community have established Athens as a genuine Southern European technology hub. British professionals in fintech, software, shipping and energy are among the most frequent movers. Professional relocations to Athens are typically one to three-bedroom apartment contents. Our man and van service handles smaller volumes, and our removals service manages full household relocations with customs coordination.

Academics and Students Moving to Athens and Thessaloniki

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Athens University of Economics and Business attract British academics and researchers. Thessaloniki also has a significant arts and cultural community that draws British creatives. Student and academic moves are typically small in volume and well-suited to part load or groupage services.

Families Relocating to Greece

British families moving to Greece permanently, particularly to Athens' northern suburbs (Kifissia, Ekali, Psychiko) and to Crete and the Ionian Islands, generally require full-load removals including furniture, white goods and personal effects accumulated over many years. The Greek international school network is well-developed, which supports family relocation decisions. Pre-departure storage through our storage service is used where the UK property is vacated before the Greek property is ready.

Transport Options for Greece

RMV offers three transport formats for UK-to-Greece removals. Greece's geography, including its islands and peninsulas, affects delivery options more than most European destinations.

Full Load (Exclusive Vehicle)

Your belongings occupy the entire vehicle from UK collection to Greek delivery. The most common route is London to Dover, through France and Italy to Ancona or Bari, then ferry to Patras or Igoumenitsa, with final road delivery to your Greek destination. Full load to Athens typically takes 5–7 days door to door; to Thessaloniki 5–7 days; to Crete (via Patras and Heraklion ferry) 7–10 days; to Corfu 6–8 days. Full load is standard for three-bedroom or larger household moves and for any move requiring schedule certainty.

Part Load and Groupage (Shared Vehicle)

Your belongings are consolidated with those of other customers moving to Greece or Southern Europe. You pay only for the cubic metreage your goods occupy. Part load delivery to Athens typically takes 8–16 days door to door; to island destinations allow additional time for interisland freight connections. Part load is the standard choice for studios, one-bedroom apartments, student moves and lifestyle movers who are not relocating an entire household.

Pre-Departure Storage

Where the UK departure date and Greek arrival date do not align, our storage service holds packed contents in secure UK storage. For Greece moves, where property transactions can run to longer timescales than in the UK, pre-departure storage is especially commonly used. Many British buyers complete on their Greek property months after vacating their UK home.

Removals to Key Greek Cities, Islands and Regions

RMV delivers to mainland Greece, all Greek islands and all regions. Estimated door-to-door transit times from London are provided below.

• Athens (Αθήνα): the capital and the top choice for British professionals, entrepreneurs and expats. Full load 5–7 days; part load 8–16 days.
• Thessaloniki (Θεσσαλονίκη), Greece's second city and the cultural capital of northern Greece. Full load 5–7 days; part load 8–16 days.
• Crete (Κρήτη), Greece's largest island and the most popular British expat destination in the Greek islands. Full load 7–10 days including ferry from Patras; part load 10–18 days.
• Corfu (Κέρκυρα), the Ionian island with one of the longest-established British communities in Greece. Full load 6–8 days; part load 9–16 days.
• Rhodes (Ρόδος), the Dodecanese island popular with British retirees and lifestyle movers. Full load 8–11 days including Aegean ferry connection; part load 12–20 days.
• Kefalonia (Κεφαλονιά) and Zakynthos (Ζάκυνθος), the Ionian islands popular with British families and retirees. Full load 7–9 days; part load 10–18 days.
• Peloponnese (Πελοπόννησος), including the Mani peninsula and the regions around Kalamata and Nafplio. Full load 6–8 days; part load 9–16 days.
• Patras (Πάτρα), western Greece's main port city and a common delivery point for western Peloponnese and Ionian connections. Full load 6–8 days; part load 9–16 days.

All times include customs clearance and any ferry connections. Island deliveries require coordination of mainland port offload and island freight, which RMV manages as part of the booking. For Greece-specific moving guides and relocation advice, visit our blog.

Your Complete UK-to-Greece Moving Solution

RMV covers every stage of a Greek move: survey, packing, customs documents, the Italian–Greek ferry, road freight and delivery on the mainland or any inhabited island.

The physical move, ferry booking included, is handled by our removals service. If Greek and UK dates differ, our storage service steps in; our man and van service is ideal for smaller volumes; and our handyman service prepares your UK home.

You can buy packing materials for a Greek move from our Packing Shop. Our blog covers relocating to Greece, the About Us page explains our AIM membership, and the international removals page lists all our European and worldwide services.