HOWTO No 5 - Our Guide To Obtaining An EU Residence Permit In Corfu Based On Information From The British Consul - March 2002

 Disclaimer. The information contained within this document is offered without any guarantees of accuracy. Should you choose to act upon information contained herein, you are advised to confirm it with the relative authorities before taking any action.

PLEASE! Check any 'Stop Press' notes at the end of this article.

 This information has been obtained from an announcement made in the March 2002 issue of 'The Corfiot', an English language magazine published in Corfu. Please note that despite the similarity in the title of this website and the magazine, there is no connection.

Please note that the information contained within this guide relates ONLY to citizens of the EU.

The Aliens Police have announced new requirements for obtaining residence / work permits in Corfu. They are less demanding, with the medical and psychiatric examinations deleted.

The Police have underlined that the penalties for non-observance of the requirements can he very high.

Requirements
For the granting of an EU Residence Permit for businessmen and women

  1. 2 x photocopies of valid passport
  2. 3 x passport-sized photographs
  3. Certificate from the Tax Office showing declaration to open the business (can he obtained from the Prefecture, 2nd floor)
For the granting of an EU Residence Permit for salaried persons
  1. 2 x photocopies of valid passport
  2. 3 x passport-sized photographs
  3. Employer's declaration, stamped by the Work Inspection Authority (can be obtained from the prefecture, 4th floor)
For the granting of an EU Residence Permit for couriers of Tour Operators
  1. 2 x photocopies of valid passport
  2. 3 x passport-sized photographs
  3. Employer's declaration (obtained by the representative / agent in Corfu) stamped by the Work Inspection Authority (can be obtained from the Prefecture, 4(h floor)
  4. Contract of employment (letter confirming employment) from the Tour Operator in the foreign country.
For the granting of an EU Residence Permit for European spouses of Greek nationals
  1. 2 x photocopies of valid passport
  2. 3 x passport-sized photographs 2 x copies of marriage certificate 4 Formal declaration (obtained from local kiosks) completed by both Greek and European spouse that they are married, and are not separated but still residing together.

For the granting of an EU Residence Permit for Europeans who do not have any activity in Greece (neither married, employed or involved in business)
  1. 2 x photocopies of valid passport
  2. 3 x passport-sized photographs
  3. Documentation that they have independent means of living during their residency in Greece, and will not have to rely on the Greek welfare system
  4. General health insurance that covers all possible dangers /eventualities in Greece.

Personal Experience
Tricia and I fall within the last category. Applications was made to the Security Police whose offices are above the EuroSpar store. The entrence is to the right of the store. Application for our residence permits was easy. You need to complete a supplied application form that was in English, Greek and French. We found the officer that dealt with us both helpful and courteous. (It may have helped that we were equaly as courteous to him!)

Photocopies of our passports and passport photos had been obtained prior to our arrival in Greece. As I had retired and had documentation outlining my pension and the amount of money that I had received upon retirement, we had no problems on this front. I would suggest that an up to date bank statement might be accepted in the absence of such a document but you would need to take advice. A statement that we had general health insurance was accepted.

Tricia had to complete the same documentation. As she is not of independent means, she basically had to sign that she was a kept woman!

Our Residence Permits were ready for collection within a little over one week. We thought that this was pretty good, considering that Easter intervened.

I assume that the procedure outlined in this guide is correct for any part of Greece and relates to any EU citizen. Clearly, citizens of non EU countries will need to seek the advice of the relevant authorities. Obviously location where the application is made will vary outside Corfu.

Stop Press! 9th April 2003
We are indebted to Nick Whitehouse for the following information. Apparently when he approached the Security Police in Corfu, He was advised that if he was not employed and was an EU citizen, that he did not require a residence permit. However, please note that you will require one if employed in Greece. You will also need one if you wish to register a car here.

As this situation appears 'fluid', you are strongly advised to seek clarification appropriate to your own circumstances.

Enjoy Corfu!