Greece · Healthcare
How the Greece healthcare system works — public vs private care, eligibility, and costs for residents and visitors.
AI-drafted, editorially reviewed. Confirm specifics with the official authority.
Greece provides public healthcare through the national system (ESY), funded via social-security contributions to EFKA. Access is not automatic on arrival: insured residents reach public healthcare through EFKA registration, and you affiliate through work or another qualifying status. EU visitors can use the European Health Insurance Card for necessary care, and private insurance and clinics supplement the public system rather than replacing it.
Greece provides public healthcare through the national system (ESY), funded via social-security (EFKA) contributions. Residents affiliate through work or other qualifying status; EU visitors use the EHIC.
- Insured residents access public healthcare via EFKA social-security registration.
- EU visitors can use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for necessary care.
- Private insurance and clinics supplement the public system.
- 1
Establish your qualifying status
Residents affiliate through work or another qualifying status. Identify which basis applies to you, because that is what opens the route into the public system.
- 2
Register with EFKA
Insured residents access public healthcare via EFKA social-security registration. Until that registration exists, the public route is not open to you.
- 3
Confirm contributions are flowing
The system is funded via social-security contributions, so check that yours are actually being paid and recorded under your registration.
- 4
Use the EHIC for short EU visits
EU visitors can use the European Health Insurance Card for necessary care. That is a visitor route, not a substitute for EFKA registration if you are settling.
- 5
Add private cover as a supplement
Private insurance and clinics supplement the public system. Decide what the private layer is for — speed, choice, or specific treatments — rather than buying it as a replacement.
- Qualifying status for affiliation identified
- EFKA social-security registration completed
- Contributions confirmed as paid and recorded
- Local ESY facility identified
- EHIC carried if visiting from the EU
- Interim cover arranged before registration completes
- Purpose of any private layer decided
- Ministry of Health
Ministry of Health — public health system.
- EFKA
EFKA — social-security and health affiliation.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get access to Greek public healthcare?
Through EFKA social-security registration, having affiliated on the basis of work or another qualifying status. Access is not automatic on arrival, so establish your basis and complete the registration early.
Can I use my EHIC in Greece?
EU visitors can use the European Health Insurance Card for necessary care. Treat it as a visitor route though — if you are settling in Greece, it does not replace registering with EFKA.
Do I need private insurance in Greece?
Private insurance and clinics supplement the public system rather than replacing it. It is worth having interim cover while your EFKA registration is being completed, and after that deciding what the private layer is actually for.
Government portals
- Ministry of Migration and Asylum — Residence permits for non-EU nationals, including the Golden Visa and digital-nomad routes.
- Ministry of National Economy and Finance — Tax policy, the AFM tax number, and the budget framework.
- GEMI Business Portal — The General Commercial Registry — company formation and public company records.
- e-EFKA — Social Security — Social-security registration, contributions for employees and the self-employed, and pensions.