Auswandern

Auf einen Blick: Erste Schritte

Land & Leute - Beschluss gefasst!

WEATHER IN GREECE

With more than 250 days of sunshine a year, you can literally benefit from a Mediterranean climate all year round in Greece.

GREEK WAY OF LIFE

Oikogenia - Patris kai Thriskia

Proud, warm, traditional, extremely sociable. Love their country, your family, the music, dances and food. The Greek way of life is strongly influenced by tradition, culture and the Greek Orthodox Church.

FOOD

The Mediterranean cuisine is one of the healthiest diets in the world. Fresh ingredients, and especially the high-quality olive oil used in large quantities, make dishes deliciously digestible and healthy at the same time.



COST OF LIVING

With an average cost of living that is at least 20-50% lower than the Central European average, Greece is proving to be a cost-attractive destination. The less a tourist magnet, the cheaper the cost of living.

LOCAL

The Greeks have developed a unique reputation for hospitality and generosity. Filoxenia – a love for strangers – and you will immediately feel at home here.

CULTURE

As one of the oldest, most influential and most diverse cultures, Greece is the product of cultural and political encounters of the confluence of ideas, customs, knowledge and peoples in southern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean since ancient times. An acquaintance with the most important characteristics makes your arrival in Greece easier.

    Arbeiten in Griechenland

    The so-called "remote working", working via cloud systems from the Internet, has received enormous growth in recent years.

    Digital nomads typically work on the go and, thanks to the Internet, can carry out their work independently of a fixed place of work.

    Some European countries have recognized this new development and sometimes offer very attractive bonuses if you move your place of residence.

    Greece has two programs to attract digital nomads. The application form is only available in Greek - we would be happy to do this for you!

    1. The income tax reduction of 50% has been active since the beginning of 2021 for a period of 7 years - but only for certain nationalities - and for at least 2 years if residence in Greece is mandatory.

    • No tax residency in Greece for the last five out of six years
    • Available for EU/EEA citizens, or from a state with which an administrative cooperation agreement in the tax area with Greece.
    • 50% reduction in income tax and social security contributions. The top tax rate will normally be 44% for earnings of EUR 40,000 or more and will therefore be reduced to 22%.
    • Tax exemption for residential property (real estate transfer tax 1st residential property), as well as private car use (motor vehicle tax).

    2. The "Digital Nomads VISA" for digital nomads for non-EU/EEA citizens has been available since the beginning of October 2021 (Law 4825/2021). This makes it possible to work in Greece for a foreign employer or for your own company based abroad from Greece.

    • Duration of the visa: 1 year with the option of extending twice to a total of three years.
    • Cost of the visa: 75 EUR
    • Proof of income: EUR 3,500 per month plus 20% for spouse/life partner and 15% for each additional child
    • Another |advantage|: Once you have received the visa, you can also travel to all other EU countries.

    The programs launched make moving to Greece economically attractive. But are there the infrastructure requirements to be able to work digitally?

    The internet connection tends to be fast in larger cities as well as rural, tourist areas, but significantly slower on smaller islands and remote areas.

    Greece has all the requirements that digital nomads love: space & freedom, reasonable cost of living, lots of sunshine, good food, decent internet speed, lots of history and culture.

    With the Digital Nomads Visa, Greece would like to send you the message: "We are waiting for you warmly!"

    CoWorking Spaces can be easily researched on the Internet.

    We also offer this offer in Almyri (Corinthos in the Peloponnese) and we would be happy to welcome you.

    Ruhestand in Griechenland

    There are many convincing arguments to spend a fulfilling retirement in Greece. Affordable costs of living, a healthy Mediterranean climate, and an open Greek welcoming culture are, in addition to the excellent healthy cuisine, a lot of culture and history, a attractive magnet for emigration.
    The recently announced tax benefits for foreign pensioners, which we will discuss in more detail later, make the most beautiful country on the Mediterranean extremely attractive.
    • POPULAR REGION: PELOPONNESE
    Peloponnes, Korinth

    Greece consists of 80% mainland, the rest is made up of more than 3,000 islands, although not all of them are inhabited. Both types of land masses are, for the most part, very well developed. Many emigrants are looking to be close to big cities, and the Peloponnese region is particularly suitable here due to its proximity to the capital Athens. Short distances to good medical care, airports (Athens, Kalamata) and no ferry connections, which are only accessible to a limited extent outside of the season when visiting the island.
    Well-known illustrious names on the Peloponnese such as Nafplio (the former capital of Greece), the cultural cities of Mycenae, Epidauvros, Sparta or the island of Pilos are additional attractions that more than support the choice of the Peloponnese as the selection region. Far away from the tourist hot spots, you will still find lonely beaches, overwhelming nature, olive groves, herds of goats and sheep and tiny mountain villages.

    • LIVING COSTS

    With around 1000-1500 EUR, depending on the region and requirements, you can live well in the Peloponnese. The cost of living is on average 50% cheaper than in Central European countries. The choice of place of residence understandably determines the costs incurred.

    • IMMIGRATION

    Europeans enter Greece easily with their ID card or passport. There are special VISAs for so-called third countries, and we can provide individual advice here. If you want permanent residence, you must apply for a so-called residence card after three months. This usually takes place at the local police or immigration office. To immigrate to Greece, sufficient financial resources (tax assessment, pension assessment, private assets, etc.) must be available to issue the residence card.) be detected. When you register for the first time you receive a yellow residence card, and after 5 years you receive a blue permanent residence card.

    • HEALTH INSURANCE
    1. LEGALLY INSURED: Within the EU, there are social security agreements between the member states. This offers the following advantages:  European pensioners who want to live permanently in Greece must submit an application to their health insurance company for health benefits abroad, but remain insured in their original health insurance company. Once approved, foreign pensioners receive health services free of charge, which also apply to locals.
    2. PRIVATE INSURED: Pensioners who are privately insured in Germany and would like to live permanently in Greece should clarify this individually with their private health insurance company.
    3. GRANTY + PRIVATE INSURANCE: Covering health costs is somewhat different for pensioners. You can obtain this information from the relevant authority in your federal state.

    The quality of medical care is guaranteed in all cases. In addition, you can find pharmacies everywhere in Greece, even in the smallest village, which are all marked with a green cross. Medicines are generally cheaper in Greece.

    • PENSION RECEIPT

    A German pension can easily be transferred to a Greek bank account. As part of the SEPA area in the EU, domestic transfers take just as long as transfers from Germany to Greece. This means that pension payments can also be maintained in Germany.

    Paying bills such as rent, electricity, insurance is possible with a German bank account. A large number of cash machines (ATM), even if there is no bank on site, guarantees a reliable supply of cash at all times.

    If you still want to open a cheap account in Greece, you can, for example, open an account with German deposit protection at a German online bank, provided you live in Greece. We would be happy to advise you on this in more detail.

    •  TAXES

    According to the double taxation agreement (DTA), Greece is one of the countries that are allowed to tax statutory pensions from Germany if the center of your life is in Greece and you are resident there. In the case of civil servant pensions that come from public funds in the Federal Republic of Germany, the source country of the pension (Germany) has to comply with DBA Art.12 paragraph 3, however, still has the right to tax.

    DTA Greece Article XII i.dF 18.04.1966 – Article XII Pensions and Pensions
    (1) Pensions and pensions (other than pensions and pensions referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3) received by a resident of a Contracting State from sources within the other Contracting State may be taxed only in the first-mentioned State.
    (2) Pensions and pensions paid from public coffers of the Kingdom of Greece or one of its local authorities may only be taxed in that State.
    (3) Pensions and pensions that are paid from public coffers of the Federal Republic of Germany, its states or their local authorities can only be taxed in this state.

     Source: Agreement DBA

    In 2020, Greece introduced a flat tax rate for foreign pensioners. This law stipulates that pensioners who transfer their tax residence to Greece will benefit from a flat income tax rate of just 7 percent for 15 years. One caveat is that pensioners have not been tax residents in Greece for the last five of the past six years. The law is aimed at new emigrants and not at pensioners who already live in Greece.

    Pensioners with a small pension in Germany should, however, calculate very carefully whether emigration is even worthwhile for tax reasons. In Germany, for example, there is the basic allowance.As of 2021, this is 9 for single people.744 euros and 19 for married couples.488 euros annual income. If the gross pension is below this amount, no taxes have to be paid in Germany. Accordingly, wealthy pensioners in particular are likely to benefit from the “Happy Retirement Program” in Greece. It applies to all income, including from real estate rentals and dividends.

    • CONCLUSION

    Emigration to Greece is worthwhile because it is one of the cheapest countries in the European Union. We, the team at We Love Greece Consulting, will be happy to support you in all your matters regarding your emigration and your harmonious arrival in Greece.


    We Love Greece Consulting

    Die Wahl der Unterkunft: MIETE

    Outside metropolises such as Athens and Thessaloniki, you can hardly find any tall residential buildings and mostly industrial buildings are located in the outskirts. Living in smaller cities and rural areas is certainly more attractive for many.

    The housing market is sometimes difficult due to low availability . As in other European countries, rental prices depend on the popularity of the city districts.

    There is no official rent index, such as in Germany, and the amount of rent for rentals is freely set. The rent level is still very low compared to other Western European countries. So you can live inexpensively in Greece.

    The rental deposit is legally set at two months' rent; the landlord does not have to deposit this in a separate account (trust account). It is common practice not to pay rent to the landlord for the last two months before moving out, in order to ensure that the previously paid deposit is "repaid", as one cannot always be sure that the landlord will pay it out when moving out.

    The basic rule is: when you move out, the rental property must be returned in the same condition in which it was taken over.

    Like German tenancy law, Greek tenancy law is also subject to private autonomy. Landlords and tenants can generally formulate rental agreements freely in consultation. However, there are several special features in Greek law regarding rental agreements.

    The rental or rental is valid for at least three years (Law 1703/1987), even if the agreement is for a shorter period or for an indefinite period. However, a contract term of less than three years can be agreed due to private autonomy. The background is to protect tenants.

    In the case of shortened long-term tenancies, termination by the landlord can only be terminated by law in very limited cases (e.g. personal use).

    Permissible rent increases are legally determined by the statistics office (Εθνική Στατιστική Υπηρεσία της Ελλάδος), which are based on the current cost of living. Of course, the same applies here: as part of the private autonomy of rental agreements, rent increases that deviate from this can also be agreed individually.

    If you are interested in a rental property, we look forward to providing you with promising advice.

    We Love Greece Consulting

    Die Wahl der Unterkunft: KAUF

    Before buying a property in Greece, you should be clear about the reasons for the purchase. Holiday home, second home or retirement property? Buying property abroad can be an excellent investment. Real estate prices in Greece are currently still very low and have only recovered moderately after the catastrophic ten-year economic crisis.

    After you have found a house, the property must be carefully questioned and examined.

    A lawyer must check the land register entries to ensure that there are no rights of third parties on the property being purchased (debts, community of heirs, etc.) or that the property is generally available for purchase (no building permit available, etc.).

    For example, trees on a property may belong to another owner, so you would have to grant them lifelong access rights.

    It is also highly recommended to involve a civil engineer who will inspect the property and check for any construction defects.

    EU citizens are not subject to any restrictions when buying a property in Greece, only in border areas a permit from the local authorities is required (this is usually issued automatically).

    Non-EU citizens have various restrictions when buying real estate in certain regions for security reasons - the border regions on the mainland, as well as the islands of Lesbos, Chios and Samos. Special permits are possible, but very high bureaucratic effort, high costs and long waiting times make this practically impossible in practice.


    We Love Greece Consulting

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