Moving from France to Greece
An internal EU move with no customs, where the real work is not the border but the paperwork that turns you into a resident once you land.
No border to clear, but a tax number and a social security number to chase.
France to Greece is an internal European Union move, so there is no customs barrier on your household goods. Most shipments travel by road across the continent, frequently with a ferry leg from an Italian Adriatic port such as Ancona, Bari, or Venice into Patras or Igoumenitsa, then on by road to Athens, Thessaloniki, or the islands. Door to door, one to three weeks is realistic, and the bill is driven by volume, by whether you book a dedicated truck or share a trailer, and by island delivery where a second ferry is involved.
The thing French movers underestimate is the Greek administration on arrival. The free movement of goods means your furniture sails through, but you become a functioning resident only once you hold a Greek tax number, the AFM, and a social security number, the AMKA. Those two identifiers are the keys to a bank account, a rental contract, utilities, and healthcare. The move itself is the easy part. Plan the paperwork as carefully as the truck.
What a France to Greece move really costs in 2026.
Road and ferry freight is priced by volume and by whether you take a dedicated truck or share a trailer. These are indicative ranges in euros for 2026, not quotes. A binding pre move survey is the only route to a real figure.
Ranges are indicative for 2026 and exclude insurance, ferry surcharges, island delivery, and any long carry or storage. Summer is peak season for European road moves and Greek ferries, so booking ahead protects price and date.
- +Best value for a studio or a partial home, you pay for the space you use
- +Regular departures from France toward southern Europe and Greece
- −Delivery date is a window, because the trailer is shared and routed via other stops
- +Best for a full two to three bedroom home or a fixed delivery date
- +Direct routing with one ferry leg, fewer handling points
- +Simpler island delivery because the load stays together
- +For the essentials you need in Greece before the road shipment lands
- −Priced by weight, so it suits a few boxes, not a household
Get moving quotes for France to Greece.
Tell us your size and timing. We pass your request to vetted international movers who run the France to Greece lane, and you compare them on your own terms.
A realistic schedule for this route.
An internal EU move is simple at the border, so the planning goes into the ferry and the arrival paperwork. This is a conservative schedule for France to Greece in 2026.
Survey and book
Have movers run a video or in home survey, then book. Confirm a dedicated truck or a shared trailer, the ferry crossing the mover plans, and whether island delivery adds a second ferry.
Sort and start the paperwork
Sort what is worth shipping. Begin arranging your Greek tax number, the AFM, because almost every arrival step depends on it, and identify where you will register your residence.
Pack and load
Movers wrap and inventory your goods and load the truck. Because this is an internal EU move there is no customs entry, but keep your inventory for your own records and insurance.
Road and ferry
The truck drives south across Europe with an Adriatic ferry leg into Patras or Igoumenitsa, then on to your Greek address. There is no customs barrier on the goods.
Delivery and access
Your goods are delivered and unpacked. Island deliveries add a domestic ferry, so confirm access and timing with the mover.
Become a resident
Secure your AFM and your social security number, the AMKA, then open a bank account and register your residence. EU citizens record their stay after three months. These steps unlock housing, utilities, and healthcare.
Moving household goods from France to Greece within the EU.
France and Greece are both in the European Union, so the free movement of goods applies and there is no customs duty or import declaration on your used household effects. You do not need a transfer of residence relief because there is no border formality to relieve. Keep a clear inventory anyway, because it protects you on insurance and gives you a record if anything is damaged or missing on a long road and ferry journey.
The work moves to arrival. To live in Greece you obtain a tax registration number, the AFM, issued by the local tax office, the DOY, and a social security number, the AMKA. These two identifiers run daily life, from signing a lease to connecting power to registering with a doctor. EU citizens staying beyond three months record their residence with the authorities. None of this is a customs matter, but it is the real administrative load of a France to Greece move, so treat it as part of the project.
The routes in for this corridor.
As French nationals you move under EU free movement, so there is no visa to obtain. The routes below are about registering your residence, not applying for permission. Confirm the current procedures before you rely on them.
As an EU citizen you have the right to live and work in Greece without a visa. You record your residence with the authorities once your stay passes three months.
Moving for a job is straightforward under free movement. Your employment and your AFM and AMKA anchor your status, with registration handled after arrival.
Greece is a popular retirement destination for the French. You register your residence and arrange healthcare cover, with the tax number central to everything.
Free movement lets you base yourself in Greece while working remotely. You still register residence and obtain the AFM for tax and contracts.
How to pick a mover for this route, without the guesswork.
We do not rank or recommend individual companies. We teach you the criteria that separate a safe international move from an expensive mistake, then put your request in front of vetted movers who run this lane.
Check the trade affiliation. Membership of FIDI or IAM is the clearest signal a mover is financially screened and bound to industry standards for international household goods. Even with no customs, FIDI or IAM membership signals a mover who handles the road and ferry logistics of a France to Greece move reliably, including island delivery where a second crossing is involved.
Insist on a binding pre move survey. A real video or in home survey of your volume is the only honest basis for a price. A quote given without one is a guess that tends to grow on moving day.
Compare like for like. Read what each quote includes: packing, materials, customs clearance, destination delivery, stair or long carry charges, and insurance. The cheapest headline number is rarely the cheapest move.
Understand the insurance terms. Ask whether cover is full replacement value or depreciated, what the excess is, and how claims are handled. Read the valuation clause before you sign.
Read recent reviews for this corridor. A mover can be excellent locally and weak on international shipments. Look for verified reviews that mention the actual route and customs experience.
Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move from France to Greece?
For a two to three bedroom home, plan on roughly 3,500 to 6,500 euros sharing a trailer and 5,500 to 10,000 for a dedicated truck door to door in 2026, depending on volume, the ferry leg, and whether you deliver to the mainland or an island. A studio sits well below that. These are indicative ranges, not quotes.
How long does it take to move from France to Greece?
The road and ferry leg runs four to eight days, and one to three weeks door to door once booking, packing, and delivery are included. Island deliveries add a domestic ferry, and summer is the busy season, so build in a buffer.
Do I pay customs duty moving from France to Greece?
No. Both countries are in the European Union, so the free movement of goods applies and there is no customs duty or import declaration on your used household effects. Keep an inventory for insurance, not for customs.
What is an AFM and do I need one?
The AFM is the Greek tax registration number, issued by the local tax office. You need it to open a bank account, sign a lease, connect utilities, and deal with the authorities. Most arriving residents also obtain a social security number, the AMKA. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Can I take my car from France to Greece?
Yes. As an internal EU move you can drive or ship your car, then deal with the Greek registration and road tax once you settle. Confirm the current vehicle registration steps with the Greek authorities, because timelines and paperwork change.
Last reviewed: 5 May 2026. We refresh this guide as costs, customs, and visa rules change.