Moving from Germany to Greece
An inside the EU move where the road and the ferry, not customs, set the timeline. Free movement does the heavy lifting and the AFM does the rest.
Inside the single market this is a logistics move, not a customs one.
Germany and Greece are both European Union members, so the free movement of goods removes the customs wall that defines moves into countries outside the union. There is no import duty, no clearance broker, and no inventory valued for tax. What is left is logistics. A truck collects in Germany and drives south, either overland through Austria and the Balkans or down through Italy to a ferry from Ancona, Bari, or Venice across to Patras or Igoumenitsa. Door to door, one to two weeks is realistic, with the road distance and the ferry schedule being the main variables rather than any border.
The thing that surprises Germans is that the paperwork that matters is about settling you, not your sofa. The key number is the AFM, the tax identification number issued through the tax authority. You need it before almost anything practical, including a lease, utilities, and a bank account. Alongside it sits the AMKA, the social security number that opens healthcare and employment. As an EU citizen you do not need a visa or residence permit, only a registration once you settle. Get the AFM early and the rest of Greek life unlocks.
What a Germany to Greece move really costs in 2026.
Road freight is priced by volume and by whether you share a truck or take a dedicated one. These are indicative ranges in euros for 2026, not quotes.
Ranges are indicative for 2026 and exclude insurance, ferry surcharges, island delivery, and any difficult access charges such as stairs or a long carry. Summer is the busy season and costs more.
- +Best value for a studio or a partial home, you pay only for the space you use
- +Consolidated trucks run the Germany to Greece lane regularly
- −Your delivery date depends on the truck filling and on the ferry slot
- +Best for a full home or a firm delivery date, the truck is yours alone
- +Fewer handling points, so lower damage risk
- −You pay for the whole vehicle and the ferry even if you do not fill it
- +For a small box of essentials you need before the road shipment arrives
- −Priced by weight, so it is not for a whole household
Get moving quotes for Germany to Greece.
Tell us your home size and your timing and we put your move in front of vetted movers who run the Germany to Greece lane. Free, no obligation.
A realistic schedule for this route.
An EU move is quick, but the distance, the ferry, and any island delivery still need planning. A realistic schedule for 2026.
Survey and book
Have movers run a video or in home survey of your volume, then book. Confirm whether you share a truck or take a dedicated one, and whether the route runs overland or via an Italian ferry.
Sort and downsize
Decide what travels. Inside the EU there is no customs reason to cut volume, but every cubic metre you drop lowers the price, so this is purely a cost decision.
Pack and load
Movers wrap and inventory your goods and load the truck. You keep a copy of the inventory for your own record, since there is no customs filing to sign.
Drive and ferry
The truck drives south through Austria and the Balkans, or down through Italy to a ferry across the Adriatic. Distance and weather can shift the timing by a day or two.
Arrival and delivery
Your goods reach the Greek address and are delivered and unpacked. There is no clearance to wait on. Island delivery adds a further ferry leg.
Settle the admin
Apply for your AFM tax number through the tax authority, then your AMKA social security number, and register your residence. This is about registering you, not your furniture.
Moving household goods inside the EU.
Because Germany and Greece are both in the European Union and its customs union, your household goods move under the free movement of goods. There is no import duty, no VAT on the move itself, and no customs clearance for used personal effects travelling between the two countries. Your mover does not file an import entry, and you do not need a transfer of residence concession, which is the document that dominates moves into countries outside the EU.
That makes the move administratively light on the goods side and focused instead on establishing you in Greece. The first practical step is the AFM, the tax identification number issued through the Independent Authority for Public Revenue and its local tax offices. You need it for a lease, utilities, and a bank account. Next is the AMKA, the social security number that opens healthcare and formal employment, available through a citizens service centre. As an EU national you register your residence rather than applying for a permit. Keep proof of your move and your German departure in case any service asks.
The routes in for this corridor.
As a German national you are an EU citizen, so you enjoy free movement and do not need a visa or residence permit for Greece. The routine is registration, not application. These are the practical steps for this corridor.
As an EU citizen you can live and work in Greece without a visa or permit. After settling you complete a residence registration rather than seeking permission to stay.
If you remain beyond three months, you register your residence with the authorities, which confirms your right to live in Greece and supports access to services.
Day to day life runs on the AFM tax number and the AMKA social security number rather than a visa. Arrange both early, since leases, utilities, healthcare, and work depend on them.
Non EU family members of an EU citizen have their own route to join you in Greece, with documentation that proves the family relationship and your residence.
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 without customs, FIDI or IAM membership signals a mover equipped for a long international road and ferry route, with a German origin team and a Greek destination partner who can handle mainland and island delivery.
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 Germany to Greece?
For a two to three bedroom household by road, plan on roughly 3,000 to 7,000 euros door to door in 2026, depending on volume, whether you share a truck or take a dedicated one, the distance, and any island delivery. A studio on a shared load sits below that, and a large home above it. These are indicative ranges, not quotes.
How long does shipping take from Germany to Greece?
Five to nine days by road is typical for the transit, and one to two weeks door to door once booking, packing, the drive or ferry, and delivery are included. Island deliveries add a ferry leg, and the summer season runs busier.
Do I pay duty moving from Germany to Greece?
No. Both countries are in the European Union and its customs union, so used household goods move under the free movement of goods with no import duty, no VAT on the move, and no customs clearance. You do not need a transfer of residence concession.
What is the AFM and why do I need it first?
The AFM is the Greek tax identification number, issued through the tax authority. It is required for a lease, utilities, and a bank account, so it is usually the first task on arrival, followed by the AMKA social security number for healthcare and work.
Do I need a visa to move from Germany to Greece?
No. As a German national you are an EU citizen with free movement, so you do not need a visa or residence permit. For stays beyond three months you complete a residence registration rather than applying for permission.
Last reviewed: 25 March 2026. We refresh this guide as costs, customs, and visa rules change.