Moving from Ireland to Greece
A move from the cool, green Atlantic edge of Europe to the warm, unhurried south. Because Ireland is an island, your goods first cross to the continent by ferry, then travel the long road south to Greece, or sail as freight to a Greek port. There is no customs to clear, since both countries are in the European Union. The real work is the Greek admin, above all the tax number that daily life runs on. Here is the honest brief for this corridor.
Logistically this is a long European road move that starts with a sea crossing. Because Ireland is an island, your goods first travel by ferry to the continent, typically through a French or British port, then drive south through France and Italy to a ferry across to Greece, or overland through the Balkans, to your address. Some movers instead ship freight by sea to Piraeus, the large port near Athens. Door to door a dedicated truck usually takes two to three weeks, while a shared load that serves other moves along the way takes longer.
The reassuring part is customs, because there is none. Ireland and Greece are both in the European Union and its customs union and single market, so your household goods move as a free internal transfer with no duty, no import value added tax on the move, and no transfer of residence relief to claim, because there is no import to clear. What surprises Irish movers is how much Greek life waits on the AFM, the tax number, which you need before you can rent, bank, or connect utilities. Sorting that early is the real task of this move.
What it costs to move from Ireland to Greece.
What it really costs to move a household from Ireland to Greece in 2026, shown as indicative ranges by home size and shipping method. This is a long road and ferry haul with no customs, so volume, distance, and whether you share the truck drive the number most.
Indicative ranges for 2026 in euros, before full packing, premium insurance, and any storage. A shared load splits a truck and the cost with other moves, while a dedicated van or truck carries only your goods on your own schedule. These are not binding figures, so get a survey.
Four levers move the number. Volume dominates, because a shared load is priced by the space you fill, so a real declutter before the survey pays off most. Shared versus dedicated trades cost against timing, with a shared load cheaper but tied to other people's schedules and a dedicated truck pricier but direct. Distance and destination matter, since the ferry legs and the long drive make this an expensive route by road, and a Greek island destination adds a further ferry. And access at both ends matters, from an Irish house with easy access to a Greek town with tight streets and no lift.
A realistic schedule, working back from the sailing.
Work back from your move date. The route is long but predictable, so the real effort is lining up your Greek admin, above all the AFM tax number that everything else depends on.
Book the move and plan the route
Have movers survey your home and quote shared and dedicated options, then confirm the routing, by ferry and road through France and Italy, overland through the Balkans, or as sea freight to Piraeus. Confirm whether your Greek destination is mainland or island, since that changes the final leg and the cost.
Sort the Irish exit
Tidy up your Irish affairs, tell Revenue you are leaving, close or redirect utilities and services, and arrange your housing in Greece. Because this is an internal European Union move, there is no export customs paperwork for your used goods.
Prepare your Greek arrival
Read up on getting an AFM tax number and an AMKA social security number, and on registering your residence as a European Union citizen. Line up the documents you will need so you can move quickly once you land, since these unlock renting, banking, and work.
Load and travel
The crew packs and loads in Ireland and the goods head for the ferry and the road south, or sail as freight to Greece. Keep your own documents and an essentials bag with you, since you and your goods may arrive days apart on this long route.
Register and settle
Apply for your AFM tax number at the local tax office, register for an AMKA social security number, and complete the residence registration that European Union citizens make in Greece. Together these unlock employment, banking, healthcare, and a rental contract, so prioritise them in your first weeks.
Clearing your goods into Greece.
This corridor has no customs step for your used household goods. Ireland and Greece are both members of the European Union and its customs union and single market, so moving your home between them is an internal transfer of goods that already have Union status. There is no import duty, no value added tax charged on the move itself, and no transfer of residence relief to claim, because there is no import to clear.
A few categories still carry rules wherever you move inside the Union. Large quantities of alcohol and tobacco beyond personal use can attract questions, certain weapons, plants, and protected species items remain controlled, and bringing a car means re registering it in Greece with the local authorities. Pets travel under European Union animal health rules with a pet passport and up to date vaccinations.
So the practical task on this route is registration, not customs. Keep an inventory for your own insurance and claims, keep proof of your move for the residence registration, and budget time for the Greek formalities rather than for a border. On a long road and ferry haul like this, the freight and the paperwork to settle in are where your attention should go.
How people leaving Ireland actually move to Greece.
Ireland and Greece are both in the European Union, so Irish citizens move to Greece under free movement, registering rather than applying for a visa. These notes cover the common situations.
As an Irish citizen you have the right to live and work in Greece under European Union free movement. You move freely and then register your residence after arrival, with no visa required.
- Type
- Free movement
- Basis
- EU citizen
- Permit
- None needed
- Then
- Register residence
European Union citizens staying beyond three months register their residence and obtain a registration certificate, showing they are working, studying, or self sufficient in Greece.
- Type
- Registration
- When
- Over three months
- Proof
- Means or work
- Result
- Certificate
A non European Union spouse or family member moving with you applies for a residence card as the family member of a Union citizen exercising free movement, a smoother route than a standard visa.
- Type
- Family route
- Basis
- Family member
- Result
- Residence card
- Note
- Document checks
If you become a Greek tax resident you fall under Greek tax rules, and Greece offers some incentive regimes for new residents that are worth checking with an adviser before you move.
- Type
- Tax status
- Trigger
- Becoming resident
- Note
- Incentives exist
- Advice
- Professional
How to choose a mover for this route, with no names attached.
This site never names, ranks, or recommends a moving company. Instead, here is the neutral checklist that separates a safe international mover from a risky one. Apply it to every quote you receive.
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Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move from Ireland to Greece?
As indicative ranges for 2026, a 2 to 3 bedroom move runs roughly 4,500 to 6,800 euros as a shared load and up to 8,500 euros for a dedicated truck, before packing, insurance, and any storage. This is a long road and ferry haul with no customs, so volume, distance, and whether you share the truck drive the figure, with island destinations adding a ferry. Get a binding quote from a survey.
How long does it take to move from Ireland to Greece?
A dedicated truck usually takes two to three weeks door to door, crossing by ferry to the continent then driving south through France and Italy with a ferry to Greece, or overland through the Balkans. A shared load that serves other moves along the way takes longer, and an island destination adds a further ferry.
Do I pay customs duty moving from Ireland to Greece?
No. Ireland and Greece are both in the European Union customs union and single market, so moving your used household goods between them is an internal transfer with no duty, no value added tax on the move, and no import declaration. There is no transfer of residence relief to claim because there is no import to clear.
What is an AFM and how do I get one?
The AFM is the Greek tax identification number, issued by the tax office under the Independent Authority for Public Revenue, the AADE. You need it for renting, banking, utilities, and almost every official transaction, so it is one of the first things to arrange after arriving. You can start the process at the local tax office or, in some cases, electronically.
Do Irish citizens need a visa to move to Greece?
No. Under European Union free movement, Irish nationals move to Greece without a visa, registering their residence if they stay beyond three months. This is not immigration advice, so confirm the current registration steps with the official Greek source before you rely on them.
What should I sort out first when I arrive in Greece?
Apply for your AFM tax number, register for an AMKA social security number, and complete the residence registration that European Union citizens make in Greece. Together these unlock employment, banking, healthcare, and a rental contract, so prioritise them in your first weeks before everyday life can fully settle.