Health Insurance and Healthcare for Golden Visa Holders in Greece

Every applicant for the Golden Visa needs health cover, and many ask whether they can also use Greek public healthcare. This guide separates what the sources agree on from what they do not.

What is required

Sources consistently say that private health insurance is required for the residence permit, for each applicant including family members, and that the policy should cover the period of the permit. In the cost model of our calculator a policy is priced by age band, per person: about €88 up to 19 years, €95 for 20 to 40, €109 for 41 to 60, €145 for 61 to 65 and €165 for 66 to 70. These are planning figures, not a quote: the insurer, the benefits and the age at filing change the price.

Public healthcare: sources disagree

• Some sources say that because private insurance is mandatory, Golden Visa holders are generally excluded from enrolment in the public insurance system.
• Other sources say that holders can apply for a social security number (AMKA) and enrol in the public insurer if they are eligible, and that this depends on individual circumstances, such as working and paying contributions.
• Several of the pages that give the clearest answers are consultancy Q&A pages, so we do not treat them as settled.

The practical reading: plan on private cover, treat public access as something to check for your specific situation, and ask a Greek lawyer in writing.

Choosing a policy

1. Check that the policy meets the requirements the office sets for the permit, not only a general travel-insurance standard.
2. Compare what it covers: hospital stays, outpatient care, emergency cover, pre-existing conditions.
3. Look at the age bands, because renewal costs rise with age.
4. Keep the policy certificate for the file: see the documents checklist.

If you move to Greece

If you become a Greek tax resident and start working or paying contributions, your access to public cover may change. This links to the question of tax residence and of working in Greece.

What it adds to the budget

For a family the insurance is small next to the property: see the worked examples in the family cost guide.

This material is informational and is not medical, insurance or legal advice.