Compare Removals To Greece From UK
Compare & Save up to 70% off the Cost of Removals to Greece
Thanks to our trusted and reliable partner network, we can help you to save up to 70% on your removal costs to Greece. The country has a population of 10.64 million people who are spread across the mainland and its islands.
There are around 17,000 British expats currently living in the country. Popular locations for include Athens, Crete, and Thessaloniki. It’s an attractive country given its welcoming culture and interesting history.
Here at Compare My Move, we can connect you with up to 6 of our international removal partners. You just need to fill out our international moving form to receive and compare quotes from our partner network.
Which Shipping Option Do You Need?
When moving to Greece from the UK, it’s important to arrange your shipping in advance of your move. This helps to ensure your goods arrive on schedule.
Shipping furniture overseas can be costly. It’s important to ensure you are selecting the best option for you regarding costs, shipping requirements and time.
As the UK has left the EU, there are additional requirements you will need to meet when it comes to shipping. This is worth keeping in mind when choosing your shipping method. The main shipping options are:
- Shipping freight
- Road freight
- Part-load
- Air freight
One of these methods can be used, or a combination depending on your individual needs.
Shipping Freight
Shipping freight is the most popular mode of transport when moving goods to Greece. On average, it will take around 7-14 days to arrive. However, shipping times may be longer than this. There are 20 ports in Greece in total, which isn’t a surprise given there are many Greek Islands. The main port is The Port of Piraeus. Other ports include:
- Thessaloniki
- Volos
- Iraklion
- Vassiliko Chalkida
Most removal services offer 20ft and 40ft containers for shipping household goods. This is more effective than air freight as you pay for the size of the container rather than the weight of the goods.
Shipping freight does take the longest time to arrive. You will need to consider customs clearance times, charges and other potential delays too.
There are various shipping container sizes to choose from, making it cost-effective and ideal for larger moves. This means that you are only paying for the space you need.
Road Freight
Road freight is a useful option to consider if you’re looking to move to mainland Greece. However, it can be trickier if you’re moving to one of the Greek islands.
Road freight is great as you can select the size of the van you need, and your goods will be covered by Goods in Transit and Public Liability insurance.
On average, road freight to Greece will take around 4-7 days without express delivery. It’s the second fastest shipping option behind air freight.
Road freight is particularly cost-effective and a great option for those looking to ship goods on a budget. It’s useful for heavier and larger household goods.
Delays can occur with road freight as items will be shipped between countries where road access is not available. Border controls and other restrictions can occur as a result. Brexit is also a factor in increased road freight shipping times.
Part-Load
For those looking to ship fewer goods, part-load is the perfect option to consider. It allows you to share a container with other people. This helps to lower the overall costs as you’re only paying for the space you use. It’s a convenient solution.
However, as the container is shared, this means that delays and increased shipping times are more common. This is because different schedules and destinations need to be accounted for. On average, part-load will take up to 3 weeks to arrive in Greece.
Part-load can be used with any type of shipping option but is more commonly associated with sea and air freight. If you’re not in a rush to receive items, it’s a great option to consider.
Air Freight
Air freight is the most convenient option when shipping to Greece as your goods will arrive quickly. On average, it will take 1-3 days. There are 7 international airports in Greece. The main option is Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos). Popular airports include:
- Heraklion Airport N. Kazantzakis
- Thessaloniki Airport
- Rhodes Airport
- Mykonos International Airport
- Lemnos International Airport Hephaestus
- Santorini Airport
If you have fewer household goods that don’t weigh too much, air freight is a useful option. It’s better for last-minute moves or important items that you need to arrive quickly. There are limitations to the weight of items with air freight, so you will need to consider this before booking air freight as a shipping option.
Due to its quick transit times, air freight is a more expensive shipping option. However, you can use air freight alongside other shipping options if you want to save money.
Cost of Shipping Furniture to Greece
The average cost of shipping furniture to Greece is around £1,355.96 - £2,430.28. The total cost will vary depending on the number of items you have, the size of the containers used, and the items you’re shipping.
If you need to ship a vehicle to Greece, this will come at an extra charge, as will packing services. These will cost around £250 on top of the shipping costs.
| Container Size | Cost (£) |
|---|---|
| 20ft Container | £1,355.96 |
| 40ft Container | £2,430.28 |
*Data taken from DFS Worldwide (Commercial), MoveHub and MoverDB
Read more on How Much Do International Removals Cost?
What Documentation Do I Need?
As the UK is no longer part of the EU, additional documentations and steps need to be taken when moving to Greece permanently. To apply for permanent residency, you will need to submit the following documentation with your application:
- A valid passport
- Proof of work, income or marriage
- Travel Insurance
- List of shipping inventory
- Medical certificate
You should always have documentation, visas and permits to hand when entering Greece from the UK.
Visas and Permits
To visit Greece for less than 90 days in a 180-day period, you aren’t required to apply for a visa. If you are planning to stay in Greece for more than 90 days, you will need to apply for a Schengen or a Long-Stay Visa.
You can submit your visa application via the London Visa Application Centre. The length of time it takes for your visa to arrive will depend on the visa you have applied for. On average, it will take between 15-45 days for the visa application to be processed.
If the visa you have applied for allows you to remain in the country for over a year, you will also need to apply for a Greek Residence Permit.
Other popular overseas destinations
We also offer international removals to many destinations worldwide. Here are some other popular locations: