I just wanted to remind anyone who uses Facebook that we have a Symi Dream page there. From time to time I share things on that page from other FB friends and groups that I don’t necessarily put on here; videos, photos and news etc. I have permission from various friendly folks to do that and to share some of their images here, but if you’re not already a follower on FB, you might like to follow so you can see these extras. The Symi Dream Facebook page is here. https://www.facebook.com/SymiDream/, Please give a like and a follow and spread the Symi word around.
I nipped out on Wednesday afternoon to grab a couple of local shots in the village, as I need to stock up on my photos-to-post files. Passing Georgio’s I noticed that the island’s new Metropolitan (diocesan bishop) was having lunch at Georgio’s with the Bishop of Kos, our mayor, opposition leader and priests from the island. Manolis was trying to persuade me to take a photo as I passed, but I thought it a little intrusive. The Metropolitan took up office recently and has been out and about a great deal meeting not only the clergy but also us locals, having a (soft) drink in the bars and chatting to his flock, which I think is the right way to go about things, but then it’s not really my subject. He seems to be very popular and has attended many events on the island already.
There are more to come. On 8th May we have our VE day parade and services, and that’s to be followed, I am told, by the official opening of the new landing jetty on the south side of Yialos. That’s the kind of thing that gets covered (shared) on the Symi Dream Facebook page – I see someone’s photos or videos and post them there. Meanwhile, there’s been a slight breeze which has made things feel much more like they usually do at this time of year, after the recent hot spell, but it’s still 20 degrees in the courtyard at seven in the morning. I found some old photos from last year, dated early May, and they were off the water running off the roof, the sterna overflowing and the drainage pipes doing their best to rid the courtyard of a deluge. There’s still time for some top-up rain before the real summer hits!
Moving to Symi? Here’s a Short Guide on Importing Your Belongings Into Greece
Symi island
Is a move to Greece imminent for you and your family? Perhaps you’ve decided to relocate from the U.K., before Brexit goes into effect and makes the process more complicated. Or, maybe you’ve recently landed a job in the country, and will be making the nation your home for the foreseeable future. You may simply be retiring or going on a long-term adventure instead – and have always wanted to live in idyllic Greece.
Whatever your specific situation, moving to another country brings with it an abundance of logistical hurdles, required documentation and the possibility of import duties and fees. To help you successfully navigate through this process, and learn what type of bureaucratic hoops you’ll encounter – here is a short guide to importing your goods and vehicle into the country.
Are There Import Duties On Your Household Belongings?
Duty Exemption Is Available
Being hit with a duty just for the privilege of importing your household goods into the country, seems like a slap in the face. After all, you’ve already paid for all of these items – yet it feels like you’re being required to pay for them again.
Fortunately, Greece has not implemented mandatory import duties, provided that you fulfill certain requirements. According to the highly respected International Association of Movers – if your permanent residence has been abroad for at least 2 years before importing your shipment of used household goods into Greece, it can be duty-free.
Documents demonstrating your residency elsewhere could be requested by customs, so be prepared to submit these. Acceptable paperwork for this purpose include your home or apartment lease agreement, utility bills, tax returns or others. You must also show you’ve had no monetary ties in the country for the space of two years, to be eligible for duty-free importation.
If you successfully meet all of these requirements, be aware that you must get in touch with the Greek Embassy (or Consulate) in your home country before leaving (1).
What Documents Do You Need to Import Your Household Belongings?
Specific Regulations
Before delving into the required documentation to import your household goods, there are some customs regulations you should know about. You must be at the port in person with your passport in hand, when trying to clear your shipment with customs. If your move to Greece was precipitated for employment reasons, then you will have to pay value-added tax (VAT) on all your belongings.
This is provided you are importing your goods from a country outside of the EU. Relocation for other reasons besides employment don’t include this additional VAT cost – which is helpful if you’re moving to Greece for more adventurous reasons.
Finally, know that all the goods which you bring into the country, must be brought out with you upon leaving. If you fail to re-export all of your goods, then you’ll be hit with customs duty at the time of your departure (2).
Necessary Paperwork
It appears that only used household goods are eligible for duty exemption, though this isn’t specifically stated in the sources consulted. If that’s the case, customs may require proof of their used status. Additional documents include the standard fare, such as your passport, Bill of Lading or Air Waybill and a full packing list. Keep in mind that every person in your family must present their passport, and these must have been issued within the 2 year time requirement for duty-free importation. If not, then your previous expired passports must also be shown.
Additional Documents
You may also need a T2L Form (if it applies to your shipment) and you’ll need a customs Declaration Form. A “Certificate of Repatriation” is evidently required for duty-free importation from countries outside the EU. Though repatriation means the return of a citizen, apparently this form is used even if you’ve never been a citizen of Greece (3).
Additional documents include an Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) application, declaration form or number – and this is seemingly required by individuals, not just shipping companies or businesses (4). Your Greek Residence Permit and your VAT ID number must also be submitted to customs, before your shipment can be cleared. In order to receive a VAT ID number, you’ll need to visit a Greek tax office nearest to your new place of residence within the country (5).
After seeing the volume of specific documents and forms required to successfully clear your shipment with customs – you’ll find that hiring a trustworthy international moving company will make the process far easier and issue-free. For this reason, many expats choose to go this route, rather than attempting to navigate this complex operation on their own.
Are There Import Duties On Your Vehicle?
Duty Exemption is Available
You have a couple of options when importing your vehicle into Greece, though the long-term one is likely to be your preferred choice. If you wish to bring in your vehicle on a temporary basis, you can import it duty-free for as long as six months in duration. In order to do so, you only have to enter Greece under tourist status.
However, since you’re likely planning to relocate for longer than this timeframe, the second option is long-term importation. If you have the Certificate of Repatriation required to import your household goods duty-free, this same document enables you to import your vehicle free of import duty as well. You’ll still need to purchase a Greek license plate for your vehicle in most cases (for non-EU countries). Also, luxury tax may apply, depending upon the value of your specific vehicle.
Other Requirements
Just like duty-free importation of your household belongings, you’re required to be at the port of entry in person, before customs will authorize release of your goods. Further, your vehicle must have been owned and used by you for at least 6 months in the country abroad where you lived, to be eligible for duty-free importation (6).
Your vehicle must also be under four years old and below a certain mileage limit. Sources disagree as to whether this limit is less than 50,000 miles or 50,000 kilometers (7). With the correct amount being uncertain, you should contact Greek customs to learn which number applies.
What Documents Do You Need to Import Your Vehicle?
In addition to items like your passport, you’ll need some specific documents in order to import your vehicle into Greece. You must show Greek customs officials your Vehicle Road License, which proves that you’ve remitted the required road tax in the vehicle’s country of origin. Also, you must submit both the title and registration of the vehicle to customs.
Documented proof of insurance is necessary, along with a valid Driver’s License. Your vehicle is required to be included on your Household Goods Inventory as well (8). Finally, you may need to obtain a Certificate of Origin from your local Consul (presumably the Greek Consul or Embassy in your origin country) – though not all sources have this as a requirement (9).
Some balcony shots today taken on Tuesday. Also happening today (Tuesday) is Koukoumas, the old tradition of discovering who your husband will be via a jug of water, jewellery, salty pies and singing. If we can get there, we’ll try and get some photos. It’s also the first of May as I write, which means it’s the day for collecting wildflowers and putting them on your gate until the feast of St John (not sure which St John). Must also try and remember to do that.
Tomorrow, there’s going to be an unusual blog post, a guest post by someone who specialises in moving abroad. I don’t mean he does it regularly, but his company advise on moving your belongings to Greece generally, and it’s an interesting read. But that’s tomorrow. Today, here are the rest of the balcony photos.
Just to clear up a few things on last week’s minutes, as it were: Saturday’s post was written in a hurry and not checked, so ignore those typos, and, re the Plaza Hotel, yes you’re welcome to use it to drop luggage if you ask (mention your Symi connection), but you really ought to have a drink and use the facilities in return. And now to drop in something completely non-Symi related, mainly to complete a discussion I was having with Basschick: “Louis VIII the Lion (French: Louis VIII le Lion; 5 September 1187 – 8 November 1226) was King of France from 1223 to 1226. He also claimed the title King of England from 1216 to 1217. Louis VIII was born in Paris, the son of King Philip II of France and Isabelle of Hainaut, from whom he inherited the County of Artois.”
Claimed, not crowned, so not really, and probably nothing to do with the next royal baby, and there we are. Back to normal service…
Just looking from the balcony yesterday morning and I was able to see several private yachts coming and going, catamarans and those white ‘Sunsail’ ones. Neil, having been to Yialos and back, reported that the cafés were fairly busy with morning coffee drinkers, and there had been only the Spanos boat in so far that day. I also noticed a large group of people coming off it on Sunday and Saturday, but then there was a wedding or baptism or something taking place over the weekend, at least one. Georgio’s was busy on Saturday night when we were treated to a meal out at the Trawler – who gave us a wonderful meal at an excellent price, plus an extra jug of wine.
It made me think, there are two ways of eating here in Greece (probably many more, but for the purpose of this…) The three of us, on Saturday, opted for a meze meal, six small dishes between us. That’s a fair way of doing it, as we chose two each and shared, thus giving us all the chance to try a bit of everything. You can also go for the more British format which is to have a starter and then a main and maybe be a little Italian afterwards and go for a dessert elsewhere, though many restaurants also serve desserts; depends where you are. After having a starter, I find it hard to cram in a main course, so it’s one or the other for me, especially if going for a pork chop from a grill. Have you seen the size of the ‘dino-burgers’ we have here on Symi, and elsewhere in Greece? I swear they come from some pretty huge pigs. One of those and I’m fed for the next 24 hours, and how some folk manage starters and such a main is enviable.
At the moment, the bus is running until nine pm, which means we walked up on Saturday night as the taxis also tend to stop early in the evening at this time of year. It’s only May 1st today (kalo mina!) although it feels like it should be later in the season already because Easter feels like it was months ago, and the weather has been rather June for April. That could change in May because April to early June can be variable, but if it has indeed settled into its summer pattern, we’re in for a long hot summer and, I hope, lots more dining out, but not on this chap.
Rhodes was a success, at least my trip there was. Did some business, had a consultation with a specialist (part of my annual health-check MOT, nothing to worry about folks), had our wedding rings engraved (nearly got them the wrong way around), wandered the Old Town, had lunch in the new town, had a rest by a swimming pool, wandered some more… When you have 10 hours before your boat back, and your appointments take only three, and you’ve not got a car to go and explore the island, you need to think of things to do to amuse yourself. I managed, and the boat trip back seemed to be over in a flash.
Meanwhile, back on Symi… It’s early Sunday morning as I write and there are two clean-up initiatives going on today. The Poseidon is doing its annual ‘clean up Sesklia’ trip for any volunteers who want to go along. I believe that this is free, includes lunch and in return, you help clear the flotsam and jetsam from the beach. A bit late to tell you this now as it happened yesterday, but I only found out about it late on Saturday night. Also on Sunday, the scouts are organising a task force to clean up the village playground at Kampos, and paint the equipment etc.
View from the giros table
Down in the harbour, I’d say that most businesses were now open and ready; a few may still be putting finishing touches. We’ve had dayboats and day-trippers coming over, and a few regulars have started to return for their summer stays here. It is only April, I keep reminding myself when I see that harbour quiet, it feels like it should be June because Easter seems so long again, but no, it’s still very early season. I have to say, the businesses are looking good, cleaned up and repaired after the storm. Newly painted and ready to welcome punters.
Quiet Friday, late afternoon in April.
That goes for the village too where everything is now open, apart from Taverna Zoi which will be open soon, no doubt. So, if you want a village wander of an evening, you can take in the whole route: The Secret Garden, Sunrise Kafeneion, The Olive Tree (open soon), Georgio’s taverna, the Rainbow, Lefteris’ kafeneion, the Jean and Tonic, (Taverna Zoi) and Ringo’s bar at Kampos. On the way you can ‘do’ three supermarkets, the Chinese Emporium, a couple of clothes shops, a toy shop, a couple of household stores, shoe shop, greengrocers, bakery x 2, and ‘B&Q’ the ironmongers – and anyone else I’ve missed out. Oh, a couple of hairdressers, another household shop, the herb shop… But no butcher, not at the moment. George the butcher is joining the priesthood, and I heard a rumour that one of Zoi’s boys is training and preparing to open a new butcher shop in the village. Excellent.
Waiting for the 9pm bus
So, it’s all go, and I’m also going. Have a good week!
