Relocating to Athens for Work: The Complete 2026 Guide
Thinking about moving to Athens for a job? Here's exactly what to expect — visas, housing, costs, relocation packages, and your first few weeks — explained simply.
Athens has become one of Europe's most popular destinations for multilingual professionals. With a low cost of living, 250+ sunny days a year, and a huge international customer-service industry, it's a place where your language skills translate directly into a comfortable life. This guide covers everything you need to plan your move.
1. Do you need a visa?
If you hold a valid EU passport, you do not need a visa or work permit to live and work in Greece — you can move freely. This is why almost all multilingual relocation roles in Athens require an EU passport. Once you arrive, you'll register for a Greek tax number (AFM) and social security number (AMKA), both of which your employer will help you arrange.
2. The relocation package
Most multilingual roles in Athens include a fully paid relocation package. Here's what's typically covered:
See our full relocation to Greece overview for details on what's included and which roles offer the strongest packages.
3. Housing in Athens
Finding an apartment in Athens is straightforward and affordable compared to Western Europe. Expect to pay roughly:
- Central Athens (1-bedroom): €500–€800/month
- Outside the centre (1-bedroom): €350–€550/month
- Shared apartment room: €250–€400/month
Most employers give you 2–4 weeks of free hotel on arrival, which gives you time to flat-hunt calmly. Many relocating professionals use that window to find a shared apartment first, then upgrade later.
4. Cost of living
Athens is one of the most affordable capitals in the EU. A meal out costs around €10–€15, a monthly public transport pass is about €30, and groceries are significantly cheaper than in the Netherlands, Germany, or France. On a multilingual customer-service salary, most people live comfortably and still save money.
5. Your first two weeks
- Arrive — airport pickup is often arranged, and you check into your covered hotel.
- Paperwork — your employer helps you get your AFM (tax number) and AMKA (social security).
- Bank & SIM — open a Greek bank account and get a local phone plan.
- Training — paid product and systems training begins (in English).
- Flat-hunt — use your hotel window to find a long-term apartment.
- Go live — you start taking real customer interactions, usually after 2–4 weeks of training.
6. Do I need to speak Greek?
No. Multilingual customer-service roles use your native language with customers, and English for training and internal systems. You'll pick up everyday Greek naturally over time, but it is never a job requirement.
Ready to find a job in Athens?
The quickest way to start is to browse our current multilingual jobs in Athens and across Greece and apply to the ones that match your language. Applying is always free for candidates — the employer pays our fee.
If you already know you want to work in Athens specifically, see our recruitment services in Athens, Greece page, or read our Dutch speaker jobs in Greece guide for a real example of the process.
Start your move to Athens
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