The Greek employment authority (OAED) issues all unemployment cards for those who can work but don’t have a job.

An unemployment card gives you access to:

• Free public transportation in the two main cities of Athens and Thessaloniki
• Free access to museums and cultural centers
• Discounts on mobile phone services, utility bills, coffee shops and fast-food chains
• Vocational training
• Other benefits, including discounts on the electrical bill etc.

To get an unemployment card you will need:

• Identification Document (Temporary Protection Status)
• Tax Registration Number (AFM)
• E-mail address
• Telephone Number
• TaxisNet codes
• Proof of residence
• Knowledge of DΟΥ (Public Financial Service) which includes the person

The electronic issuance of the unemployment card is through the address: https://www.gov.gr/upourgeia/upourgeio-ergasias-kai-koinonikon-upotheseon/organismos-apaskholeses-ergatikou-dunamikou-oaed/ekdose-deltiou-anergias

The unemployment card lasts for 3 months and should be renewed before the expiration date.

Long-term proven unemployment makes someone eligible for potential long-term unemployment benefits. Beneficiaries of international protection can participate in adult education programs, related to employment, vocational training, or subsidized employment programs, under the conditions that apply to Greek citizens. The regular unemployment benefit is entitled to both asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection, provided they meet the relevant conditions. For more information you can visit the following site: http://www.learnaboutgreece.gr/english/section5-5.php

Yes, you can open a bank account in Greece.

The salary/ pension accounts (payroll accounts) are untaxed. However, each bank, depending on its pricing policy, may charge for the creation of this account. Beyond that there is taxation only on income from paid employment, business, or real estate leasing. Social Allowances are tax-free. There are no specific guidelines for Ukrainian refugees, so the procedure is the same as for others.

The documents required to open a bank account vary, depending on the bank. A list of commonly asked documents is included below.

1. Identification Document (valid passport and/or residence permit, valid international protection applicants’ card)
2. Confirmation of the main residence address (Certified public document by a public authority or consulate of the residence location, from which the main residence address occurs)
3. Income Certification and Tax Registration Number (AFM)
4. Tax Residence Certificate
5. Last Tax Clearance and Tax Return Certificate
6. Confirmation of profession/ business address and telephone number (Employer’s certificate or document from a public authority, embassy, or consulate from which the professional status arises.
7. Confirmation of contact telephone number (mobile/ landline number)

In case an interpreter is needed during the procedure of opening the account, the interpreter must provide a solemn declaration including the following text “I have a thorough knowledge of the Greek Language as well as the … language, so that I can accurately translate the terms of the documents in which I will co-sign.”

Healthcare and Labour market access will be granted with the Temporary Protection Status. Other benefits have not yet been announced. SolidarityNow also provides Employability and Work Counseling Services in the Athens’ and Thessaloniki’s centers, supporting unemployed people to connect with the labour market.

Moreover, the telephone helpline 10306 (select 4) offers free of charge mental health support and care to refugees from Ukraine. The service is provided by Ukrainian mental health professionals with special training.

The helpline operates from Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.and it is free of charge and anonymous. Dial 10306 and select 4.

The service is an initiative of the Deputy Minister for Health who oversees mental health issues, and is funded by the Ministry of Health, with the participation of:

-The Federation of Bodies for Psychological Recovery and Mental Health “Argo”

-The Research University Institute for Mental Health, and

-The Smile of the Child

In addition, SolidarityNow offers mental health support and psychosocial support to refugees from Ukraine through individual counseling, family or group sessions and group empowerment activities, addressed to women and minor children, at the Blue Refugee Center in Thessaloniki.

The mental health interventions and psychosocial support that take place at  the Blue Refugee Center, aim to help the individual:

• To adapt to the new reality and plan its next steps
• Get in touch with peers and offer/receive mutual support
• To strengthen their parental role and effectively address challenges with children
• To empower children through play and creative activities
• Improve the social skills of children and adolescents and encourage them to express themselves through interactive games.

The project is part of the ‘Unicef Ukraine Response CP Programme – Northern Greece’, implemented by Solidarity Now.

For more information contact us at the following telephone numbers (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)

Athens Solidarity Center: +3021 0822 0883 |Blue Refugee Center (Thessaloniki): +30 231055 5266

There is the possibility of short-term accommodation (including meals) in the open structure of Sintiki, next to the Promachonas border, until the issuing of travel documents is completed.

Those looking for longer-term accommodation may submit “the Application for Accommodation” through the platform established by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum. In the form you need to include personal information and communication details for all those requiring accommodation. In the form you will need to attach a photo of your document (passport page with your details and the page with the stamp of entry in Greece as well as:

• Name/ Surname
• Date of birth
• Gender
• Number of family members
• Number of children
• Ages of Children
• City in Greece
• When do you need accommodation
• If you have any disability
• Phone number and email
• Languages of Communication

Upon submission, the relevant authorities of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum will carry out the necessary actions to accommodate the requests. Additional questions can be directed to the dedicated email: ukraine@migration.gov.gr.

All Ukrainians on the humanitarian ‘visa’ having entered Greece after February 24^th, 2022, can access hospitals/ medical healthcare services without insurance until their temporary protection status is issued. (Essentially, they can access the National Health System free of charge, including hospitalization and medical care, like uninsured vulnerable social groups.)

Access to public healthcare is free and accessed by appointment. Healthcare is provided through public hospitals and medical centers (including mental health units) as well as municipal clinics and other structures, by the doctors, who can prescribe medication and carry out required therapeutic procedures and diagnostic tests. Appointments can be booked by phone or in some cases online. The patient must always present their insurance number (AMKA / P.A.A.Y.P.A.), which must be issued as soon as possible.

For emergencies that need urgent medical attention, citizens can visit the on-duty hospitals. The on-call hours change daily, and information is available online including the type of doctors available in each hospital. The hospital emergency department is obliged to accept patients, regardless of the possession of legal or other documentation. Those who don’t have relevant documentation should be recorded in the books of the outpatient clinics and the Traffic Office, and the expenses should be recorded in the categories “Refugees – Series Z”.

If you do not speak Greek or English, you should arrange to have an interpreter, otherwise it is quite possible that you will not be able to be served. The NGO Metadrasi has extended interpretations services (24/7) to help with Ukrainian interpretation for public/social services.

If you get a prescription for medication, it will be available in all pharmacies (that belong to the EOPYY (National Organization for Health Care Services), usually with small to zero cost.

In addition, if there is no way of physical transportation of the patient who needs immediate medical care, there is the emergency number of the National Emergency Center (EKAV) 166, which is free and can be called even without access to a mobile network. In case of emergency, an ambulance is provided to transport the patient to the nearest hospital on duty.

To contact 166, you should have the following information:

1. Your exact location (address, floor, apartment)
2. Patient’s name and surname
3. If there is fever
4. Social Security Number – AMKA

There is also the emergency number 112 for all emergencies, accessible without a mobile network, providing 24hour interpretation in various languages. In Greece, 112 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can connect the caller with:

• Police
• Fire Brigade
• Emergency Medical Services
• Coast Guard
• the European hotline for missing children 116000

the National Helpline for children SOS 1056

TaxisNet codes, tax registration numbers (AFM) and AMKA/ P.A.A.Y.P.A. (Provisional Insurance and Health Care Number) are necessary to access state services. TaxisNet codes are the key to accessing the platforms as everything is done online. The initial request to issue TaxisNet codes is made electronically through this site (only available in Greek). Once AMKA /P.A.A.Y.P.A. are issued, there is automatic access to public health care.

Regarding the issuance of the criminal record, responsible are the Greek KEP (Citizen Service Centers) to which the pesron should contact. The issuance could be in person  (even if there are no   TaxisNet codes) or through the website (https://www.gov.gr/ipiresies/dikaiosune/poiniko-metroo/antigrapho-poinikou-metroou) using the ΤaxisΝet codes.  In both cases there is a possibility an update of the contact details for the National Contact Register (EMEP) to be requested that can be done independently through the website (https://www.gov.gr/ipiresies/polites-kai-kathemerinoteta/stoikheia-polite-kai-tautopoietika-eggrapha/ethniko-metroo-epikoinonias-emep) with the TaxisNet codes. The duration of the copy of the criminal record is 3 months from the date of issue.

During April, the issuance of a 12-month residence and work permit begins for Ukrainian Nationals residing in Ukraine before 24/2/2022.

Attention: Ukrainians who arrived in Greece three months before the date of invasion in Ukraine are also entitled to get the temporary protection status.

There will be centers in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patra, and Iraklion, in which after an electronic pre-registration, the displaced will get a 12-month residence permit (with expiration date the 4th of March 2023) as well as Social Security Number (AMKA) and Tax Registration Number (AFM), so that they can join the labour market and access health care. The Ministry stated that the AMKA and AFM will be included on your Temporary Protection Status card. The procedure is carried out exclusively by employees of the Asylum Service, the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, in extended hours, and with the assistance of the European Union Agency for Asylum.

Temporary Protection gives you the right to access the labour market, health care system, education, issuing an AFM (including TAXISnet) and AMKA.

Attention: Until the status is activated you can access hospitals through the Emergency Healthcare without the AMKA.

On March 28^th 2022 the temporary protecton application was activated through the official site of  the Ministry of Migration and Asylum (available in English, Greek and  Ukrainian (https://apps.migration.gov.gr/temporary-protection/?lang=gr). To submit the application you will need to register first through a personal email  in which you will receive a one time password (OTP) each time you log in. After that you should dill in the application including:

• Complete demographic data
• Type and number of identification document
• Educational level and the field in which you are professionally active
• If you are facing a housing problem, and if you have a support network in Greece (friends, family)
• The location where you wish to be registered and receive the card for the Beneficiary of Temporary Protection. The locations are:
  • ATTICA (Regional Asylum Service Office of Attica, 2 PANAGIOTI KANELOPOULOU AVE., 11527 ATHENS)
  • Alimos (next to Athens), Regional Asylum Service Office, Alimos, Dodekanisou 6, 17456
  • THESSALONIKI (Regional Asylum Service Office of Thessaloniki, 5 PONTOU STR., 54628 THESSALONIKI)
  • PATRA (Regional Asylum Service Office of Western Greece, 92 PANACHAIKOU & KAPODISTRIOU ST., 26224 PATRA)
  • CRETE (Regional Asylum Service Office of Crete, 1 ELEFTHERNIS & IFAISTOU ST., 71303 HERAKLION)

Once you have finalized your application, you will be given an appointment (Date & Time) for your attendance at the location that you chose for your registration, and you will receive a receipt to the e-mail address you have provided. The appointment is the same for all members of the application.

As part of the policy of facilitating Ukrainian refugees, a free return bus ticket will be available in many cases, to and from the registration centers in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patra and Crete from April 4th and for a period of two months for the identification process.

For more information contact:

by phone at: +302131629600 or by e-mail at: ukraine@migration.gov.gr

In the case of unaccompanied minors, the National Mechanism for the Identification and Protection of Unaccompanied Minors of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum is activated for the transfer of the children to special emergency accommodation facilities. Thereafter, the relevant identification (if necessary) and guardianship procedure is followed.

Contact Information:

Telephone: Monday to Friday 08:00-22:00, Saturday 11:00 – 19:00 : +302132128888

Email: ssuam.tracing@migration.gov.gr

If the children enter the country as unaccompanied minors, then the National Mechanism for Identification and Protection of Unaccompanied Minors of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum is activated to transfer them to special emergency accommodation facilities. Thereafter, the prescribed procedure of identification (if necessary) and guardianship is followed.

All Ukrainian citizens residing in Greece who are going to receive and provide care for their minor relatives from Ukraine arriving in Greece, are kindly requested to receive them from the entry points. Specifically, the adult relatives should be present at the entry points (e.g., Promachonas Border Station) during the minors’ arrival holding the necessary legal documents that prove their family relationship. Additionally, they should also hold the documents that prove the consent of the minor’s parents concerning the assignment of the custody to the adult relative in Greece. Upon assessment by the Greek authorities and the Implementing Partners of the National Emergency Response Mechanism for Unaccompanied Minors in precarious living conditions, the adult relatives will be able to undertake the care/ custody of their minor relative.

Telephone: Monday to Friday 08:00-22:00, Saturday 11:00 – 19:00 : +302132128888, +306942773030

Email: ssuam.tracing@migration.gov.gr

Source : https://migration.gov.gr/en/ukraine/