Before you start

An AFM (Greek tax number) and proof of a Greek address — both are needed before you can be issued an AMKA
Non-EU only: a valid residence permit before applying for AMKA (so you must carry private insurance to obtain the permit in the first place)
Employment or self-employment that triggers EFKA contributions, OR an EHIC (short stay) / S1 form (EU pensioners & posted workers) for public cover without local contributions

Step-by-step

1
Get your AMKA — the key to the whole system
Apply in person at any KEP (Citizens' Service Centre) or e-EFKA branch with your passport/ID, AFM, residence permit (non-EU), and proof of address. It's free and usually issued the same day. Without an AMKA you cannot register a doctor, get e-prescriptions, or be reimbursed.
In personWho: YouSame-day, walk-in (most KEPs open 08:00)Free
2
Activate public cover via EFKA/EOPYY
Once you're an employee or self-employed, EFKA contributions are deducted (employer-handled for staff) and your AMKA is linked to EOPYY — you're then entitled to ESY hospitals and EOPYY-contracted doctors on the same terms as Greeks. EU residents register an EU-AMKA via e-EFKA's international desk using an S1; EHIC holders use the card directly for short stays.
Via employerWho: You / your employer (contributions)Cover active once contributions/registration are recordedPayroll contribution (no separate fee); EHIC/S1 free
3
Register a personal doctor (προσωπικός γιατρός)
Pick a GP/internist on the gov.gr personal-doctor platform (or via your AMKA at a health centre). From 3 April 2026 this doctor is the mandatory gatekeeper — you need their referral to book public/EOPYY specialists. Registration and referred visits are free.
OnlineWho: YouMinutes online; do it before you need a specialistFree
4
Buy private health insurance + pick your private hospital
Get a private policy (Greek insurers like Ethniki, Interamerican, NN, or international plans) for fast, English-speaking care. Use Athens' top private hospitals — Hygeia, Metropolitan, Iaso (maternity), Errikos Dynan (Henry Dunant), Athens Medical Center. A private GP visit runs ~€50–80; insurance covers hospitalisation/surgery and often outpatient.
OnlineWho: You1–3 days to quote and bind a policy~€400–1,200/yr (age-dependent; comprehensive plans more)

Documents you’ll need

Passport / national ID
AFM (Greek tax number)
Residence permit (non-EU residents)
Proof of Greek address (lease, hospitality declaration, or E9)
AMKA (once issued) — quoted for every doctor visit and pharmacy pickup
EHIC (EU short stays) or S1 form (EU pensioners/posted workers)

Things most newcomers don’t know

From 3 April 2026 the personal doctor is a hard gate to specialists.

Without a referral from your registered προσωπικός γιατρός you can't book public/EOPYY-contracted specialists — and referred care is free, so registering early saves both money and a wasted trip.

Source: WHO Health Systems Observatory / Law 5157/2024

Non-EU residents face a chicken-and-egg loop: no permit without private insurance, no public AMKA cover without the permit.

You legally need private health cover to obtain the residence permit, and only after the permit can you get AMKA and enrol in EOPYY — so plan to carry private insurance for your whole first year regardless.

Source: EFKA/EOPYY + Greek migration rules

Pharmacies (φαρμακείο) run on e-prescriptions tied to your AMKA — and the pharmacist is a real first stop.

Your doctor files an άυλη συνταγογράφηση (paperless e-prescription); you collect at any pharmacy with your AMKA + ID and pay only the ~25% copay. For minor issues pharmacists advise directly and dispense many medicines without a doctor.

Source: EOPYY / IDIKA e-prescription system

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming the public system is fast: ESY is universal and cheap but underfunded — long waits, crowded clinics, and limited English. For anything urgent or complex, most expats default to private hospitals.
Trying to get an AMKA before you have an AFM, an address, and (if non-EU) a residence permit — the application bounces without all three.
Letting EFKA contributions lapse: a payment gap can suspend your EOPYY entitlement (including subsidised medication) until it's settled.
Confusing EHIC with residence cover — the EHIC only covers temporary stays; once you live in Greece you must register properly (S1 or EFKA/EOPYY via AMKA).
Dialling the wrong number in an emergency: use 112 (EU emergency) or 166 (EKAB ambulance); 100 is police and 199 is the fire service.