Chasing Paper

 15 - 20 Feb 2021

We were talking to a friend who had just completed the post-Brexit process of applying for a non-European residents permit, which reminded us to get going on this.  We had asked at the police station in Lefkas around 6 January, when they’d said come back in Feb, and then we had let it slip.  

Laurie gave us the list of requirements for those of us with existing 10 year permits, all of which were doable.  We rang for an appointment on Monday, and were given an appointment on Friday.  This was remarkable, because everyone else we know is having to wait weeks.  Maybe there was a cancellation.

So we set out to collect

• 4 passport photos (untouched by human hands!)
• copies of passports and existing residency permits
• 5 years of tax receipts
• AMKA tax number confirmation 
• Proof of payment of €16 admin fee (this involved the excitement of online Greek government admin website and internet banking in Greek - but ultimately successful!)
• Proof of residential address - this was the one that proved tricky, as we have no bills in Dave’s name.  We had taken our marriage certificate on general principles of ‘take everything’, but they wouldn’t accept it untranslated.

Luckily, the very helpful clerk at the immigration desk agreed to give us another appointment the following Wednesday (because we had already started the process) rather than make us wait until April with the new bookings.

On Weds we picked up the translated certificate - not without some stress, as the translator had promised it for 9:30, but only arrived at her office at 9:40, and then started the translation.  We were terrified of losing our appointment, so Dave stayed to wait for the paperwork, while I legged it down the road to the police station to get my application under way.  Dave arrived, breathless, clutching the translation, just in time.

Now we have one more appointment next Monday, for fingerprints to be taken, and then we wait for the cards to be issued.

Meanwhile, among this crazy paper chase, Dave realised that his driving licence had expired.  Under Greek rules, you renew every three years from age 65.  Oops.  A new paperchase was underway.

This time we needed:

• 4 passport photos (these were still on file at the photographer’s from the week before)
• A medical certificate from our GP - we called for an appointment and they said come immediately!
• An eyesight test certificate - the GP told us where to go and we just walked in off the street.  Dave wasn’t even tested, just asked if he wears glasses for driving)
• Another exciting foray into the world of administrative online payments, €98 this time.
• Copies of passport and driving licence.

The appointment is on Monday, we’ll see how it goes.

One surprising upside was that, being at the GP, I decided to ask about the pain in my hip, that I’ve had for a few weeks.  It was diagnosed and prescription given and it went away the next day, so I was very pleased.

Dave with the precious file of all imaginable documents, in Nydri High Street, (which is currently being massively overhauled) after our second visit to the photographer.