AMKA in Greece for Ukrainians: how to get it and what to translate

Your kid’s running a 39-degree fever, you’re standing in a Greek hospital reception, and you can’t even get registered because you don’t have an AMKA number. Sound familiar? For a lot of Ukrainians in Greece, the first days and weeks are exactly this kind of stress. Let’s figure out what AMKA is, how to get it, and which documents you’ll need translated to access Greek healthcare.

What is AMKA and why you can’t skip it¶

AMKA (ΑΜΚΑ - Αριθμός Μητρώου Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης) is an 11-digit social security number in Greece. The first six digits are your date of birth, the remaining five are a unique identifier. Think of it as Greece’s equivalent of a Social Security Number in the US or a National Insurance number in the UK.

Without AMKA, you can’t:

• See a doctor at a public clinic
• Get prescriptions with government-subsidized medication
• Get hired (employers won’t sign a contract)
• Access insurance benefits (sick leave, maternity, disability)
• Register with EOPYY (Greece’s national healthcare organization)

If you already have an AFM (tax number) - great, but that’s only half the equation. For full-fledged life in Greece, you need both: AFM for taxes, AMKA for healthcare and employment.

Temporary protection: AMKA is issued automatically¶

If you’ve registered for temporary protection in Greece, here’s the good news - AMKA is assigned automatically along with your temporary protection card. The number is printed right on the document next to your AFM. No extra office visits needed.

Temporary protection for Ukrainians in Greece has been extended until March 4, 2027. This means your AMKA stays active throughout that entire period.

But sometimes the number doesn’t get assigned during registration for whatever reason. If that happens:

1. Grab your temporary protection card
2. Visit the nearest EFKA office or KEP (Citizen Service Center)
3. Show your documents and ask them to assign your AMKA
4. You’ll get the number within 1-3 business days

On a forum for Ukrainians in Greece, one woman shared: “Walked into KEP at 8 AM, no line. Showed my temporary protection card and passport, 20 minutes later they handed me a paper with my AMKA number. That’s it.” But not everyone’s that lucky - sometimes they ask for additional documents or send you to EFKA instead.

PAAYPA vs AMKA: what’s the difference¶

There’s an important nuance here that confuses a lot of people. Greece has two types of social security numbers:

AMKA - a permanent, full social security number. Issued to Greek citizens, residents with a residence permit, and temporary protection beneficiaries (including Ukrainians).

PAAYPA (ΠΑΑΥΠΑ - Provisional Insurance and Healthcare Number for Foreigners) - a temporary insurance number for asylum seekers. It’s printed on the full registration card for refugees.

The key distinction: if you’re a Ukrainian with temporary protection, you get AMKA, not PAAYPA. PAAYPA is for people who’ve applied for international protection (asylum) and are waiting for a decision. Once an asylum seeker is granted refugee status, their PAAYPA automatically converts to AMKA about a month after receiving their residence permit.

Both numbers give you access to free healthcare - but AMKA comes with full access to the social insurance system, including pension contributions and unemployment insurance.

Standard procedure: getting AMKA without temporary protection¶

Arrived in Greece on a work visa, to study, or with another type of residence permit? Then you’ll need to apply for AMKA yourself.

What you need for registration¶

In some situations, they may also ask for:

• Employment contract - if registering through your employer
• University enrollment certificate - for students
• Child’s birth certificate - if registering a minor. With an apostille and certified Greek translation
• Marriage certificate - for registering family members

Where to apply¶

AMKA is issued at three types of offices:

• EFKA (Unified Social Insurance Fund) - social insurance offices. The main option
• KEP (Citizen Service Centers) - convenient because they’re in every neighborhood
• KEM - specialized centers

You usually don’t need an appointment - show up in the morning (offices open at 8:00 AM), queue up, submit your documents. The number is issued within 1-3 business days - sometimes on the spot.

What AMKA gets you: access to Greek healthcare¶

Here’s specifically what you get with an AMKA number and EOPYY registration (Greece’s National Healthcare Services Organization):

Free of charge¶

• Doctor visits at public hospitals and clinics (PEDY)
• Ambulance service (EKAB - dial 166)
• Hospitalization at public hospitals
• Mental health support and rehabilitation
• Vaccinations
• Screening and preventive checkups

Partially covered¶

• Prescription medication - you pay roughly 25% of the cost, EOPYY covers the rest. For chronic conditions, medication can be fully free
• Visits to private doctors with EOPYY contracts - no extra charge or minimal copay
• Dental care - basic services are covered, more complex procedures come with a copay

No AMKA? You still have options¶

Even without AMKA, you can get emergency medical care in Greece. Just show your passport or any police-issued document. Emergency room visits at public hospitals are free for everyone, regardless of status.

If a doctor at a public hospital writes you a prescription but you don’t have AMKA - you can get the medication free from the hospital’s own pharmacy. At a regular pharmacy, you’d pay full price.

Translating medical documents: what and how¶

If you’ve brought medical records from Ukraine and want to continue treatment in Greece - you’ll need translations. Greek doctors aren’t required to read documents in Ukrainian or Russian.

Which documents typically need translating¶

• Hospital discharge summaries - for continuing treatment or hospitalization
• Chronic condition certificates - for accessing free medication and benefits
• Prescriptions - Greek doctors need to understand what you’re taking
• Test results and diagnostic reports - MRI, CT scans, blood work
• Disability certificate - for benefits and support applications
• Vaccination records (immunization passport) - especially for children enrolling in school or kindergarten

Who can do the translation¶

Medical documents for Greek government agencies and hospitals need official translation. Same as with other documents in Greece, translations are done by:

• Certified translators from the MFA register - search at metafraseis.services.gov.gr
• Greek lawyers with knowledge of the relevant language
• Graduates of the Translation Faculty at the Ionian University

How much medical document translation costs¶

Average per-page rate is 15-25 euros plus 24% VAT. Athens is pricier, smaller cities are cheaper. Medical documents sometimes cost more because of the specialized terminology.

Order of operations: apostille first¶

The golden rule for any Ukrainian documents in Greece: get the apostille in Ukraine first, then translate into Greek. The apostille is issued by Ukraine’s Ministry of Justice - you can’t get it abroad.

For medical records, there’s a nuance: not all medical documents need an apostille. Hospital discharges, test results, prescriptions - certified translation alone is usually enough. Apostille is needed for official certificates (disability, chronic conditions) that you’re submitting to government agencies for benefits.

If you need a quick translation so your doctor can understand your records - ChatsControl can do the translation online in minutes. For official certified translation, go to a registered certified translator.

Practical tips: navigating Greek healthcare¶

A few things worth knowing once you have your AMKA:

Register with EOPYY. To get full access to free healthcare, register with EOPYY after getting your AMKA. This unlocks the complete range of services, including subsidized medication and EOPYY-contracted private doctors.

Visit limits. Every EOPYY-contracted doctor has a cap of 200 visits per month. If the cap’s been reached, you’ll need to find another doctor or pay privately.

PEDY public clinics. Free walk-in visits. Just show up with your AMKA and passport. The doctor can write prescriptions, order tests, or refer you to a specialist.

Emergency services. Dial 166 (EKAB). Free for everyone, even without AMKA. You can also walk into any public hospital emergency room at any time - no charge.

Hospital pharmacy. If a public hospital doctor writes you a prescription, you can fill it for free at that hospital’s pharmacy. At a regular pharmacy, you’d pay 25%.

FAQ¶

How much does it cost to get AMKA in Greece?¶

It’s free. No government fees for AMKA issuance. Your only costs might be document translation (15-25 euros per page + 24% VAT) and transportation to the EFKA or KEP office.

Do Ukrainians with temporary protection get AMKA automatically?¶

Yes. When you register for temporary protection, AMKA is assigned along with your temporary protection card. The number is printed on the document. If it wasn’t assigned for some reason, visit an EFKA or KEP office with your card and passport.

Can I get medical care in Greece without AMKA?¶

Yes. Emergency care at public hospitals is free for everyone - just bring your passport. A doctor can write you a prescription, and medication from the hospital pharmacy is free. But for routine treatment, subsidized medication, and registering with a doctor, you need AMKA.

What documents do I need to get AMKA?¶

The basics: passport, AFM (tax number), residence permit or temporary protection card, proof of address in Greece. For registering minors, you’ll also need a birth certificate with an apostille and certified Greek translation.

Where can I find a certified translator for medical documents in Greece?¶

On the Greek MFA’s Register of Certified Translators portal: metafraseis.services.gov.gr. Search for the Ukrainian-Greek language pair. Official translations are also done by Greek lawyers with language skills and graduates of the Translation Faculty at the Ionian University.