Greece schedules €10,000 relocation grants for ten additional regional units

Greece's Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family said its expanded relocation programme was scheduled to begin accepting applications at 12:00 Greek time on 14 October 2026. The scheme offers €10,000 per eligible household that permanently moves to a designated regional area. The ministry named Drama, Florina, Kilkis, Serres, Pella, Kastoria, Kozani, Grevena, Ioannina and Thesprotia as the ten additional regional units. The programme had previously operated in parts of Evros. The announcement describes a scheduled opening; it does not by itself verify that every applicant can already access the online service.

The grant is structured as two €5,000 instalments. According to the ministry's 13 October explanation, the first follows final approval and the second follows one year of proven permanent residence. The 14 October announcement also refers to a requirement to remain in the area for five years. Eligible housing may be owned, rented or made available by a qualifying relative. The programme has an initial ceiling of 1,000 households and runs until that capacity is reached, no later than 31 December 2028. Specific eligibility must be checked against the official application rules.

For regional housing markets, the policy could support a limited number of moves, but it is not a subsidy for buying investment property and should not be presented as one. Its effect on local rental demand or home prices cannot be estimated from the headline amount alone. Prospective applicants should confirm the online portal, their residence status, the approved municipality, proof of housing and the obligations attached to the grant before signing a lease or purchase agreement.