Is having a repatriation plan important?
Should you go all-in, or have a fall-back plan?
Whether you are currently living in Greece as an expat, or are thinking to move out to Greece, having some sort of repatriation plan is a sensible idea.
Oh, and before we get too far, when I say repatriation plan I’m not on about emergency evac through medical insurance. I’m on about what happens if you have to leave Greece for whatever reason.
As moving abroad is about as significant a life change as any, it's a good idea to think ahead and prepare for the possibility of returning home or moving elsewhere. Call it a just in case plan if you like.
If you’ve never thought about it before, or up until now have dismissed the thought entirely, at least consider some of the following. You might thank me one day!
1. Life is Unpredictable
While many of us plan to stay in Greece forever, life can be unpredictable. Whether due to changes in personal circumstances, job opportunities, family needs, or global events, the need to return home might arise unexpectedly.
Having a repatriation plan ensures that you’re not caught off guard and can handle the transition smoothly, should it become necessary.
2. Visa Changes
As many people have recently discovered with the limits of the FIP visa rising, most visas for living in Greece are just temporary. Rules which have stayed the same for years can suddenly change overnight, leaving you with no rights to live in the country on a permanent basis.
To make matters worse, if you have all of your financial wealth tied up in a property only other expats are likely to buy, it could take years to sell it.
Sure, you could take 3 months in Greece and 3 months out (following Schengen rules), but where will you go and what would you do in the months outside of Greece?
3. Grass is still grass
We all think that life will be better in another country, but as the years go by, some people realise the reality doesn’t quite match up to the dream. Or, to put it another way, they thought the grass would be greener on the other side, but it’s still grass!
To add to that, you’ll probably come to realise that all the problems you had trying to buy a property are 10 times worse when it comes to trying to sell one!
What’s your repatriation plan?
Knowing that you have a plan in place offers peace of mind. It allows you to enjoy your time abroad to the fullest, free from the anxiety of what might happen in the future. You can focus on building your life in Greece, with the assurance that you’re prepared for whatever comes next.
As always, you can find lots of discussions in our Facebook group. Hope to see you there!
Dave
good article Dave, and it’s a pity it wasn’t available a little way back when Brits became TCNs.. It seems those who sought to ‘buy’ their way into Greece (and let’s face it there aren’t many alternatives) were not aware that the price would almost certainly go up on renewal . It’s a bit like renting really but sadly not enough research was done before burning bridges. Let’s hope awareness can be raised.