Greek Social Services

Many thanks to Carol Palioudaki for her permission to use some of the information taken from the original text from the excellent website
www.livingincrete.net
Page reference:
www.livingincrete.net/natinsIKA.html
The website author and copyright holder is

Carol Palioudaki

AMKA (Greek Social Security Number)

AMKA (Αριθμος Μητρώου Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης - Social Security Number) is essentially the new Greek unified national insurance number for those living in Greece - employers, employees, pensioners plus dependant
members of their families are required to obtain one.

AMKA replaces the registration number Αριθμό Μητρώου (ΑΜ) so far issued by insurers to the insured persons and pensioners. The 13 different NationalInsurance services of Greece (IKA, TEVE, TAXI, OGA etc) have until now all issued their own AM numbers. AMKA will unify the National Insurance numbers.

It is compulsory to obtain an individual AMKA number for all persons registered as living and legally working in Greece, including individual AMKA number for every child. Non-Greek pensioners and their dependants, and others receiving health cover via an E121 or E106 also each require an AMKA number.
According to information given by the AMKA Helpline, those Non-Greek citizens who are not registered in Greece's social security system are NOT required to obtain AMKA (e.g. those who live in Greece part time but are still primarily registered in their home country, or those who do not work and pay contributions in Greece and who have private medical insurance and do not yet qualify for a pension and health cover in Greece.)

Firstly, if you are already insured, through IKA etc, check your 2009/2010
health book sticker certification (Θεώρηση) for an AMKA number. It's possible
you already have one. If you are unsure whether or not you already have an AMKA number you can also try checking online by filling in the form at www.amka.gr (although the form seems to have a few glitches).
There is also an AMKA helpline on telephone number 11131

Go to your local KEP office (Citizens Advice) to apply for any AMKA number with the following documents for each family member:
1)Passport or Greek ID card.
2) Health book
3) "You may require a civil status document - 'πιστοποιητικό οικογενειακής
κατάστασης' officially translated into Greek, where the passport or documents do not contain the required information for the inventory." This from the AMKA website. Basically the extra information they need is your father and mother's names. Showing a tax return, for example, with this information should suffice.
4) For dependent children - a copy of the πιστοποιητικού οικογενειακής
κατάστασης or birth certificate.

An AMKA card will be centrally issued and sent to your postal address once you have obtained an AMKA number.