Photo: Refugee.info / Daphne Tolis
Disclaimer: This article was last updated in March 2026 and may have been translated using AI tools. Please verify the information with official sources before relying on it.
In Greece, there are the below types of accommodation according to your status:
- Camps for asylum seekers on the islands.
- In camps for asylum seekers who reside on the mainland. You cannot choose the accommodation type.
- Apartments with financial support for recognized refugees via HELIOS Program.
Camps
There are camps in mainland Greece and on its islands. Here is the list of camps in Greece.
At camps, you can usually find:
- Health care
- Social services
- Education activities
- Child protection programs
- Women’s programs
- Hygiene programs
- Translation services
- Legal advice services
You can get a place in a camp only through a Reception and Identification Center referral, and you must accept the place you get, or you will lose access to accommodation.
You cannot:
- Choose which camp you go to
- Move from one camp to another on your own
- Move from the islands to the mainland on your own
- Get a place in a camp by appearing there on your own
- Stay in a camp without having an official place there (or you will likely get kicked out to make room for others)
If you are moving from the islands to the mainland, you must go on an official UNHCR transfer and appear at the camp you are assigned. Otherwise, you lose your access to accommodation.
HELIOS+: Housing and Independent Living Support
If you are a legally residing third-country national in Greece with refugee status, subsidiary protection, or temporary protection, and you are looking for accommodation or support to build your life in Greece, HELIOS+ may help you. Services include housing support and rental subsidies, career counselling and vocational training, access to public and social services, Greek language courses, and support for integration into local communities and employment. If you need guidance or want to check your eligibility, you can reach out to the HELIOS+ Helpdesk.
You can contact via message or call on Telegram at the numbers below:
📞 Helpline Hours: Monday to Friday, 09:00 AM – 03:00 PM
(You may also leave a message outside these hours, and they will get back to you.)
📱 Telegram Contact Numbers & Available Languages:
🔹 6949333553 – Arabic
🔹 6949072575 – French, English
🔹 6949076750 – Farsi
🔹 6951084867 – Ukrainian, Greek
🔹 6957211015 – Somali
Also, information can be found at the HELIOS+ Centers at the following addresses:
- Alkminis 36-38 str, Athens
- Vouliagmenis 223 str, Dafni, PC 17237, Attica
- Ptolemeon 29A str, Thessaloniki
- Nikolaou Germanou 1 str, Thessaloniki
- Yakinthou 4 str, Kavala
- 62 Martiron Avenue 36, 71303, Heraklion
- Markou Botsari 64a str, 73136, Chania
- Imvrou 2 str. Mytilene
- Maizonos 192-194 str, 26222 Patra
- Patron 44 str, Corinth
- Garitsiou & Episkopis, 41335, Larisa
- Messapion 10 Str, 34100, Chalkida
Private apartments
You can rent an apartment on your own or stay in an apartment a friend rents for you without losing your rights as an asylum-seeker or refugee in Greece. If you stay in private accommodation, you lose access to cash.
To rent an apartment on your own, you must sign a house contract. To do that, you will need a tax number (AFM) and your TAXISnet codes since the whole procedure has to be completed online through the TAXISnet platform.
Learn how to get one:
A few important things to know about renting in Greece: