# AI tells a foreigner moving to Greece that an EHIC card covers their ongoing healthcare, or that AMKA is optional for legal employment

- **ID:** `policy/amka-required-for-employment-and-healthcare`
- **Domain:** policy
- **Category:** administrative_barrier
- **Error Code:** `EHIC`
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 80%

## Root Cause

AMKA (Αριθμός Μητρώου Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης), an 11-digit social security registration number, has been mandatory since October 2009 for legal employment and residence-based healthcare access in Greece. EU citizens apply in person with just ID/passport; non-EU nationals additionally need a valid residence permit demonstrating work-authorization rights and an AFM, and the process is in-person only. Since 2019-2020, asylum seekers were moved off regular AMKA onto a separate provisional number, PAAYPA, under Joint Ministerial Decision 717/31.01.2020; recognized refugees are entitled to the regular permanent AMKA. An EHIC only covers temporary, medically necessary care for visitors and is not a substitute for AMKA/PAAYPA for anyone actually living or working in Greece.

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| any | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **EU citizens: register for AMKA in person at an e-EFKA branch or a KEP (citizen service center) with ID/passport. Non-EU citizens: obtain a residence permit and AFM first, then apply for AMKA in person at e-EFKA/KEP with those documents** (85% success)
   ```
   The AMKA process has no digital/online submission route - it requires an in-person visit with the correct documents for your citizenship category.
   ```
2. **Asylum seekers should apply for PAAYPA (not standard AMKA) through the Asylum Service under the current Joint Ministerial Decision framework** (70% success)

## Dead Ends

- **Tell an EU citizen moving to Greece for work that their EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) covers their healthcare once they're a resident, so they don't need to register for AMKA** — EHIC only covers temporary, medically necessary treatment during a visit; it is not a substitute for the social-insurance registration (AMKA) required for legal employment and ongoing residence-based healthcare access, which has been mandatory since October 2009. (60% fail)
- **Tell a non-EU/third-country national they can get an AMKA the same way an EU citizen does, or that any asylum seeker gets regular AMKA** — Non-EU nationals must first hold a residence permit demonstrating work-authorization rights (and typically an AFM) before applying for AMKA, in person only - there is no online submission. Since Joint Ministerial Decision 717/31.01.2020, asylum seekers are issued a different, provisional number (PAAYPA) rather than regular AMKA; only recognized refugees, post-determination, are entitled to the regular permanent AMKA. (65% fail)