As an American, can I live and work in Greece?

Well, in brief yes if you are of Greek descent, and yes to the first and no to the second if you are not. This little treatise is not directed at those who have Greek heritage but rather those wishing to live in Greece (specifically Crete) without having to work here. Because America is outside the European Union, Americans can not freely take up a job here. The procedure for getting employment in Greece is complex.

Enough of the brevity … let’s get down to the full story. First of all, I am writing from Crete and can speak little of what we call “the other Greece.” Crete has a long history of fierce independence and although we are part of Greece, we value our strong and independent spirit. And we believe Cretans to be far more hospitable than any other Greeks, and of course Greece is well known for its hospitality.

If you are not familiar with the beautiful Mediterranean island of Crete, it is the southern-most province of Greece and is a 45-minute flight from Athens. It is a big island; so big that we often forget that the sea surrounds us. Crete is about 160 miles east to west and ranges from 37 miles to 7 miles north to south. No village is really very far from the blue Mediterranean, nor is any village far from the glorious mountain ranges than run almost the entire length of the island. 

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What is life like on Crete? Many adjectives come to mind … peaceful, stress-free, laid-back, natural, exhilarating, healthy, and on and on. The traditional Cretan diet is famous worldwide for longevity. For nine months of the year, Crete is not a tourist haven and it is these months we Cretans treasure most.

Our summers are warm and clear with daytime highs of 28-32 C and sometimes reaching 35 C but with generally cool nights. August brings cooler nights and by October a light jacket is needed in the evenings but the daytime temperatures are in the mid-20s. We usually have a spate of summer-like weather in the middle of January but then the rains come in February and March. The mountains start accumulating snow in late November and the last vestiges melt away by late May. Our beaches are fine for swimming year-round.

Being an island, Crete is extremely safe and crime is virtually non-existent. We grow most of our own fruits and vegetables and raise our own goats and sheep and pigs and of course our olives so our food is healthy and inexpensive.

Another adjective we consider to be true of our lifestyle here in Crete is “free.” We Cretans are generally skeptical about rules and regulations and generally act accordingly! This is not to say there is no law and order … quite the opposite! It’s just that there is no senseless law and order here in Crete. We generally avoid government interference wherever we can. But with our sincere hospitality and stress on family values, it is a very wonderful place to live.

Is Crete expensive? Not at all. I suppose if one insisted on having Kellogg’s Corn Flakes and Maxwell House coffee and other name-brands in the cupboard then one might consider it costly.