The Municipality of Athens has fully launched a digital service for issuing special permits for the city’s Ring traffic zone, allowing eligible residents to submit applications, upload supporting documents and receive their permits electronically.
The service, implemented through DAEM S.A., the municipality’s technology and digital services company, moves the entire application process online, from submission and document checks to approval and issuance.
Once an application has been approved, the permit is issued electronically through the platform. Each digital permit carries a unique QR code that authorities can scan to verify its validity.
Who is eligible for a Ring permit?
The special entry and exit permit is available exclusively to permanent residents of the Municipality of Athens whose primary residence is located within the boundaries of the Ring, the central area subject to traffic restrictions.
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People living abroad who file their tax returns with Greece’s tax office for residents abroad are not eligible for the permit.
Applicants must list the address for which they are requesting the permit as their primary residence on their E1 tax return, Greece’s annual personal income tax declaration. This requirement applies regardless of whether the property is owner-occupied, rented or occupied as a guest.
If the address does not appear as the applicant’s primary residence on the E1 form, the relevant tax records must first be updated. This can be done by filing an amended tax return or submitting an M1 change-of-details form to the competent tax office.
When does the Athens Ring operate?
Athens’ Ring traffic restrictions apply during the following hours:
- Monday through Thursday: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Friday: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The restricted area is divided into four zones: A, B, C and D.
The special permit does not allow unrestricted travel between these zones. Permit holders may leave the Ring by taking the shortest route from their residence to an exit and return home using the shortest route from an entrance.
The restrictions do not apply to the roads surrounding the Ring.
How to apply online
Eligible residents can submit their applications and upload the required supporting documents through the municipality’s electronic services platform, without having to appear in person.
The municipal service reviews the application and documentation before approving and issuing the digital permit.
The initiative forms part of the Municipality of Athens’ broader digital transformation efforts, aimed at simplifying administrative procedures, reducing bureaucracy and making municipal services easier for residents to access.
Applications are available at: Municipality of Athens online services.