Real Estate
Law.

Yes. Non-EU nationals can buy property in Greece, subject to certain requirements — a Greek tax number (AFM) and a Greek bank account, and in some border areas a permit from the Ministry of National Defence. We guide international buyers through each stage of the process and, where this is permitted, handle the transaction remotely under a notarised power of attorney.

Title due diligence in Greece involves searching the Cadastre and/or the Land Registry and identifying mortgages, liens and other encumbrances. On the islands and in rural areas in particular, that search can bring up title questions, or other legal issues, that need to be dealt with before the transaction completes.

No. Many of our international clients complete a Greek property purchase without travelling to Greece. Under a notarised power of attorney we can, where this is permitted, take on the main stages of the transaction — from due diligence and contract negotiation to signing before the notary, registration at the Cadastre and the steps required after completion.

On a purchase, the main tax is real estate transfer tax, payable by the buyer at approximately 3% of the taxable value of the property, plus a municipal surcharge of 3% calculated on that tax. An exemption may apply in certain cases, such as the purchase of a first home, where the statutory conditions are met. For some newly built properties VAT at 24% can apply instead of transfer tax; the suspension of VAT on transfers of unsold new-build property has, however, been extended to 31 December 2026, so transfer tax applies in the meantime on the prescribed conditions. Note that a 10% transfer tax on non-EU buyers is currently under discussion.

Yes — the programme remains open and active, though investment thresholds were significantly increased in 2023-2024 and vary by location. See our dedicated Golden Visa page for current thresholds and full details.

Where a property matter turns contentious — title disputes, boundary/encroachment issues, partition actions or lease disputes escalating to litigation — our Litigation & Arbitration practice handles the dispute directly, working closely with this team. See our Real Estate Disputes page for details.

Yes. Many of the property matters we handle are on the islands — Crete, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Syros, Santorini and Corfu in particular. Titles on the islands and in rural areas can involve older chains of transfers, outstanding planning issues, or questions arising under coastal and forest legislation. For non-EU buyers, some designated border areas may require a permit from the Ministry of National Defence, which needs to be built into the planning and the timetable of the transaction.

A property lawyer in Greece checks the chain of title at the Land Registry or the Cadastre, identifies mortgages, prenotations, seizures and other encumbrances, and examines any legal issues affecting ownership or the transfer of the property. Where needed, the legal review is coordinated with an engineer's inspection covering planning issues, unauthorised construction or other technical matters, before any deposit is paid.