Legal System

Civil law tradition based on continental European legal concepts and anchored in the Greek Civil Code (Astikos Kodikas). Fully harmonized EU member state. Unitary court hierarchy with specialized commercial divisions.

Principal Dispute Forum

Athens Courts and institutional arbitration regimes under EODID (Athens Organization for Dispute Resolution) and the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), utilizing Law 5016/2023 for international arbitration.

Corporate Tax

Standard corporate income tax rate 22%. Standard VAT rate is 24%. Dividend withholding tax is competitive at 5%. Extensive investment dynamic bolstered by tax incentives for strategic assets.

Partner Office

Served in coordination with our Athens partner office across real estate portfolios, cross-border shipping alliances, renewable infrastructure portfolios, and regional trade disputes.

Country Desk Brief

Legal System, Investment, Trade & Regulation

Greece operates within a comprehensive continental civil law system derived from Roman and Germanic legal foundations, with codification centered on the Greek Civil Code (Astikos Kodikas). Corporate operations and commercial commercial contexts are governed predominantly by Law 4548/2018 on Sociétés Anonymes and Law 4072/2012 regarding private company formations. As an integral Eurozone member, Greece is structurally bound to EU corporate governance directives, structural compliance guidelines, and customs regimes, maintaining a fluid, reliable investment landscape. Mermeroglu Legal delivers clear, expert guidance regarding multi-jurisdictional compliance, trade modeling, real estate optimization, and complex commercial arbitrations in Greece, in seamless alliance with our trusted partner office in Athens.

The primary vehicle utilized by international investors seeking rapid incorporation and structural agility is the Idiotiki Kefalaiouchiki Etaireia (IKE) — the Private Company — which allows a minimum share capital configuration starting at €1. For large-scale transactions, capitalization mandates, or enterprise holding configurations, the Anonymi Etaireia (AE) — equivalent to a Société Anonyme — is utilized, carrying a legal minimum share capital threshold of €25,000. Limited liability companies (EPE) and localized branch configurations (Ypokatastima) also provide dependable alternatives for regional operational alignment.

Greece maintains an open, supportive approach to inbound foreign direct investment (FDI) and imposes no institutional nationality restrictions on corporate ownership blocks or real asset procurement. However, protective legal checks apply under Law 4685/2020 and relevant national security screening frameworks for strategic investments intersecting with border border boundaries, critical public assets, and high-security utility networks. Greece's geographic presence as a prime maritime logistics corridor connecting Europe with the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Middle East makes it an invaluable focus area for cross-border investments and reliable shipping logistics.

At a Glance — 2025 / 2026

Investment & Trade Indicators

Mediterranean Hub
Greece serves as Western Europe's strategic maritime entry point, hosting elite logistics hubs and premier regional distribution corridors.
~€50B
Total value of annual goods exports, heavily driven by refined petroleum, pharmaceutical supplies, high-grade agricultural products, and metals.
22%
Stable corporate income tax rate, paired with an advantageous 5% withholding rate on outbound corporate dividend payments.
Law 5016
Modernized International Commercial Arbitration Act, aligning Greece completely with UNCITRAL model laws for robust dispute resolution.

Establishment

How to Form a Company

The private company, or IKE, has become the default structural standard for inbound business entities because of its structural simplicity and the absence of a high capitalization barrier (€1 minimum). The formation process is initiated through the drafting of the articles of association. Incorporation is rapidly managed through the electronic One-Stop Shop service (e-YMS) or via an authorized notary, registering the entity directly into the General Commercial Registry (GEMI). No residency restrictions are enforced upon company administrators, though operational compliance requires a registered office inside Greek administrative territory and direct alignment with local digital tax verification frameworks.

Foreign Ownership & Border Restrictions: In line with standard EU baseline treaties, foreign share ownership is broadly unrestricted. Strategic restrictions exist primarily in designated frontier geographies (border regions and specific islands), where real estate acquisition or asset ownership transfers by non-EU/EFTA entities require prior authorization from a specialized committee at the Ministry of National Defense.

Holding Advantages: Greece provides a strong Inbound Dividend Exemption framework based on corporate compliance structures. Where an AE holding company retains a minimum 10% share value block in an EU subsidiary for an uninterrupted 24-month duration, incoming dividend distributions are fully exempt from corporate tax, providing an effective framework for cross-border asset management.

Typical steps — IKE incorporation

Drafting Articles of Association
Formulate the constitutional articles defining the scope of operations, capital contributions (cash or in-kind assets), and corporate management guidelines.
GEMI Registration via e-YMS
Submit corporate documents via the electronic One-Stop Shop platform. System verification automatically issues a unique GEMI number and company tax code (AFM).
Chamber and Tax Activation
Ensure immediate registration with the competent local Chamber of Commerce and register corporate records on the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) platform.
Social Security Enrollment (EFKA)
Register company administrators and managing directors with the Unified Social Security Fund (EFKA) to assure statutory labor compliance.
Border Security Filings (If Applicable)
File administrative requests before regional security boards if corporate real assets or setups sit within regulated border parameters.

Investment Climate

Investment Models & Where Capital is Flowing

Greece continues to demonstrate a robust inbound investment trajectory, driven by asset privatization programs, modernization initiatives, and its position as a logistics bridge. Enterprise Greece coordinates professional assistance models for international capital syndicates. Key operational structural benefits include an expanding digital administrative grid, competitive corporate tax frameworks, an extensive array of bilateral tax treaties, and specialized investment statuses for large-scale urban development projects. Current venture allocations exhibit highly concentrated focus across several dynamic sectors:

  • Renewable Energy & Storage — Substantial global capital is targeting Greece's large-scale solar farms, wind generation projects, and island green energy networks backed by Law 4951/2022 permitting fast-tracks.
  • Real Estate & Hospitality Portfolios — High-end hospitality real estate, luxury coastal resorts, and urban renewal masterplans generate substantial foreign investment transactions.
  • Maritime Infrastructure & Ports — Strategic port privatizations and coastal logistics expansions draw continuous international investments into container hubs, dry docks, and marine supply lines.
  • Data Infrastructure & Cloud Hubs — Leading global tech companies are investing heavily in new sustainable hyperscale data centers, leveraging Greece's strategic location for intercontinental fiber-optic landing cables.
  • Agribusiness & Food Technology — Capital injections are flowing toward modern sustainable agriculture networks, organic export processing facilities, and innovative aquaculture installations.
  • Supply Chain & Freight Logistics — Strategic logistics hubs near rail connections are expanding rapidly, processing cargo flows from the Mediterranean ports deeper into central European commercial markets.

Foreign Trade — 2024

Recent Trade & Principal Partners

Greece's foreign trade profile reflects an active export orientation integrated into regional markets. Total goods and services exports reach roughly €50 billion annually, driven heavily by refined petroleum products, high-grade pharmaceutical compounds, industrial aluminum products, olives, and fresh produce. Service exports are dominated by the globally preeminent Greek merchant shipping industry and international tourism receipts. The EU common market accounts for approximately 55% of Greece's total trade volumes, with Italy and Germany functioning as premier destination countries, while close commercial trade bonds with neighboring Türkiye and Mediterranean economies continue to expand.

Top Export Partners (2024)
  • Italy (~10% of total export value)
  • Germany
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Türkiye
Top Import Partners (2024)
  • Germany (~12% of total imports)
  • Italy
  • China
  • Netherlands
  • Iraq (Energy crude supplies)
Principal Export Sectors
  • Refined Petroleum & Fuel Oils
  • Chemicals & Specialized Pharmaceuticals
  • Food Products, Olives & Agricultural Goods
  • Aluminum, Steel & Industrial Raw Metals
  • Maritime Shipping & Mediterranean Logistics

Regulatory Developments

Notable Legislative Changes

In force February 2023

Arbitration Reform — International Commercial Arbitration Act (Law 5016/2023)

Replaced older legal texts to align Greece completely with the latest UNCITRAL Model Law standards. Significantly expands the scope of arbitrable disputes, minimizes court intervention opportunities, and establishes a secure, streamlined framework for enforcement.

In force 1 January 2024

Tax Transparency — Electronic Bookkeeping & MyData Mandatory Expansion

Implemented comprehensive reporting requirements via the MyData digital tax network. Requires corporate entities to execute real-time transmission of electronic invoicing, retail receipts, and ledger data directly to tax oversight platforms to reduce evasion.

Enacted 2024; expanded framework 2025

Investment Fast-Track — Strategic Development Modernization Act

Introduced fast-track administrative authorization processes for large-scale public or private projects deemed of high strategic value. Limits building approval, environmental evaluation, and local zoning processing backlogs within centralized state bureaus.

Ongoing — EU regulatory alignment

Digital Governance — National Cybersecurity Implementation & NIS2

Greece is executing full alignment with the EU NIS2 Directive via updated national digital protection bills. The National Cybersecurity Authority supervises infrastructure risk management protocols, auditing data safety targets for logistics, maritime systems, and energy networks.

Note: Regulated fields such as energy generation, banking systems, real estate funds, and maritime operations are overseen by dedicated public entities (RAE, Bank of Greece, Hellenic Capital Market Commission) alongside evolving EU mandates. Asset-specific verification is recommended.

Resources

Useful Official Links

→ Company Registration — GEMI (General Commercial Registry of Greece) → Investment Promotion — Enterprise Greece → Arbitration — EODID (Athens Organization for Dispute Resolution) → Tax Authority — AADE (Independent Authority for Public Revenue) → Official Legislation Portal — National Printing Office (Government Gazette / FEK)

Our Approach

How Mermeroglu Legal Engages in Greece

Greek instructions typically necessitate an integrated approach combining IKE or AE corporate formation, specialized border border clearance checks for properties, tax structuring utilizing regional double-taxation pacts, and modern transaction alignments under Law 5016/2023 parameters. Our multi-jurisdictional desk effectively manages the overlap between the Turkish and Greek legal regimes, providing commercial clients with a cohesive advisory approach alongside our experienced local legal counsel in Athens.

Every cross-border matter is directed by a dedicated matter principal within our firm, supported by dedicated specialized lawyers and authorized local practitioners — covering company formation, real estate due diligence, shipping logistics agreements, international trade optimization, and arbitration procedures before EODID and national commercial tribunals.

INITIAL ENQUIRIES

Market entry, real estate asset positioning, and cross-border commercial transactions in Greece are handled via coordinated corporate practice groups and external alliance teams.

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