From a Greek tax number to the notary's deed — eight checks that keep a Greek property purchase safe, remote-friendly and free of legalization surprises.
Greece's purchase process runs through a notary, not a private contract alone, and a handful of practical steps — a tax number, an engineer's check, the right permit if you're a non-EU buyer in a restricted zone — decide how smoothly it goes. Below is a step-by-step checklist for buying property in Greece, resale or new-build.
What to check, in brief:
- your Greek tax number (AFM) and a local bank account
- independent legal due diligence on the title
- an engineer's technical inspection of the building
- zone and permit status if Golden Visa or short-let income matters to you
- the preliminary agreement and deposit terms
- the notarial deed and transfer tax
- registration at the land registry (Ktimatologio)
- whether you need a power of attorney to do this remotely
1. Get a Greek tax number and open a bank account
Every buyer — resident or not — needs a Greek Tax Identification Number (AFM) before a purchase can close. In person it's usually issued the same day at a tax office; through a representative under power of attorney it typically takes one to two weeks. Bring your passport and proof of your home address. A Greek bank account makes paying the price, the tax and the fees far simpler, though it isn't strictly mandatory for every step.
2. Engage an independent lawyer for title due diligence
Hire your own lawyer — not the seller's or the agency's. They will search the title at the Ktimatologio (land registry) or the older hypothecary office, confirm the seller actually has the right to sell, check for mortgages, liens or claims, and confirm the property matches its building permit. For a foreign buyer, this is the single most important step in the process.
3. Commission an engineer's technical inspection
A lawyer checks the paper title; an engineer checks the building itself. Have a qualified engineer compare the physical structure against its approved plans and flag any undeclared changes, extensions or pools. This matters more in Greece than in many markets, because unauthorized work completed after 28 July 2011 generally cannot be legalized at all, and even earlier violations have deadlines and exclusions.
4. Confirm the zone and permit status match your plan
If a Golden Visa is the goal, verify the property's zone and that it meets the current threshold and the 120 m² minimum before you commit — thresholds and zone boundaries have changed multiple times. If short-let income is part of the plan, confirm the district isn't under a current or pending registration restriction. If you're a non-EU citizen and the property sits in a border region or on a restricted island, start the special purchase-permit application early — it can take three to six months.
5. Sign the preliminary agreement and pay the deposit carefully
The prosymfono (preliminary agreement) sets the price, the timeline and the conditions for the final contract, and is usually backed by a deposit. Make sure the conditions for getting that deposit back are written down before you pay it — not agreed verbally.
6. Complete the notarial deed and pay the transfer tax
The final sale happens through a notarial deed, and the buyer pays a 3% transfer tax (plus a small municipal surcharge, for an effective rate of about 3.1%) calculated on the higher of the contract price or the property's official assessed value. Notary fees run roughly 1–2%, legal fees around 1%, and registry fees near 0.5% — budget the full package, not just the transfer tax, at around 8–10% of the price.
7. Register the title at the land registry
The deed alone doesn't transfer full legal protection — registration at the Ktimatologio does. Confirm the registration is completed and the title shows correctly in your name; this is what actually secures your ownership against later claims.
8. Decide whether you need a power of attorney
If you can't be in Greece for signing, a notarized power of attorney lets your lawyer complete most steps — including the notarial deed — on your behalf. Define its scope clearly and keep it limited to this transaction.
FAQ
Do I need to be in Greece to buy property? No — a notarized power of attorney lets your lawyer sign most documents, including the final deed, on your behalf. How long does a purchase usually take? From an accepted offer to the final contract is typically eight to twelve weeks. Can every renovation or extension be legalized? No — only work completed before 28 July 2011 can qualify, and major violations have been excluded from the scheme since 2020. Is a lawyer legally required? Not for every sale, but in practice it's the only way to verify title, permits and encumbrances as a foreign buyer. How much should I budget beyond the price? Roughly 8–10% for transfer tax, notary, legal and registry fees.
How we help
We run this checklist with you, bring in a local lawyer and an independent engineer, and confirm the zone, permit status and construction history before you commit to a specific property. Informational only, not legal or tax advice — rules change and should be confirmed for your specific property before you sign.