Company Formation in Greece
Incorporating a Greek company or branch for international investors — from the articles of association and GEMI registration through to the corporate bank account and operating licences.
The right vehicle, from day one
Choosing a company type is not an administrative formality. It determines shareholder liability, tax treatment, running costs, disclosure obligations and how easily you will later be able to bring in a new investor or sell. A structure chosen quickly because it was the fastest option costs several times more to unwind two years later.
For most international investors the IKE — the Greek private company — is the natural starting point: minimal share capital, single-member incorporation and a flexible constitution. Where there are multiple shareholders, external funding or a planned exit, the Anonymi Etaireia (the Greek public limited company) justifies its higher cost and heavier governance. And where the activity is an extension of an existing foreign company, a branch may be preferable to a new legal entity altogether.
Why our firm
We do not simply hand over a registration number. We draft articles written for your actual arrangement — minority protections, share transfer restrictions, deadlock provisions, the scope of the manager’s authority — rather than filing the standard template and leaving the difficult questions for later. The template constitution is free and fast. It is also the origin of most shareholder disputes that reach us.
Our approach
Incorporation is run as a project with a clear sequence and a single point of contact. Depending on the case, the work may include:
- Comparing company types against tax treatment, liability and your exit plan
- Drafting the articles of association and the shareholders’ agreement
- Obtaining Greek tax numbers for foreign shareholders and directors, and appointing a tax representative where required
- Incorporation through the electronic one-stop service or before a notary, and registration with GEMI
- Filing with the Central Register of Beneficial Owners
- Opening the corporate bank account and preparing the source-of-funds file
- Social security and employment registrations, and the operating licences your sector requires
Core areas of expertise
Private company (IKE)
Minimal capital, single-member incorporation and the most flexible constitution — the usual starting vehicle for international investors.
Public limited company (AE)
For multiple shareholders, external funding or a planned sale. Board, general meetings and governance under Law 4548/2018.
Branch of a foreign company
Extending an existing company without creating a new entity. Often quicker, but it exposes the parent differently — the comparison is made before, not after.
Shareholders' agreements
Minority protections, transfer restrictions, pre-emption rights, deadlock and exit provisions. The document nobody reads until they need it.
Beneficial ownership & AML
Central Register filing, evidencing the ownership chain and preparing for the bank's checks under Greece's anti-money-laundering framework.
Operating licences
The approvals your specific sector requires — tourism, food service, retail, manufacturing — identified before you open, not after the first inspection.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be resident in Greece to form a company?
No. There is no residence requirement for shareholders or directors. You will need a Greek tax number and, if you are not tax resident in Greece, a tax representative. With a power of attorney the incorporation can be completed without you travelling.
How long does incorporation take?
Incorporating an IKE through the electronic one-stop service is very quick once the file is complete. In practice the timeline is set by the prerequisites — obtaining tax numbers for foreign individuals, and apostilled and officially translated corporate documents for a foreign parent — and by opening the bank account, which is almost always the slowest step.
Do I need a Greek partner or director?
No. The company can be wholly owned and wholly managed by non-Greek nationals. You will need a registered office in Greece and, practically, someone with local access for ongoing filings — a role covered by engagement, not by giving away equity.
Can the company buy property?
Yes, and it is often the better structure for investment property. The tax treatment differs materially from buying as an individual, and the choice also affects any investor residence permit application — which is why the decision belongs before the first deposit, not after.