Company Formation & Business Registration in Greece

Professional Company Formation in Greece for International Investors

Most investors assume company registration in Greece will be complicated. It is not. The IKE structure files through GEMI’s digital platform in days. What creates delays is entering the process without understanding how AFM tax number applications work for non-residents or how VAT connects to myDATA obligations from day one.

At Dubai Business and Tax Advisors, we handle company formation in Greece for investors who want the structure built correctly, not just quickly.

Trusted by entrepreneurs and investors across Europe:

Why Company Formation in Greece Builds a Lasting Commercial Foundation

A registered Greek company gives you legal standing inside the European Union. That means trading freely across all 27 member states, holding an EU VAT number, and being treated as a legitimate counterparty by European banks and partners in a way no offshore entity can replicate.

Greece has modernised considerably. GEMI registrations are digital, tax filings run through TAXISnet, and financial data transmits in real time via myDATA.

Operating costs stay well below Germany or France, while a 22% corporate income tax rate and 5% dividend withholding rate keep the jurisdiction genuinely competitive within the EU.

What working with us gives you:

What Our Greece Company Formation Service Covers

GEMI is fast when submissions are correct. When they are not, applications are rejected and timelines restart. Every shareholder and director needs an individual AFM tax number before GEMI will process a filing, and the company’s own AFM is issued by AADE once registration completes. EU nationals can generally obtain a personal AFM remotely through AADE’s myAADElive service, while non-EU founders obtain theirs through a Greek tax representative appointed under a notarised power of attorney. Since January 2026, GEMI’s administrative fines framework has been fully operational, with penalties ranging from 100 to 100,000 euros depending on entity type, size, and the nature of the breach, so compliance gaps after registration now carry real financial consequences.

We cover the full scope of what formation in Greece requires.

Core Services Include:

Entity Selection: IKE, EPE, AE, or Branch Structure
GEMI Registration and Articles of Association
AFM Applications for All Shareholders and Directors
TAXISnet and Corporate Tax Registration
VAT Registration, myDATA Enrolment, and B2B E-Invoicing Readiness
Corporate Banking Introduction and KYC Pack Preparation

Why Investors Choose DBTA for Company Formation Best in Greece

Getting partway through a foreign registration and hitting a requirement you did not know existed is more common than it should be. The AFM process, notarial requirements for AE formations, and myDATA obligations that begin the day the company goes live are not obvious without prior experience. We keep clients ahead of those moments.

Not sure where to start? Talk to us first.

Knowledge

An IKE suits most foreign investors, but not every business. Public capital-raising needs an AE. Regulated sectors carry licensing requirements that run alongside GEMI and must be identified before filing begins. We work through these distinctions early because the structure chosen at formation is far harder to change than the one selected before anything is submitted.

Transparency

Problems with registration invariably result from the lack of information provided initially. The entire scenario is presented first, including all realistic deadlines, forms, etc., along with what simply can't be rushed through. Every client that comes to us having been turned down by some other company tells the same story: nobody ever told them about the AFM lead time.

Client-Focused Approach

Some clients are setting up their first European entity. Others need a Greek structure that fits cleanly into an existing international group. We treat each situation on its own terms. The objective is never just a registration number. It is a structure that serves the business over the long term.

How We Handle Your Company Formation in Greece

We follow a structured sequence designed to reduce errors and keep clients informed at every stage.

Understanding Your Business

Prior to any recommendation, we take stock of the nature of the business operations, the shareholders involved, their jurisdictions, and whether the activity carries any special licensing requirements. This is necessary so that structural misalignment issues do not surface later during registration.

Entity Selection and Structuring

With the commercial picture clear, we confirm the right entity type and ownership structure. For most international investors the IKE is the correct starting point. Where the business has more complex capital or governance requirements, we work through the alternatives before anything is filed.

Documentation and AFM Applications

Every shareholder and director needs a Greek AFM tax number before filing. EU nationals can usually obtain one remotely through AADE’s myAADElive appointment service. Non-EU founders require a notarised power of attorney and a Greek tax representative, and that route takes longer. We run AFM applications in parallel with Articles of Association drafting so both are ready simultaneously, cutting weeks from the overall timeline.

GEMI Filing and Approval

Once documentation is complete and AFM numbers confirmed, we submit the registration. Standard IKE formations file digitally through the e-YMS electronic one-stop shop; AE structures involve notarial coordination we manage directly. We track the application through to the GEMI number, the corporate AFM issued by AADE, and Government Gazette publication.

Tax Activation, VAT, and Banking

Once GEMI issues the company number, the business needs tax registration with AADE, VAT activation, myDATA enrolment, and EFKA registration if staff will be engaged. Greece’s mandatory B2B e-invoicing regime also applies from 1 October 2026 for businesses outside the first phase, so we set the invoicing route up at the same time rather than leaving it as a later problem. We coordinate all of these so the company moves from incorporated to operational without the client managing several separate government processes at once.

Business Consequences of Delaying Company Formation in Greece

Many investors spend months deliberating without moving to action. The delays feel considered. The costs are real.

EU Market Access Stays Out of Reach

EU VAT registration, treaty access, cross-border trading rights, and European banking relationships exist only once the company is incorporated. Every month without registration is a month without those advantages.

GEMI Compliance Exposure Grows

Since January 2026, GEMI operates a structured penalty framework covering late filings, incorrect records, and unpublished financials, supported by automated compliance checks and electronic notices. Registering under time pressure is the worst approach to a process where the first submission needs to be accurate.

E-Invoicing Obligations Are Already Live

Greece’s mandatory B2B e-invoicing regime went live for large businesses on 2 March 2026 and extends to all remaining businesses from 1 October 2026. Companies that put the right invoicing route in place at formation avoid retrofitting a compliant system onto a live business, and early adopters can access incentives including enhanced deductions on implementation costs and a faster VAT refund track.

Credibility Gaps in Commercial Negotiations

European banks and commercial partners conduct due diligence. An investor who cannot point to a GEMI number or EU VAT ID loses ground in those conversations in ways that are hard to recover.

A Market Moving Without You

Greece recorded a 25% increase in M&A deal volume in 2025, driven by Gulf and international capital targeting energy, tourism, and technology. Entry at favourable terms does not stay available indefinitely.

Begin Your Company Formation in Greece Today

At Dubai Business and Tax Advisors, we take clients from initial structure conversation through to a registered, tax-activated Greek company. We cover entity selection, GEMI filing, AFM applications, VAT, myDATA and e-invoicing setup, sector licensing, and banking introductions, with clear communication at every stage.

Advisors with current knowledge of Greek company law and GEMI compliance
Full coverage from entity selection through to operational readiness
Tax registration, VAT, and compliance support throughout
No unexplained delays or last-minute documentation requests

The correct structure of a business organisation can ensure smoother functioning, bank transactions, and even expansion for the future. This is why our primary concern is the right structure of the business organisation rather than merely quick registration.

Company Formation in Greece - FAQs

1. What is the most common entity type for foreign investors in Greece?

The IKE requires as little as one euro in share capital, no mandatory notary where standard articles are used, and registers digitally through GEMI in one to three business days.

2. Can a non-EU investor own 100% of a Greek company?

Yes, Greek law permits full foreign ownership across most sectors without requiring a local partner.

3. Is physical presence in Greece required to register?

No, the entire process can be completed remotely through a power of attorney appointing a Greek-based representative.

4. How long does company formation in Greece typically take?

EU nationals forming an IKE complete the process in around two weeks; non-EU investors needing AFM numbers through a tax representative should allow four to six weeks.

5. What is GEMI?

Greece’s General Commercial Registry, where all companies must be incorporated and ongoing statutory filings maintained.

6. What is the corporate income tax rate?

22% on net profits for IKE, EPE, and AE entities, with a 5% withholding tax on dividend distributions.

7. Is a registered office address in Greece mandatory?

Yes, every Greek company must maintain a registered Greek address at the point of GEMI filing.

8. Which sectors are most active for foreign-owned companies?

Tourism, renewable energy, technology, real estate, shipping, and cross-border trading businesses all have significant foreign-owned company presence in Greece.

9. What advantages does a Greek company have over a non-EU entity?

EU VAT registration, freedom to trade across all 27 member states, and recognition as a European legal entity by banks and commercial partners.

10. Can a Greek company function as a holding structure?

Yes, the 5% dividend withholding rate and participation in the EU parent-subsidiary directive make Greece a viable holding jurisdiction for qualifying structures.

1. What documents does GEMI require for registration?

Passport copies, proof of address, Articles of Association, a Greek registered office address, and, where the entity type requires it, share capital deposit confirmation; non-EU founders also need an apostilled power of attorney.

2. What is an AFM and who needs one?

Greece’s tax identification number. Every shareholder and director must hold a personal AFM before GEMI will process the registration, while the company’s own AFM is issued by AADE once the registration completes.

3. What is myDATA and when do obligations begin?

Greece’s mandatory electronic bookkeeping and e-invoicing platform. Reporting obligations begin as soon as the company conducts its first transactions, and mandatory B2B e-invoicing through myDATA applies from 2 March 2026 for businesses above the first-phase revenue threshold and from 1 October 2026 for all remaining businesses.

4. Are there sectors requiring approvals beyond standard GEMI registration?

Yes, financial services, healthcare, food and beverage, and media all require regulatory approvals alongside the standard GEMI process. Since 2025 Greece also operates a foreign direct investment screening mechanism that can apply to acquisitions and investments in designated strategic sectors.

5. What does the GEMI fines framework mean in practice?

Since January 2026, a structured penalty regime applies to late filings, unpublished financials, and outdated records, with fines ranging from 100 to 100,000 euros depending on entity type, size, and the nature of the breach. Notices are issued electronically and companies have a defined window to correct the omission or file an objection before the fine becomes final.

6. When must a Greek company register for VAT?

Immediately after GEMI incorporation for most commercial entities; the standard rate is 24%.

7. Does an IKE require a statutory audit?

Most small IKEs fall below the mandatory audit threshold, but annual financial statements must still be filed with GEMI.

8. What annual filings are required after registration?

Annual financials with GEMI, corporate tax returns through TAXISnet by the last working day of the sixth month after year end, and periodic VAT returns and myDATA transmissions.

9. Can registered activities be changed after incorporation?

Yes, through a GEMI amendment that may require updated Articles and, for regulated activities, new sector approvals.

10. What most commonly causes GEMI to reject a first submission?

Missing or incorrectly formatted AFM numbers, insufficient registered office documentation, and Articles of Association not meeting current content requirements.

1. What drives the total cost of forming a company in Greece?

Entity type, notarial requirements, the number of founders needing AFM applications, registered office costs, and professional service fees for GEMI filing and tax representative support.

2. Why does an IKE cost less to form than an AE?

An IKE uses a digital process with one euro minimum capital and no notary where standard articles are used; an AE requires a notarially executed deed and minimum capital of 25,000 euros.

3. What are the minimum share capital requirements for each entity type?

An IKE can be formed with one euro of capital and an AE requires 25,000 euros. The EPE has historically carried a higher threshold than the IKE, and the applicable figure should be confirmed for your specific structure at the planning stage.

4. Are government fees involved in the registration?

Yes, GEMI registration fees, VAT registration charges, and notarial fees where applicable are required costs in every formation.

5. Can the registration be completed without travelling to Greece?

Yes, a power of attorney covers all steps from AFM applications through to banking introductions without physical presence.

6. What does Greek corporate banking require after registration?

GEMI confirmation, Articles of Association, founder identification, and evidence of source of funds for KYC and AML compliance.

7. What are the ongoing annual maintenance costs?

Accounting, corporate tax preparation, VAT filing, myDATA and e-invoicing compliance management, and annual GEMI filing fees.

8. Does a regulated sector significantly increase formation costs?

Yes, separate regulatory bodies, additional documentation, and longer timelines make regulated sector formations meaningfully more expensive.

9. Is there a cost difference between the standard IKE template and bespoke Articles?

The standardised template avoids notarial fees; bespoke Articles allow greater flexibility for complex shareholding structures but add cost.

10. Why do advisors add value when GEMI appears accessible online?

The complexity is in knowing what to submit, how to sequence AFM applications for non-resident founders, and how to structure the entity correctly before filing begins.

1. Why is Greece attracting growing international investment interest?

Greece achieved investment-grade credit status, recorded its strongest M&A deal value since 2012 in 2025, and is seeing rising capital from Gulf and international investors targeting energy, infrastructure, and tourism.

2. What makes Greece relevant for investors with Gulf market connections?

Greece’s Mediterranean position connects Europe directly with North Africa and the Middle East, and Gulf capital has been increasingly active in Greek energy, hospitality, and infrastructure transactions.

3. Can a Greek company structure minimise dividend tax for foreign shareholders?

Greece’s 5% dividend withholding rate is among the lowest in the eurozone and can be eliminated entirely for qualifying EU group structures under the parent-subsidiary directive.

4. What liability protection do foreign shareholders have in an IKE?

Shareholders are liable only to the extent of their contributions; personal assets are protected equally for Greek nationals and foreign investors.

5. Can a Greek company operate commercially across other EU member states?

Yes, under EU freedom of establishment and freedom to provide services, though sustained operations elsewhere may require additional local registration.

6. What mistakes do international investors most commonly make during Greek registration?

Underestimating AFM timelines for non-resident founders, submitting documents in incorrect formats, choosing the wrong entity type, and missing sector licensing requirements before starting.

7. Can an IKE be converted to an AE as the business grows?

Yes, Greek company law provides a formal conversion procedure from IKE to AE without dissolution.

8. How does Greece's tax treaty network benefit foreign-owned companies?

Agreements with over 50 countries reduce or eliminate withholding taxes on dividends, royalties, and interest between Greece and the shareholder’s residence jurisdiction.

9. What ongoing support is typically needed after Greek company registration?

Accounting, VAT compliance, myDATA and e-invoicing management, annual GEMI filings, corporate tax preparation, and advisory on shareholding or activity changes as the business develops.

10. Why work with an advisory firm rather than registering directly?

The difficulty is not the GEMI platform itself; it is knowing which structure to choose, how to sequence the process for non-resident founders, and how to build an entity that works correctly from day one.