COREDO > Company Formation in Greece

Company Formation in Greece

Why Register a Company in Greece

Greece is a Southern European jurisdiction with access to the EU, Middle Eastern, and North African markets, making it a convenient platform for international business.

The country offers foreign investors access to the European market, a developed banking infrastructure, double taxation treaties with dozens of countries, and the possibility of 100% foreign ownership of companies. The Greek economy is actively developing in tourism, energy, shipping, IT, and international trade.

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Cost of the service
from 9 000 EUR

Types of Companies in Greece

Foreign entrepreneurs can register a legal entity in Greece in one of the following legal forms.

IKE (Idiotiki Kefalaiouchiki Etairia)

Private capital company. The most popular form of doing business in Greece, introduced by Law 4072/2012. The main advantage of an IKE is the absence of minimum share capital requirements (under the amendment of Law 4155/2013, the minimum capital may start from EUR 1). A single founder is sufficient for incorporation. Management is carried out by one or more managers. An IKE provides for three types of member contributions: capital contributions (εταιρικά μερίδια), non-capital contributions in the form of labour (εξωκεφαλαιακές εισφορές) and guarantee contributions (εγγυητικές εισφορές), which offers flexibility when structuring capital. Members’ liability is limited to the amount of their contributions. An IKE is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses, startups and foreign investors planning to enter the Greek market.

A.E. (Anonimi Etairia)

Public limited company. Suitable for large-scale projects and companies planning to attract significant investment. Its activities are governed by Law 4548/2018. The minimum share capital is EUR 25,000. At least one shareholder is required for incorporation; management is carried out by a board of directors (minimum three members). An A.E. is the mandatory form for certain types of activity, including banking and insurance organisations, and may issue both registered and preferred shares.

E.P.E. (Etairia Periorismenis Efthinis)

Limited liability company. Governed by Law 3190/1955, as subsequently amended. The minimum share capital is EUR 4,500. A single founder is sufficient for registration.

O.E. and E.E. — partnerships

O.E. (Omorrythmi Etairia) is a general partnership with unlimited liability for all partners. E.E. (Eterorythmi Etairia) is a limited partnership in which at least one partner bears unlimited liability while the remaining partners have limited liability.

Foreign companies may also open a branch in Greece without creating a separate legal entity and without minimum capital requirements.

Registration Procedure

Legal entities in Greece are registered through the General Commercial Registry GEMI (Geniko Emporiko Mitroo), which operates under the supervision of the Greek Ministry of Development and Investments. The registration process is available online via the government platform businessportal.gr, as well as in person at the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The main registration steps include: checking and reserving the company name through the GEMI system, preparing the memorandum of association and articles of association, submitting documents to the registry, obtaining a tax identification number (AFM — Arithmos Forologikou Mitroou), registering with the tax authorities and with the social insurance system EFKA. The company must also register with the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry and obtain a primary activity code (KAD). For an IKE, the memorandum of association may be prepared in simple written form without mandatory notarial certification, which considerably simplifies and accelerates the procedure. For an A.E. and an E.P.E., notarial certification of the memorandum of association is mandatory.

Required Documents

The following documents are required for company registration in Greece:

the memorandum of association and articles of association specifying the company name, registered office, share capital amount, types of activity and details of the founders;

identity documents of the founders and directors (passports);

proof of the registered office in Greece (lease agreement or certificate of ownership);

a resolution on the appointment of the manager or board of directors.

All documents in foreign languages must be translated into Greek and, where necessary, apostilled.

Registration Timeline

Registering a new legal entity in Greece typically takes up to 10 business days, provided that a complete set of correctly prepared documents is available. For an IKE, the process may be completed in a shorter timeframe thanks to the simplified procedure for preparing the memorandum of association.

COREDO Service Fees

Service	Fee
Company registration in Greece (full package)	from EUR 9,000 + VAT
Bank account opening	from EUR 1,800 to EUR 2,300 + VAT

The registration package includes: legal services for company incorporation, obtaining a VAT number, assignment of a tax identification number (AFM) and tax representative services for one year. The minimum share capital for an IKE (equivalent of an LLC) is EUR 0, and for an E.P.E. it is EUR 4,500. To receive a personalised quote, please contact our specialists — we will prepare a detailed commercial proposal tailored to your specific situation.

Tax System in Greece

Greece offers a transparent tax system that meets European Union standards. The standard corporate income tax (CIT) rate is 22%. The standard value added tax (VAT) rate is 24%, with reduced rates applied to certain categories of goods and services: 13% (food products, hotel accommodation, passenger transport) and 6% (pharmaceuticals, books, electricity).

The dividend withholding tax rate is 5%. Greece provides tax incentives for research and development (R&D) expenses, including an enhanced tax deduction for qualifying R&D expenditures in effect during 2025–2027. Reduced VAT rates apply to a number of Aegean Sea island territories (a 30% reduction from the standard rates). The tax year coincides with the calendar year, and annual returns are filed within the statutory deadlines.

Greece applies a progressive personal income tax scale: income up to EUR 10,000 is taxed at 9%, from EUR 10,001 to EUR 20,000 at 22%, from EUR 20,001 to EUR 30,000 at 28%, from EUR 30,001 to EUR 40,000 at 36%, and above EUR 40,000 at 44%. For credit institutions participating in the deferred tax assets (DTAs) regime, the corporate tax rate is 29%.

Accounting and Reporting

All companies registered in Greece are required to maintain accounting records in accordance with the Greek Accounting Standards (ELP — Ellinika Logistika Protypa), introduced by Law 4308/2014. Large companies and publicly listed companies are required to apply International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Companies file annual tax returns and financial statements with the tax authorities. IKE and E.P.E. entities maintain simplified accounting records provided they do not exceed the established thresholds for turnover and headcount.

Our Experts

The COREDO team has been operating since 2016 and possesses deep expertise in company registration across various European jurisdictions.

Nikita Veremeev

Founder & NED of COREDO. Founded the company in 2016 and personally oversees the strategic development of the business across dozens of jurisdictions.

Pavel Kos

Head of Legal. Has been part of the COREDO team since June 2017 and is responsible for legal support of corporate projects and company registration.

Basang Ungunov

Lawyer. Has been part of the COREDO team since June 2022, specialising in legal support for company registration and structuring across various jurisdictions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular type of legal entity in Greece for foreign investors?

The most popular form is the IKE (private capital company), introduced by Law 4072/2012. An IKE does not require minimum share capital, allows registration by a single founder and provides a simplified incorporation procedure without mandatory notarial certification of the memorandum of association.

Does a founder need to be a resident of Greece to register a company?

No, Greece does not impose residency requirements on founders or directors. Foreign nationals may register a company on the same terms as residents of the country.

How long does it take to register a company in Greece?

Registering a legal entity in Greece typically takes up to 10 business days. For an IKE, the process may be completed faster thanks to the simplified document preparation procedure.

What is the minimum share capital for an IKE in Greece?

An IKE has no mandatory minimum capital. Under Law 4072/2012, as amended by Law 4155/2013, the share capital may start from EUR 1, and its presence is not a mandatory requirement for incorporation.

What is the corporate tax rate in Greece?

The standard corporate income tax (CIT) rate in Greece is 22%. For credit institutions participating in the deferred tax assets (DTAs) regime, the rate is 29%.

Order a Consultation

COREDO specialists provide full support throughout the company registration process in Greece — from document preparation to obtaining a tax number and registering with government authorities. We have been operating since 2016 and help entrepreneurs from dozens of countries successfully build business structures in Europe and beyond.