Greece at a glance
Greece is one of the EU jurisdictions founders most often use today, especially while the EU-wide 28th Regime (EU Inc) is still a proposal. Below are the verified essentials: company types, tax, capital, timing and whether you can set up remotely.
Company types in Greece
- IKE (Idiotiki Kefalaiouchiki Etaireia) The most popular form for founders, the Greek equivalent of an LLC. Limited liability, capital from EUR 1, single-member allowed, and fully online formation via the Gov.gr portal with no notary.
- EPE (limited liability company) The older, more formal LLC form. Capital is set freely in the statute since the 2012 reform; a notarial deed is often required.
- AE (societe anonyme) For larger firms or those raising institutional capital. EUR 25,000 minimum capital fully paid up, with a board and a notarised statute.
| Corporate tax | A flat 22% corporate income tax on company profits. Credit institutions are taxed at 29%. Distributed dividends carry a separate 5% withholding tax. There are no municipal or local income taxes. |
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| VAT rate | Standard VAT is 24%, with reduced rates of 13% and 6% on items such as food, pharmaceuticals and books. Certain remote Aegean islands receive a 30% reduction. |
| Minimum share capital | IKE: from EUR 1, set freely (single member allowed). EPE: no binding statutory minimum since the 2012 reform. AE: EUR 25,000 minimum, fully paid up before registration. |
| Setup time | An IKE filed digitally through Gov.gr and the GEMI registry can be completed in about 1 to 2 weeks when documents are ready; a realistic end-to-end timeline including a tax number (AFM), bank account and VAT registration is roughly 2 to 4 weeks. |
| Remote setup | Partial. IKE incorporation is fully online via the Gov.gr portal. EU nationals can get the AFM tax number remotely; non-EU founders incorporate by granting a notarised power of attorney to a Greek lawyer. Opening the bank account and depositing capital usually needs in-person verification. |
| Director / residency | No residency requirement and 100% foreign ownership is permitted. Every founder needs a Greek tax number (AFM), and non-EU founders must appoint a local tax representative. A residence permit is only needed to live in Greece, not to own from abroad. |
| Banking options | Corporate accounts are opened at the main Greek banks (National Bank of Greece, Piraeus, Alpha, Eurobank), typically in 1 to 3 weeks with in-person checks. Fintechs such as Wise and Revolut Business are widely used, but the share-capital deposit must go into a Greek account. |
| Our formation service | from around €100 to €200 (estimated). You get a fixed quote in your free plan before you commit. |
The IKE dominates foreign company formation: EUR 1 capital, single-member option and no-notary online setup via Gov.gr. myDATA e-invoicing with the tax authority is mandatory from day one. Greece offers full EU single-market access and residency routes including the Golden Visa and digital-nomad permits.
How to register a company in Greece
The process is straightforward and, in Greece, largely digital. In outline:
- Choose your company type and name. Most founders pick the IKE (private company); we confirm the name is available.
- Verify your identity. Partial. IKE incorporation is fully online via the Gov.gr portal. EU nationals can get the AFM tax number remotely; non-EU founders incorporate by granting a notarised power of attorney to a Greek lawyer. Opening the bank account and depositing capital usually needs in-person verification.
- File the incorporation. Once documents are signed, registration usually completes in around 2-4 weeks.
- Open a business account and register for tax/VAT. Corporate accounts are opened at the main Greek banks (National Bank of Greece, Piraeus, Alpha, Eurobank), typically in 1 to 3 weeks with in-person checks. Fintechs such as Wise and Revolut Business are widely used, but the share-capital deposit must go into a Greek account.
We handle each step with licensed local counsel, so the paperwork, registered address and filings are done correctly the first time.
Form your Greek company in days
Tell us where you live and what you are building. Our formation service starts from around €100 to €200 (estimated); we confirm the right structure for Greece, give you a fixed quote, and form the company with licensed counsel.
Get your free planWho can form a company in Greece
Founders from outside the EU can own and run a Greek company, with the cross-border requirements handled for you. We flag any residency or local-agent rule for Greece up front, so there are no surprises.
Greece and the 28th Regime (EU Inc)
EU Inc, the proposed 28th Regime, would let you register one company valid across all 27 EU member states. It is not law yet (expected around 2027-2028), so a Greek company is one of the ready options you can use today. Forming an EU company now also positions you to adopt EU Inc later, as we cover in how to prepare an EU Inc company. To weigh Greece against other countries, see company formation in Europe.