Greece Company Registration | Set Up a Company in Greece (IKE Private Company)
Planning Greece company registration so you can set up a company in Greece and serve Eastern Mediterranean and EU markets? The most common new entity is the private capital company, or IKE (Ιδιωτική Κεφαλαιουχική Εταιρεία). It can be formed by private agreement using the model articles, and registration is completed in one step through the General Commercial Registry (GEMI) or the electronic one-stop service e-ΥΜΣ. The official guide lists no limit on foreign shareholding and sets out the documents needed when a non-EU citizen is a founder.
An IKE needs minimum capital of EUR 1, and the official guide says setup generally takes about 2 working days. The standard corporate income tax rate is 22%, the standard VAT rate is 24% and the general dividend withholding tax rate is 5%. NSS Group (戰國策集團) offers a one-stop service to register an IKE in Greece, from choosing the entity type and certifying founder documents to preparing the model articles, GEMI registration, the company tax number and annual filing reminders, for businesses and individuals.
A private capital company (IKE) needs minimum capital of EUR 1 and can be formed by private agreement using the model articles, generally without a notary.
The Enterprise Greece guide says setting up any type of company in Greece generally takes about 2 working days, and the one-stop service must complete its review by the next working day.
When an IKE is set up entirely through the electronic one-stop service e-ΥΜΣ, the fee is 30% of the single fee, or EUR 18 (2019 guide).
The general dividend withholding tax rate in Greece is 5%, and the standard corporate income tax rate is 22% (PwC, reviewed September 2026).
Greek company?
Greece is an EU member state in the Eastern Mediterranean. A private capital company (IKE) needs minimum capital of only EUR 1 and can be formed by private agreement using the model articles, generally without a notary. Through GEMI or the electronic one-stop service e-ΥΜΣ, the name check, commercial registration and company tax number are handled in one step, and the official guide says this generally takes about 2 working days. The standard corporate income tax rate is 22%, the general dividend withholding tax rate is 5%, and new companies pay half the usual income tax prepayment for their first 3 years. Greece suits businesses targeting Southeast Europe, shipping and tourism.
in 3 steps
In Greece, you set up a company by filing with a one-stop service point (GEMI, a notary or the electronic one-stop service e-ΥΜΣ). The service point handles the name check, GEMI registration, the company tax number and the social insurance notification at the same time. An IKE using the model articles is formed by private agreement, generally without a notary.
Foreign founders’ documents must be certified and come with an official translation, and after setup the company files corporate income tax and VAT returns every year. NSS Group helps you plan the shareholding structure, arrange document certification and plan annual maintenance, so your Greek company stays clear and compliant from setup to operation.
Confirm the company name, business activities, capital and company address, and use the model articles of association (Model AoA). Non-EU founders need a valid passport, plus a residence permit if they stay long term in Greece. Foreign corporate shareholders need their articles, a registration certificate from the last quarter and an official translation with an apostille.
File with GEMI, a notary or the electronic one-stop service e-ΥΜΣ (eyms.businessportal.gr) and pay the single fee. At the same time, authorize the service point to handle the name check and GEMI registration, apply for the company tax number (ΑΦΜ) and Taxisnet credentials, and notify the social insurance agency e-ΕΦΚΑ.
The one-stop service point reviews the filing on the day it is received or by the next working day at the latest, and the company is formed once everything is in order. The official guide says this generally takes about 2 working days. After setup, open a bank account with the company tax number and file VAT and corporate income tax returns on time.
service
- Company name search and reservation
- Preparation and filing of registration documents
- Drafting of governing documents
- Collection of the registration certificate
- Greece bank account opening documents and process guidance
- Account opening document preparation
- Appointment booking and accompaniment
- Post-opening support
- Registered address
- Company secretary appointment
- Annual filing services
- Document custody and management
- Bookkeeping
- Tax filing and planning
- Financial statement preparation
- Audit arrangement
- Trademark search and assessment
- Trademark application filing
- Trademark maintenance and renewal
- Infringement protection advice
- Company change filings
- Share transfer support
- Company deregistration
- Legal advisory support
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- IKE / E.P.E. / A.E. entity type assessment
- Apostille and translation of founder documents
- Model articles and incorporation document preparation
- GEMI one-stop setup, company tax number and social insurance notification
- Annual corporate income tax and VAT filing reminders
Government fees (Enterprise Greece 2019 guide): single fee EUR 60, GEMI registration fee EUR 10, name check EUR 30 (optional), e-ΥΜΣ online setup EUR 18; other costs as quoted
Greece company registration at a glance
The points people ask about most when registering a company in Greece, checked against official sources (updated November 2026).
| Entity type | Private capital company (IKE) |
|---|---|
| Registering body | General Commercial Registry (GEMI) |
| Foreign ownership | No limit listed in the official guide; non-EU founders need a passport |
| Minimum capital | EUR 1 |
| Corporate income tax | Standard rate 22% |
| VAT | Standard rate 24% |
| Setup time | Official guide: generally about 2 working days |
| Annual filing | Income tax by the end of the 6th month after the year end |
| Who can help | NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw), free assessment and written quote |
Greece company formation cost: fee breakdown
The government fees for registering a Greek company are mainly the one-stop service single fee and the GEMI registration fee, and the name check is optional. A société anonyme also pays a Competition Commission fee. The figures in the official guide are listed below so you can check quotes line by line.
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| One-stop service single fee | EUR 60 | Applies to an IKE, E.P.E. or A.E.; EUR 3 extra for each founder above 10. |
| GEMI company registration fee | EUR 10 | Company registration with the General Commercial Registry. |
| Name and trade name check | EUR 30 (optional) | Nationwide check of the company name and trade name. |
| e-ΥΜΣ online setup | EUR 18 | When set up entirely through the electronic one-stop service, 30% of the single fee, regardless of the number of founders. |
| Competition Commission fee | 0.1% of capital | Only for a société anonyme (A.E.). |
| Bookkeeping and annual filing | Quoted by transaction volume | Corporate income tax is filed by the last day of the 6th month after the financial year end. |
| NSS Group advisory fee | Written quote after a free assessment | Based on the shareholder structure, document certification needs and bank account opening support. Every item is listed in the quote, with no hidden fees. |
Fees follow the Enterprise Greece guide Setting up a Company in Greece (2019). The latest GEMI notices prevail.
Greek company tax and compliance: corporate income tax and VAT
A Greek company mainly pays corporate income tax and VAT. Some Aegean islands have lower VAT rates, and shipping profits fall under tonnage tax. Foreign shareholders should check whether their home country has a comprehensive income tax treaty with Greece and how its controlled foreign company (CFC) rules apply.
| Item | Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate income tax | Standard rate 22% | 29% for credit institutions that opt into the deferred tax asset regime; shipping profits fall under tonnage tax. |
| VAT | Standard rate 24% | Reduced rate 13% and super-reduced rate 6%; rates are 30% lower on some islands with a population of 20,000 or less. |
| Dividend withholding tax | General rate 5% | May be reduced under a comprehensive income tax treaty with the shareholder's country; qualifying EU parent companies can be exempt. |
| Income tax return | Last day of the 6th month after the year end | Must be filed electronically. |
| Income tax prepayment | 80% of the current year's tax | Halved for new companies in their first 3 years of operation. |
| Publication of financial statements | A.E.: within 20 days of approval | A société anonyme must publish its annual financial statements and management report on GEMI. |
Some rates follow the PwC tax summaries (a secondary source, reviewed September 2026). Publication of financial statements follows the Enterprise Greece guide. For your own case, ask an accountant to review your actual structure.
Greek IKE, E.P.E. or A.E.: which should you choose?
Foreign businesses setting up in Greece usually compare the private capital company (IKE), the limited liability company (E.P.E.) and the société anonyme (A.E.).
| Item | Private capital company (IKE) | Limited liability company (E.P.E.) | Société anonyme (A.E.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum capital | EUR 1 | Set freely, at least EUR 1 per share | EUR 25,000 |
| Incorporation document | Model articles by private agreement, generally no notary | Notarial deed or model articles by private agreement | Notarial deed or model articles by private agreement |
| One-stop service single fee | EUR 60 (EUR 18 via e-ΥΜΣ) | EUR 60 | EUR 60, plus a Competition Commission fee of 0.1% of capital |
| Type of contribution | Capital, non-capital or guarantee contributions | Cash or assets that can be valued | Cash or assets in kind |
| Suited to | SMEs, startups and foreign-owned subsidiaries | Traditional SMEs | Large investments or companies that need to issue securities |
These are general principles. Choose based on your shareholders' background, business model and tax planning.
What foreign founders should know before setting up a company in Greece
- Visas: Greece is in the Schengen area. Whether you can visit visa-free depends on your nationality, and visa-free stays are limited to a total of 90 days in any 180-day period. To stay long term or work in Greece, you must apply for a visa and residence under Greek rules.
- Founder documents: the Enterprise Greece guide requires non-EU founders to provide a valid passport, plus a residence permit or proof of a residence application if they stay or plan to stay long term in Greece. Documents of foreign corporate shareholders must carry an apostille or consular legalization and come with an official translation.
- Tax treaties: check whether your shareholders' home country has a comprehensive income tax treaty with Greece. Without one, the 5% dividend withholding tax cannot be reduced under a treaty.
- Home-country rules: check your home-country outbound investment approval or reporting rules and controlled foreign company (CFC) rules before investing in Greece.
- Bank account: a company needs a valid Greek tax number to trade, and account approval follows each bank's own rules. Allow time to prepare source of funds and business description documents.
Why work with NSS Group on Greece company registration?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) is a Taiwan-based global company registration and business advisory brand with more than 25 years of experience and more than 30,000 businesses served. We handle company formation, bank account opening, accounting and tax, and annual maintenance in many countries and regions, including Greece, and can handle founder document certification and GEMI one-stop setup. We give a free assessment and a written quote. Call our toll-free line 0800-003-191 (from Taiwan) or use the form on this page.
Further reading
Sources: Enterprise Greece: Setting up a Company in Greece (2019 guide, PDF); General Commercial Registry (GEMI): One stop Services; Greek electronic one-stop service e-ΥΜΣ; PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Greece Taxes on corporate income (reviewed 2026-09-08); PwC: Greece Other taxes; PwC: Greece Withholding taxes; PwC: Greece Tax administration. The latest official notices prevail. This page is general information and is not legal or tax advice.
How much does it cost to set up a company in Greece in 2026?
According to the Enterprise Greece 2019 guide, setting up an IKE costs a one-stop service single fee of EUR 60 and a GEMI registration fee of EUR 10, and the nationwide name check at EUR 30 is optional. If you set up entirely through the electronic one-stop service e-ΥΜΣ, the fee is EUR 18. The minimum capital for an IKE is EUR 1. The latest GEMI notices prevail, and advisory services are quoted separately.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a Greek company?
The official guide lists no limit on foreign shareholding and sets out the documents a non-EU citizen needs to be an IKE founder: a valid passport and, if staying or planning to stay long term in Greece, a residence permit or proof of a residence application. Foreign corporate shareholders must provide certified articles and a registration certificate. We recommend confirming your case before setup.
Do I need to travel to Greece to set up a company?
Not necessarily. An IKE can be filed with a one-stop service point by the founders in person or by a legally authorized representative, and formed by private agreement using the model articles, generally without a notary. It can also be set up online through the electronic one-stop service e-ΥΜΣ. Foreign documents need an apostille and an official translation, so allow time to have them certified in your home country.
How long does it take to set up a company in Greece?
The Enterprise Greece guide says setting up any type of company in Greece generally takes about 2 working days. The one-stop service point must review the documents on the day they are received or by the next working day at the latest, and the company is formed once everything is in order, with GEMI registration, the company tax number and the social insurance notification handled at the same time. The actual time still depends on document preparation.
What taxes does a Greek company file each year?
The standard corporate income tax rate is 22%, and the return must be filed electronically by the last day of the 6th month after the financial year end. The prepayment is 80% of the current year’s tax, halved for new companies in their first 3 years. The standard VAT rate is 24%, and the general dividend withholding tax rate is 5%. A société anonyme (A.E.) must also publish its financial statements on GEMI within 20 days of approval.
Who can help me register a company in Greece?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) can help. With more than 25 years of experience and more than 30,000 businesses served, NSS Group offers one-stop Greece company registration: entity type assessment, certification and translation of founder documents, model articles preparation, GEMI one-stop setup and the company tax number, and annual income tax filing reminders. We give a free assessment and a written quote. Call our toll-free line 0800-003-191 (from Taiwan) or use the form on this page.