Buying Property in Greece: What to Prepare and What Your Visit Involves

Every year, an increasing number of foreign buyers are turning to the Greek real estate market, and data indicates this is not a passing trend. A recent international survey (Questex / Hospitality Investor, June 2026) highlighted Greece as the most attractive investment destination in Europe, securing 43% of preferences compared to 29% for Italy, and 14% each for Spain and France. The combination of sun, safety, and relatively affordable acquisition costs keeps Greece high on the list of international buyers, beyond the Golden Visa itself.

Whether your goal is the Golden Visa or simply acquiring property in Greece, the main obstacle for most buyers from abroad, including Greek diaspora (omogeneis), is not the property itself, but the distance: how to complete the process with one, at most two, short visits to Greece.

In reality, the legal framework allows for the remote settlement of the majority of the process. Locating the property, selecting the appropriate broker, and assembling your legal and technical team can be successfully completed before you even schedule your trip to Greece.

Nevertheless, your physical presence, even for a few days, is practically necessary for the final evaluation of the investment. With coordination, property selection, opening a bank account, and signing the power of attorney are completed. If your time doesn't allow for all of it, we handle the required steps on your behalf. It's worth noting that your personal presence is sometimes necessary to open a Greek bank account.

For buyers from the US, Canada, and Australia, it is worth noting that as of April 10, 2026, the new European Entry/Exit System (EES) is already fully operational, replacing passport stamping with biometric recording at Schengen borders. ETIAS, the electronic travel authorization equivalent to the American ESTA, is expected to come into effect in the last quarter of 2026. Neither changes the 90-day stay limit per six-month period. In most cases, it simply adds a little extra time at passport control; however, during peak periods (summer), queues at Schengen borders may be noticeably longer. It is advisable to factor this into your travel plans, especially if traveling during the summer.

For the full sequence of steps—from obtaining your AFM through to signing the final contract—see our detailed guide Buying Property in Greece: The 5 Steps.

Non-EU/EEA nationals should also be aware that in certain border regions—the Dodecanese, the North Aegean islands, Evros, parts of Thrace, and Santorini—purchasing property requires prior authorization from a special committee under Law 1892/1990. This does not block the purchase; it simply adds an approval step. We check whether your property of interest falls within a border region before proceeding.

1. Your Legal Team

Whether you have already chosen a property or are still searching, the early involvement of your legal team secures your investment right from the start.

The proper completion of the transfer requires the collaboration of three key professionals:

• The Lawyer: Conducts the legal due diligence (encumbrances, mortgages, claims). Any disbursement of a down payment without prior legal verification constitutes a high investment risk.
• The Notary: As a public official, they draft the contract, calculate the applicable taxes, certify the strict traceability of funds, and ensure the registration with the Land Registry.
• The Engineer: Drafts the technical report and the Energy Performance Certificate, fully verifying the urban planning legality of the property (e.g., by submitting an EEDMK to the competent YDOM if a change of use is required)—a prerequisite for the issuance of the residence permit.

2. The Power of Attorney: The Legal Core of the Process

The primary challenge for the international investor is the inability to remain in Greece during the bureaucratic procedures. Greek law resolves this issue by requiring the execution of a Special Power of Attorney.

To implement this, our team handles the drafting of the document perfectly tailored to your transaction. We also deliver the text to you in your native language. Subsequently, you sign it either directly at our office during your brief visit, or from abroad at the locally competent Greek Consulate or before a foreign notary (with an Apostille).

The result is that, from the moment of signing, we acquire full legal authorization to finalize the purchase—issue a Tax ID, open a bank account, and sign the final contract—without any further requirement for your physical presence.

3. Tax ID (AFM), Title Check & Parallel Processing

Before proceeding with the purchase, there are two legal prerequisites: first, establishing your legal standing before the Greek tax authorities, and second, ensuring the property has no encumbrances or urban planning defects. By law, residents abroad must be issued a Greek Tax ID (AFM) and appoint a Tax Representative in Greece (often their lawyer). Simultaneously, no contract can safely proceed without a prior verification of titles and urban planning compliance.

In practice, we execute this process in parallel to compress the timeline. Using the power of attorney, we issue your AFM remotely. While this is happening, the lawyer legally verifies the titles of your chosen property, while the engineer confirms its urban planning clearance. If you wish to quickly "lock in" the property, we sign a pre-contract on your behalf involving a down payment, which is accompanied by strict withdrawal clauses.

Thus, waiting time is minimized, while your capital remains fully protected should any legal impediments arise.

For a deep dive into the financial and compliance logistics—including the exact 4-step chain of obtaining your AFM, Taxisnet access codes, and safely opening your banking framework—read our dedicated guide on the Greek Tax Number & Bank Account from Abroad.

4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)