Buying land in Greece as a foreign buyer
A plain-English overview of the steps involved. This is general orientation, not legal advice; always work with a licensed Greek lawyer and notary.
Get a Greek tax registration number (AFM)
Any property transaction in Greece requires an AFM (Αριθμός Φορολογικού Μητρώου), a Greek tax identification number. Non-residents can obtain one through the Greek tax office or via a proxy (typically your lawyer), and it's usually one of the first steps once you've decided to proceed.
Instruct a lawyer
An independent Greek lawyer conducts due diligence on the title: confirming clean ownership, checking for encumbrances, and verifying boundaries against the official cadastre (Κτηματολόγιο) and topographic survey. For a listing like 10‑2 & 10‑3, this is also where the lapsed permit's status would be reviewed ahead of reinstatement or a fresh application.
Open a Greek bank account
Needed to transfer funds for the purchase, taxes and ongoing costs. Most foreign buyers set this up in parallel with their AFM application.
Sign before a notary
Greek property transactions are finalised via a notarial deed. The notary prepares the contract, confirms taxes have been paid, and registers the transfer with the local land registry / cadastre office.
Property transfer tax
Expect a property transfer tax of roughly 3.09% of the assessed value, payable before the notarial deed is signed, plus standard notary, registration and legal fees.
Permits & buildability
For building permit ready land like 10‑6 and 14‑13, buildability is typically demonstrated by an engineer or architect confirming the applicable zoning terms and pointing to comparable, already-built homes nearby. For 10‑2 & 10‑3, the previously approved (now expired) design gives a buyer a documented starting point, which a Greek civil engineer can help reinstate or redesign.
A note on the Golden Visa
If residency is part of your plan, factor the Golden Visa process in early; it typically runs in parallel with, but separately from, the property purchase. See Why Greece for how the thresholds apply to this region, and consult a licensed immigration specialist before relying on it.