The planned 15% transfer tax for non-EU buyers

What was announced

The measure was presented among the government's economic measures at the Thessaloniki International Fair in early September 2026. The Prime Minister announced it on 6 September; early international reports gave the start date as 1 January 2027. On 7 September the government's economic staff set out the detail of the Fair measures, and Greek outlets reported the start as 1 July 2027. On 8 September the Finance Minister confirmed that the tax "will apply from 1 July 2027", and reports that day set out who would be excluded.

The core of the announcement is simple. Property transfer tax, now 3% of the higher of the price and the objective value, would rise to 15% for one group of buyers: individuals from outside the EU and the European Economic Area buying residential property. For everyone else, transfer tax would stay where it is. The measure is to be included in a wider bill that goes to public consultation first.

Who it would apply to, and who was reported as excluded

Golden Visa buyers sit squarely in the target group: most are non-EU individuals buying a home. That is why the question of converted property matters so much for the €250,000 route. Industry groups have been reported as seeking an exemption for it, or a lower rate of about 8%, but nothing has been confirmed.

What it would cost on €250,000

Today the tax is 3% plus a 3% municipal surcharge on the tax, an effective 3.09%. It is not yet known whether the surcharge would sit on top of the new rate, so the table shows both readings.

With notary, registry, lawyer and permit fees, one-off costs on a €250,000 purchase are about 5–7% of the price today. If the new rate applied in full, they would be about 18.5–19%. The costs and taxes guide has the full worked example.

What is still unknown

No bill text exists yet, so these are open questions, not predictions. Each one can change the answer for a Golden Visa buyer.

• Converted property. Whether the €250,000 change-of-use and listed-building routes would be exempt, taxed at a lower rate or taxed in full.
• The surcharge. Whether the 3% municipal surcharge applies to the new rate, which is the difference between €37,500 and €38,625.
• Which date counts. Transfer tax is paid before the final deed. Whether contracts signed before 1 July 2027 but completed after it would be covered, and on what transitional terms.
• Long-term residents. Which residence permits count, and whether an existing investor permit would qualify a buyer for the exclusion.
• Greek origin. How people of Greek origin would prove it, and which documents would be accepted.
• Companies. Whether purchases through companies owned by non-EU individuals would face anti-avoidance rules.
• The start date. Whether 1 July 2027 survives consultation and the parliamentary process.

The road to 1 July 2027

A Greek tax measure becomes law in stages. We mark each stage in the updates log as it happens.

What buyers can do now

• Do not decide on a tax that is not law. Neither rush to beat it nor assume an exemption. Budget both cases.
• Stress-test your budget. Add about €30,000 on a €250,000 purchase in the full-rate case, and see whether the purchase still makes sense for you.
• Ask your lawyer about timing. Which date would count for you, and what happens if completion slips past 1 July 2027.
• Ask about the company route, with care. Greek law lets a Golden Visa investor buy through a Greek or EU company that they own 100%, and companies were reported as excluded. A company brings its own accounting, tax and running costs, and a bill could add anti-avoidance rules. Take tax advice before choosing it.
• Be wary of deadline selling. Anyone who promises that a purchase will close before 1 July 2027, or that it is exempt, is ahead of the law.

Where MVR 19 stands

MVR 19 is designed for the €250,000 change-of-use route; eligibility is subject to completion of the change of use, under a permitting act issued on or after 5 April 2024, before your application. The conversion is in preparation and the completion date will be announced, so we cannot say whether any purchase would complete before 1 July 2027, and we will not use the tax as a sales deadline. The price of each residence is €250,000, the full price in the deed. Read how the €250,000 change-of-use route works, compare the 19 residences, or ask us about timing.

Updates log

Newest first. We add a dated entry whenever the status changes.