# Greece's 15% Transfer Tax for Non-EU Buyers (2027) > What the government announced in Sept 2026 on a 15% transfer tax for non-EU buyers from July 2027, who is excluded, and what is still unknown. Canonical: https://mav19-goldenvisa.com/guides/greece-15-percent-transfer-tax Developer: TPL S.A. · Ethnomartyron 40, 263 33 Patras, Greece · VAT EL800864603 · GEMI 143336716000 · LEI 9845006C601CB29D1H76 Generated: 2026-09-28. A Markdown mirror of the page above; the HTML page is authoritative. --- ## The planned 15% transfer tax for non-EU buyers What the Greek government announced in September 2026, who it would apply to, who was reported as excluded, what it would cost on a €250,000 purchase, and the questions a bill still has to answer. Announced, not law By TPL S.A., owner and developer of MVR 19 · Status checked 27 September 2026 · General information, not legal or tax advice [Ask a question](https://mav19-goldenvisa.com/enquire) In September 2026 the Greek government announced that non-EU and non-EEA individuals buying residential property would pay a 15% transfer tax instead of today's 3%, from 1 July 2027. It is announced, not law: as of 27 September 2026 no bill has been published. Companies, people of Greek origin and long-term residents were reported as excluded. Its treatment of €250,000 change-of-use property is unknown. Status on 27 September 2026: announced, not law. Everything below describes a government announcement and press reports of it. The final rate, scope, exclusions and start date will only be known when a bill is published, consulted on, passed by Parliament and printed in the Government Gazette. We log every change in the updates log. ## 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 Scope of the announced 15% transfer tax as reported on 7–11 September 2026. Not law; subject to the text of a bill. Buyer or property | As announced Non-EU, non-EEA individual buying a home | 15% instead of 3% EU and EEA citizens | Not affected Companies (legal entities) | Reported as excluded People of Greek origin | Reported as excluded Long-term residents of Greece | Reported as excluded Non-residential property | Not covered: the measure targets residential purchases Property converted to residential use (the €250,000 route) | Unknown; not addressed in the announcement 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. Transfer tax on a €250,000 purchase: today, and under the announced rate if it applied in full. Scenario only. Reading and rate | Tax | Change Today: 3.09% | €7,725 | – 15%, no surcharge | €37,500 | +€29,775 15% plus surcharge: 15.45% | €38,625 | +€30,900 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](https://mav19-goldenvisa.com/guides/golden-visa-costs-taxes) 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. ### Announcement: done 6–8 September 2026: the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister announce the rate, the target group and the 1 July 2027 start. ### Draft bill and public consultation: pending The measure is to be part of a wider bill. The draft text will show the exact scope, exclusions and transitional rules for the first time. ### Vote in Parliament: pending The text can change between consultation and the vote. ### Publication in the Government Gazette: pending Only the published law is binding. Guidance from the tax authority may follow. ### Start date: 1 July 2027, as announced Purchases would be taxed at the new rate from the date set in the law. ## 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](https://mav19-goldenvisa.com/golden-visa-250k) works, [compare the 19 residences](https://mav19-goldenvisa.com/residences), or [ask us about timing](https://mav19-goldenvisa.com/enquire). ## Updates log Newest first. We add a dated entry whenever the status changes. Status history of the announced 15% transfer tax, checked against the sources below. Date | Update 27 Sep 2026 | Guide published. Status: announced, not law. No bill published or in public consultation as of this date. Start date as announced: 1 July 2027. Treatment of converted property: unknown. 16 Sep 2026 | Sector reports highlight the open question for the €250,000 route. 11 Sep 2026 | International coverage of the likely cost for Golden Visa investors. 8 Sep 2026 | Finance Minister confirms 1 July 2027. Reports set out the exclusions: companies, people of Greek origin, long-term residents. 7 Sep 2026 | Detail of the Thessaloniki Fair measures; start reported as 1 July 2027. 6 Sep 2026 | Prime Minister announces a 15% transfer tax for non-EU buyers; early reports give 1 January 2027. ## Sources - [newmoney.gr, 8 September 2026](https://www.newmoney.gr/roh/palmos-oikonomias/oikonomia/akinita-se-pious-epivallete-o-foros-metavivasis-15-ti-allaxe-meta-tis-antidrasis/): who the 15% tax would apply to, the exclusions, and the Finance Minister's 1 July 2027 date. - [protothema.gr, 8 September 2026](https://www.protothema.gr/economy/article/1875396/foros-metavivasis-15-gia-agorastes-apo-trites-hores-poioi-exairoudai-i-ekkremotita-me-tin-golden-visa/): exclusions and the open Golden Visa question. - [capital.gr, 7 September 2026](https://www.capital.gr/oikonomia/4014987/live-i-exeidikeusi-ton-metron-tis-deth-apo-to-oikonomiko-epiteleio/) and [dnews.gr, 7 September 2026](https://www.dnews.gr/eidhseis/oikonomia/608809/akinita-pentaplasiazetai-apo-tin-1i-iouliou-2027-o-foros-metavivasis-gia-agorastes-apo-trites-xores): detail of the Fair measures. - [IMI Daily, 6 September 2026](https://www.imidaily.com/europe/greece-to-quintuple-property-transfer-tax-to-15-for-non-eu-buyers-from-january-2027/): first report, with a January 2027 start. - Business Standard, "15% property tax in Greece: why Golden Visa investors may face a bigger bill", 11 September 2026: likely cost for Golden Visa investors. - [Avla Real Estate sector report, 16 September 2026](https://www.avlarealestate.com/en/post/greece-2027-transfer-tax-portfolio-golden-visa-and-the-250-000-question-sector-report): the €250,000 question. - [Engel & Völkers Greece, property transfer costs 2026](https://www.engelvoelkers.com/gr/en/resources/property-transfer-documents-process-and-costs-a-step-by-step-guide-key-highlights): today's 3.09% transfer tax. - [Law 5038/2023, art. 100 §1, as replaced by art. 64 of Law 5100/2024, codified text](https://migration.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/%CE%9D%CF%8C%CE%BC%CE%BF%CF%82-5100_2024-%CE%BA%CF%89%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%80%CE%BF%CE%B9%CE%B7%CE%BC%CE%AD%CE%BD%CE%BF%CF%82-%CE%BC%CE%B5-%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BD-5167_2024-%CE%A6%CE%95%CE%9A-%CE%91-49_5.4.2024.pdf): purchase through a 100%-owned Greek or EU company. Sources last checked 27 September 2026 · General information, not legal advice · Consult an independent Greek lawyer and tax adviser before you buy ## Related guides ### What a €250k Greek Golden Visa purchase really costs Transfer tax, notary, registry, lawyer and permit fees, yearly costs and rental tax, with a worked example. ### How long the Greek Golden Visa takes From reservation, tax number and bank account to deed, application, biometrics and the five-year card. ### Buying Greek property remotely Power of attorney, tax number, Greek bank account and notary, and when you must travel for biometrics. ## Questions about timing or costs? Ask us about the conversion timetable, the price list or the costs on a specific residence. We reply within one business day, in English or Greek. Golden Visa eligibility is subject to completion of the change of use before your application and to the Ministry's decision.