Independent Greek legal counsel for British buyers. We verify what you are buying before any money moves — title, planning, encumbrances and price — and set out your residency position clearly, in English.
Property ownership in Greece remains open to UK nationals. What changed after Brexit is the residency position — and that is precisely where careful legal guidance matters.
Most difficulties British buyers meet in Greece are not about money — they are about documents. A title that is not clean. A building extension that was never legalised. A boundary that does not match the cadastral record. A seller who cannot, in law, transfer what they are offering. These are discoverable in advance, by a lawyer acting only for you.
Hellenic Law Firm acts for the buyer, never the seller, and takes no commission on the sale. Our role is to examine the property and the transaction before you are committed, and to tell you plainly what we find — in writing, in English.
Where a UK buyer also wants the right to stay in Greece beyond the post-Brexit 90-day limit, we set out the residency options separately and accurately, so the two questions — owning and staying — are never confused.
Two things matter for a British buyer, and they are separate. Keeping them separate is the first piece of clear advice we give.
UK nationals may buy and own real estate in Greece on the same basis as before. Brexit did not restrict the right of British citizens to purchase Greek property. The legal process of buying — due diligence, notarial deed, registration — is the same one that applies to any foreign buyer.
Since Brexit, UK nationals are non-EU nationals. Without a residence permit, stays are generally limited to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the Schengen area. Owning a home does not extend this. Longer stays require an appropriate visa or residence permit.
Where the qualifying investment is met, the Golden Visa grants a renewable residence permit with Schengen travel rights. Thresholds: €800,000 for Attica, the Regional Unit of Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and islands with a population of more than 3,100 residents; €400,000 for other regions; and €250,000 only in specific qualifying cases, subject to statutory conditions.
A residence permit does not, by itself, grant Greek or EU citizenship. Greek citizenship is a separate legal process requiring, among other conditions, actual residence over a number of years. Greece does not offer citizenship by investment. We are careful never to blur these.
For a UK buyer, a focused pre-purchase legal review of the specific property. The output is a written legal note in English. The fee is fixed and quoted upfront, based on property type, urgency and documentation.
Whether the seller holds clean, transferable title; the chain of ownership; co-ownership shares; inheritance, liquidation or expropriation risk in the history of the property.
Building permits, whether the structure as built matches what was authorised, any unlegalised construction, and the cadastral (Κτηματολόγιο) position.
Mortgages, liens, seizures, pre-notations or third-party claims registered against the property that would pass to or obstruct a buyer.
Where residency is intended: which threshold applies to this property — €800,000 in the specified areas, €400,000 elsewhere, or €250,000 only in qualifying conversion or listed-building cases, subject to statutory conditions.
Confirmation that the purchase price is paid by bank-to-bank transfer as the law requires; cash payment can invalidate a Golden Visa application. We do not advise on UK tax or banking — that is for your UK adviser.
The scope of Power of Attorney needed, the apostille route, signing location and notarial requirements — so that many steps may be managed without repeated travel, where the competent authority accepts it.
Many steps may be managed through a notarised Power of Attorney, subject to acceptance by the competent notary, authority, bank or registry. The biometric appointment for the residence permit, where a Golden Visa is sought, requires physical presence in Greece.
Signed before a Greek consulate in the UK or a UK notary with Apostille, authorising the firm to act on defined matters.
Greek tax number obtained, and a Greek bank account opened where required, so the purchase price can be transferred bank-to-bank.
Title, planning, cadastre and encumbrance checks completed and reported in writing — before any funds move.
Notarial deed signed and the acquisition registered. Where residency is sought, the Golden Visa application follows, with one visit for biometrics.
Tell us about the property you are considering. A supervising partner will review the details and respond personally, usually within one business day, to confirm scope and the fixed fee for a written pre-purchase legal note.
There is no obligation, and nothing here creates a lawyer–client relationship until terms are agreed in writing. Legal services are provided in English; initial enquiries may be sent in any language.
Sensitive documents: please do not send identity documents or contracts through this form. After initial contact, we provide access to the Secure Client Portal for confidential document exchange. Documents are not exchanged by WhatsApp.
Or contact us directly
Phone: +30 210 363 6035
WhatsApp: +30 697 827 6455 (first contact and scheduling only)
Email: [email protected]
Request received.
Thank you. A supervising partner will review your details and respond personally, usually within one business day, to confirm scope and the fixed fee. For anything urgent you may also email [email protected].
Yes. Property ownership in Greece is open to UK nationals; Brexit did not change the right of British citizens to purchase real estate. What changed is the residency position — UK nationals are now treated as non-EU nationals, so stays beyond 90 days in any 180-day period require a visa or residence permit.
As a non-EU national since Brexit, generally up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the Schengen area. Owning property does not by itself extend this. Longer stays require an appropriate visa or residence permit, such as the Golden Visa where the investment thresholds are met.
The same as for all non-EU nationals: €800,000 for Attica, the Regional Unit of Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and islands with a population of more than 3,100 residents; €400,000 for other regions; and €250,000 only in specific qualifying cases such as change-of-use conversions and listed-building restorations, subject to statutory conditions. The applicable threshold must be verified for each specific property before any commitment is made.
No. A residence permit, including one obtained through property investment, does not by itself grant citizenship. Greek citizenship is a separate legal process; naturalisation requires separate statutory conditions, including actual residence over a number of years. Greece does not offer citizenship by investment.
Many steps may be managed through a notarised Power of Attorney, subject to acceptance by the competent notary, authority, bank or registry. A Power of Attorney can be signed before a Greek consulate in the UK or before a UK notary with an Apostille. The biometric appointment for the residence permit requires physical presence in Greece.