For US & Canadian Citizens

Buying Property in Greece from the US & Canada

Independent Greek legal counsel for American and Canadian buyers. We verify the property before any funds cross the Atlantic — title, planning, encumbrances and price — and arrange the Power of Attorney so most of the process can be handled without repeated flights.

We act for you, never the seller, and take no commission on the sale. Everything in English, advised on the Greek side — we coordinate with your own US or Canadian adviser on tax.

An EU foothold, handled from across the Atlantic.

For many American and Canadian buyers, a home in Greece is part lifestyle, part diversification, and part a foothold in Europe — a Schengen residence option, a place to retire to, or simply an asset outside North America. The legal process is well-trodden, but it rewards care: the difficulties tend to be in the documents, not the price.

We examine the property and the transaction before you are committed — clean title, lawful construction, no hidden encumbrances, and the correct Golden Visa threshold if residency is your aim — and we report in writing, in English. Distance is managed through a properly drawn Power of Attorney, so you need not fly back and forth.

One clear boundary: we advise on Greek law only. US citizens face worldwide taxation and reporting; Canadian residents have their own obligations. Those belong with your US or Canadian adviser — we coordinate on the Greek-side requirements and never pretend to replace them.

Buying and the Golden Visa are two separate decisions

It is worth being clear, because the two are often conflated. You can buy property in Greece without ever applying for a Golden Visa — many of our clients simply want a home, a holiday base or an investment, with no interest in residency. The purchase stands entirely on its own.

The reverse is not true: there is no Golden Visa without a qualifying investment. The residence permit is built on top of the property — it is the investment that creates eligibility, not the wish to reside. So the property always comes first; the Golden Visa is an optional path available afterwards, and only where the specific property meets the statutory threshold.

This is why our starting point is always the property itself. Whether or not you ultimately seek residency, the title, planning and encumbrance position must be sound — and if you do want the Golden Visa, the same review confirms whether the property genuinely qualifies before you commit.

What we examine before you commit

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.

Title & ownership

Clean, transferable title; the ownership chain; co-ownership shares; inheritance, liquidation or expropriation risk; cadastral (Κτηματολόγιο) registration.

Planning & construction

Building permits, whether the structure as built matches what was authorised, and any unlegalised construction that would burden a buyer.

Encumbrances

Mortgages, liens, seizures or third-party claims registered against the property that would pass to or obstruct a buyer.

Golden Visa threshold

Where residency is intended: which threshold applies — €800,000 in the specified areas, €400,000 elsewhere, or €250,000 only in qualifying conversion or listed-building cases, subject to statutory conditions.

Payment & source of funds

The price paid bank-to-bank as the law requires; cash can invalidate a Golden Visa application. Greek-side requirements only — your US or Canadian adviser handles reporting at home.

Power of Attorney

The scope of Power of Attorney needed, the apostille route, and signing before a Greek consulate in the US or Canada or a local notary — so the process runs without repeated travel.

To date, we have filed Golden Visa and residence applications for hundreds of families, with no rejections. We protect that record the only way it can be protected — by carefully preparing the matters we accept, declining those we cannot stand behind, and telling clients the truth about a property before they commit.

The process, step by step

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.

01

Power of Attorney

Signed before a Greek consulate in the US or Canada, or a local notary with Apostille, authorising the firm to act on defined matters.

02

AFM & bank account

Greek tax number obtained and a Greek bank account opened, so the price can be transferred bank-to-bank from your US or Canadian bank.

03

Due diligence

Title, planning, cadastre and encumbrance checks completed and reported in writing — before any funds move.

04

Deed & registration

Notarial deed signed and the acquisition registered. Where residency is sought, the Golden Visa application follows, with one visit for biometrics.

Of Greek descent?

Many Americans and Canadians have a Greek parent, grandparent or great-grandparent — and may already be entitled to Greek citizenship by descent, a route entirely separate from investment. If that may be you, a dedicated page on Greek citizenship by descent is in preparation; in the meantime, you are welcome to ask us directly.

Send a property for legal review

Tell us about the property you are considering in Greece. 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]

By submitting this form you agree that Hellenic Law Firm may contact you regarding your enquiry. Submissions are reviewed under Athens Bar Association confidentiality. We do not share your details with third parties.

Common questions from US & Canadian buyers

Can US and Canadian citizens buy property in Greece?

Yes. American and Canadian nationals may buy and own property in Greece. The process — due diligence, notarial deed and registration — is the same that applies to other non-EU buyers. The key practical points are documenting the source of funds, paying by bank transfer rather than cash, and arranging a Power of Attorney so most steps can be handled without repeated travel.

What are the Golden Visa investment 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 such as change-of-use conversions and listed-building restorations, subject to statutory conditions. The applicable threshold must be verified for each specific property.

Do you advise on US or Canadian taxes?

No. We advise on Greek law only. US citizens are subject to worldwide taxation and reporting obligations, and Canadian residents have their own requirements; these should be addressed with your own US or Canadian tax adviser. We coordinate on the Greek-side requirements, including the bank-to-bank transfer for the purchase and any Golden Visa application.

Can the purchase be completed without travelling repeatedly?

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 US or Canada, or a local notary with an Apostille. The biometric appointment for the residence permit requires physical presence in Greece.

Does this lead to Greek citizenship?

No. A residence permit, including one through property investment, does not by itself grant 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. Separately, some Americans and Canadians of Greek descent may already be entitled to citizenship through ancestry — a distinct route.