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Company Formation & Entity Setup in Greece

IKE and AE incorporation, e-YMS online registration where applicable, and post-formation compliance setup.

Greece Reviewed September 2026

Currency

EUR

Legal forms

IKE · AE · EPE

Minimum share capital

IKE: €1 · AE: €25,000

Registration body

General Commercial Registry (GEMI), via the e-YMS one-stop platform for standard IKE bylaws

Formation timeline

A few days (e-YMS, standard bylaws) to a few weeks

Corporate tax rate

22% standard (29% for certain credit institutions under the DTA regime)

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How company formation works in Greece

Greece applies a standard 22% corporate income tax rate, with most companies — AE, IKE, EPE — taxed identically regardless of legal form. The IKE, Greece's most commonly used structure for SMEs, can be formed with just €1 in minimum share capital and, when using the standard model statute through the e-YMS one-stop platform, requires no notary at all — making it one of the more accessible entity formations in the EU.

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Matched to your business objective

IKE

Liability

Limited to company assets

Min. capital

IKE: €1 · AE: €25,000

The standard vehicle for an operating subsidiary of a foreign company — the default choice for most market-entry engagements in Greece.

AE

Liability

Limited to company assets

Min. capital

IKE: €1 · AE: €25,000

Used for larger operations, more formal governance needs, or entities seeking to raise capital publicly.

EPE

Liability

Limited to company assets

Min. capital

IKE: €1 · AE: €25,000

Used for larger operations, more formal governance needs, or entities seeking to raise capital publicly.

Branch

Liability

None separate — the foreign parent company bears full liability

Min. capital

None — no separate capital requirement

Useful for testing the Greece market before committing to a subsidiary, or for keeping a single legal entity across borders. Creates a taxable presence — profits are generally taxed in Greece.

Representative office

Liability

N/A — not a registered legal entity in most cases

Min. capital

None

For market research and liaison activity only — cannot sign contracts, invoice, or trade locally in most jurisdictions.

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What it takes to register, and how long

Formation runs through the General Commercial Registry (GEMI), via the e-YMS one-stop platform for standard IKE bylaws, typically taking A few days (e-YMS, standard bylaws) to a few weeks.

  • Social security contribution cap — at €7,761.94/month (2026) — income above this level is exempt from further EFKA contributions
  • IKE formation without notary — when using the standard model statute through the e-YMS online platform, reducing setup time and cost materially
  • New employment incentive — — a 50% super-deduction on employer social security contributions for qualifying new full-time hires, subject to statutory limits
  • Mandatory e-invoicing rollout — for all small businesses and freelancers, planned by 2026 as part of broader digitalisation of the Greek tax system
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Frequently asked questions

How does the Greek social security contribution cap work?
Combined employer and employee EFKA contributions total 35.16% of gross salary, but only up to a monthly ceiling of €7,761.94 for 2026. Once an employee's monthly salary exceeds this amount, no further social security contributions are due on the excess, materially reducing the relative employer cost for higher-salary roles.
How can an IKE be formed without a notary?
When using the standard model statute (rather than a bespoke deed with custom shareholder terms) through Greece's e-YMS online one-stop platform, an IKE can be incorporated without notarial involvement, reducing both cost and timeline. A notary becomes necessary only for non-standard governance structures or in-kind capital contributions.
Why is Greece's dividend tax so low?
Greece taxes dividends at a flat 5%, the lowest rate in the EU, as part of a broader strategy to attract investment and encourage profit repatriation. This applies after the standard 22% corporate income tax has already been paid at the company level.
What is the difference between an IKE and an AE?
An IKE requires just €1 in minimum capital and suits the vast majority of SME and foreign-owned subsidiary formations. An AE requires €25,000 and a more formal governance structure, typically used for larger companies or those seeking to raise capital publicly.

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The social security contribution cap is frequently overlooked by companies modelling Greek employment cost on uncapped European assumptions. For senior roles with salaries materially above the monthly ceiling, Greek employer cost flattens in a way that doesn't occur in markets without an equivalent cap — a structural advantage worth factoring into regional hiring comparisons.

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