Greece to raise property transfer tax for third‑country buyers to 15%
New 15% rate for non‑EU/EEA buyers without long‑term residence will take effect on 1 July 2027 and raises tax bills across price brackets.
Greece plans to raise the property transfer tax for individuals from third countries — that is, buyers who are not citizens of EU or EEA states — from the current 3 percent to 15 percent. The higher rate will apply to purchasers who do not hold long‑term resident status and is scheduled to take effect on 1 July 2027.
How much will prices rise for buyers?
The increase will substantially raise the upfront tax component of a purchase. For a residential unit with a taxable value of €200,000 the tax bill would climb from about €6,000 to €30,000. On a €500,000 property the levy would grow from €15,000 to €75,000, while for an €800,000 apartment the charge would reach €120,000.
When municipal levies are added, the overall tax burden on affected purchases would be roughly 15.45 percent of the taxable value.
The new rate applies only to residential real estate; commercial premises, plots of land and other property categories are excluded. Exemptions are planned for legal entities, members of the Greek diaspora and third‑country nationals who already hold long‑term resident status.
Greek authorities say the measure is intended to curb upward pressure on housing prices from foreign buyers and to improve access to homes for local residents.
According to figures from the Greek Ministry of Finance, investments by third‑country buyers in Greek property reached about €1.2 billion in 2025, of which roughly €800 million was invested in residential buildings. Lawmakers still need to set final legal details, including how the new regime will interact with investments tied to the Golden Visa programme.
Photo: Sharon Mollerus / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
