A company expanding into the Greek market often assumes that opening a branch is a straightforward administrative exercise. In practice, the process involves multiple registrations, mandatory translations, notarisation requirements, and a local representative obligation that many foreign businesses only discover mid-process. Missing a single step can delay commercial operations by several weeks and trigger compliance exposure from day one.
Setting up a branch office in Greece requires registration with the Γενικό Εμπορικό Μητρώο (General Commercial Registry, known as GEMI), appointment of a Greek-resident authorised representative, and submission of the parent company's certified corporate documents. The process typically takes between four and eight weeks once all documents are correctly prepared. Greek corporate legislation and tax legislation both impose ongoing obligations on the registered branch from the date of entry in GEMI.
This guide walks through each procedural stage, the documentary checklist, typical cost ranges, and the decision points that determine whether a branch or a subsidiary is the right structure for your business in Greece.
Understanding the branch office structure under Greek law
Under Greek corporate legislation, a branch office – υποκατάστημα (branch) – is not a separate legal entity. It is an extension of the foreign parent company. The parent bears full legal and financial liability for the branch's activities in Greece.
This distinction matters practically. Contracts entered into by the branch bind the parent. Judgments against the branch can be enforced against the parent's assets. Creditors in Greece can pursue claims directly against the foreign entity.
The branch must have a registered office address in Greece. This is a physical address, not a PO box. It serves as the official address for regulatory correspondence and tax notices.
Greek law requires the branch to appoint at least one authorised representative. That person must be a resident of Greece and must hold a notarised power of attorney from the parent's board of directors. The representative's name and authority are registered publicly in GEMI. They bear personal responsibility for ensuring the branch meets its filing and reporting obligations.
A branch does not require its own separate board of directors or shareholder resolution beyond what the parent company's own governance documents already provide. However, the parent's articles of association – or equivalent constitutional document – must expressly permit the company to establish branches abroad. If they do not, the parent must first amend its constitutional documents before the Greek registration can proceed.
For companies considering a broader commercial presence in Greece – including acquisition of local businesses – our colleagues explain the structural options available in our overview of mergers and acquisitions in Greece.
Step-by-step registration procedure and timeline
The registration process has five distinct stages. Each depends on the previous one being completed correctly. Errors at any stage reset the clock.
Stage 1 – Corporate authorisation at the parent level (weeks 1–2)
The parent company must pass a formal shareholder resolution or board resolution authorising the establishment of the Greek branch. The resolution must name the branch's registered office in Greece and identify the authorised representative. It must be adopted in accordance with the parent company's constitutional documents and the corporate legislation of the parent's home jurisdiction.
This document, along with the parent's articles of association and certificate of good standing, must then be apostilled under the Hague Convention. If the parent is incorporated in a non-Hague country, the documents require legalisation through the Greek consulate in that jurisdiction. This step is often the longest in practice. Apostille offices in some jurisdictions operate on a four-to-six week turnaround.
Stage 2 – Certified translation into Greek (weeks 2–3)
All foreign documents must be translated into Greek by a certified translator. Greek civil procedure rules require that documents submitted to public registries and courts be in Greek. The translation must be certified. In practice, certified translation is accepted when prepared by a Greek lawyer or by a sworn translator recognised under Greek law.
A common error by foreign clients at this stage is using a translation service that is not recognised under Greek procedural standards. GEMI will reject the submission, and the entire document set must be retranslated. Allowing this to be handled by Greek counsel from the outset avoids that outcome.
Stage 3 – Submission to GEMI (weeks 3–5)
The complete document package is filed electronically through the GEMI platform. The submission must include:
- The parent company's apostilled articles of association, translated into Greek
- The apostilled shareholder resolution or board resolution authorising the branch
- The apostilled certificate of incorporation or equivalent
- A notarised power of attorney appointing the Greek-resident representative
- Proof of the registered office address in Greece
GEMI reviews the submission and issues a registration number – the Αριθμός Γενικού Εμπορικού Μητρώου (GEMI registration number). This number is the branch's official identifier for all subsequent regulatory and tax purposes.
GEMI processing times vary. Straightforward submissions from EU-incorporated parents are typically processed within two to three weeks. Submissions from non-EU parents, or those involving unusual corporate structures, can take longer.
Stage 4 – Tax registration (weeks 5–6)
Following GEMI registration, the branch must register with the relevant tax authority – the Ανεξάρτητη Αρχή Δημοσίων Εσόδων (Independent Authority for Public Revenue, known as AADE). Registration produces a Greek tax identification number (Αριθμός Φορολογικού Μητρώου, AFM). The AFM is required before the branch can issue invoices, open a bank account in Greece, or enter into commercial contracts as a Greek-registered entity.
Tax registration requires the GEMI number, the authorised representative's personal tax identification, and evidence of the branch's registered address. The AADE registration is typically completed within five to ten working days of GEMI confirmation.
Stage 5 – Social security and employment registration (if staff are hired)
If the branch employs staff in Greece, it must register with ΕΦΚΑ (the Unified Social Security Entity). Employment legislation in Greece requires this registration before the first employee starts work. Failure to register in advance exposes the branch and its representative to administrative penalties.
To receive an expert assessment of your company's branch registration process in Greece, contact us at info@ferrazwhitmore.com.
Documentary checklist and cost considerations
The quality of the document package determines whether GEMI accepts the filing on first submission. Rejections add two to four weeks to the overall timeline. The following checklist applies to the majority of foreign companies establishing a Greek branch.
From the parent company's home jurisdiction:
- Certificate of incorporation – apostilled, dated within the past six months
- Articles of association or equivalent constitutional document – apostilled
- Certificate of good standing or equivalent – apostilled, recent
- Shareholder resolution or board resolution authorising the branch – apostilled
Prepared in Greece or by Greek counsel:
- Certified Greek translations of all the above documents
- Notarised power of attorney for the Greek-resident representative
- Lease agreement or proof of registered office address in Greece
On costs: government registration fees at GEMI are modest and are assessed based on the type of entity and transaction. Notarisation and apostille costs in the parent company's home jurisdiction depend heavily on the jurisdiction and the volume of documents. Certified translation fees in Greece are charged per page. Legal fees for managing the end-to-end process start from several thousand euros, depending on the complexity of the parent's structure and the number of documents requiring translation.
Companies that attempt to manage the process without local counsel typically encounter two costly errors. First, they underestimate the translation certification requirement and have documents rejected. Second, they appoint an authorised representative without a properly drafted power of attorney, which fails the GEMI review. Both errors extend the timeline by several weeks and increase total costs.
A broader discussion of how Greek corporate legislation structures foreign investment vehicles – and how a branch compares to other options – is available in our overview of corporate law services in Greece.
Common pitfalls and the branch versus subsidiary decision
Foreign businesses frequently arrive at the branch-versus-subsidiary decision without fully understanding the liability and tax implications of each. The choice is not merely administrative – it shapes how the business is taxed in Greece, how liability flows, and what happens if the business closes.
Pitfall 1 – Misreading the liability position
A branch does not shield the parent from Greek creditors. A subsidiary does. Many international businesses choose the branch structure for its lower setup cost, then discover that a single contract dispute or tax audit in Greece can expose the parent's global assets. Where commercial risk in the Greek market is significant, a subsidiary – particularly a Εταιρεία Περιορισμένης Ευθύνης (limited liability company, EPE) or an Ανώνυμη Εταιρεία (société anonyme, AE) – provides a meaningful liability barrier.
Pitfall 2 – Underestimating ongoing compliance obligations
Once registered, a Greek branch must file annual financial statements derived from the parent's accounts, translated and certified into Greek. It must maintain Greek accounting records. Under Greek tax legislation, the branch is treated as a permanent establishment of the foreign entity, and profits attributable to Greek activities are taxed in Greece at the applicable corporate rate. Many foreign companies assume that because the branch is not a separate legal entity, its Greek tax exposure is minimal. Courts and the AADE consistently hold otherwise.
Pitfall 3 – Failing to maintain the authorised representative appointment
If the authorised representative resigns or becomes unavailable, the branch is immediately non-compliant. GEMI requires that a valid representative be in place at all times. A gap in representation, even brief, can result in administrative fines and complications with the AADE. The power of attorney must also be renewed whenever the parent company's board changes or when the parent's constitutional documents are amended.
When the branch structure is appropriate
A branch is well suited when: the parent is an EU-incorporated entity with a straightforward corporate structure. the Greek operation is a sales or representative office with limited local commercial exposure. the parent's management wants direct operational control without the governance overhead of a Greek subsidiary. and the projected Greek revenue does not justify the cost of maintaining a separate Greek company.
When a subsidiary is the better choice
A subsidiary becomes preferable when: the Greek operation will employ a significant number of staff. the business will hold assets or enter into high-value contracts in Greece. there is material litigation or regulatory risk in the sector. or the parent wishes to ring-fence Greek liabilities from its global balance sheet.
For businesses that have already established a presence in another EU jurisdiction and are considering whether the Greek branch model aligns with their wider European structure. Our guide on setting up a branch office in Portugal offers a useful comparative reference for the EU civil law environment.
To discuss how the branch office structure applies to your specific business scenario in Greece, reach out to info@ferrazwhitmore.com.
Self-assessment checklist before initiating registration
This approach – registering a branch office in Greece – is applicable if all of the following conditions are met:
- The parent company is validly incorporated and in good standing in its home jurisdiction
- The parent's articles of association permit the establishment of foreign branches
- A resident of Greece is available and willing to act as authorised representative
- The parent's home jurisdiction is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention, or Greek consular legalisation is available
- The business activity in Greece does not require a sector-specific licence that mandates a locally incorporated entity
Before initiating the procedure, verify the following critical points:
- The parent's constitutional documents expressly permit foreign branches – if not, amend them first
- All corporate documents are current and will not expire during the registration process
- The proposed authorised representative holds, or can obtain, a Greek tax identification number
- A physical registered office address in Greece has been secured – a signed lease or equivalent is required at the GEMI submission stage
- The parent company has decided whether to hire Greek staff immediately, since EFKA registration must precede the first hire
If any of these conditions is not met, the registration will stall at a later stage. Addressing them before submitting to GEMI is significantly more efficient than responding to a rejection or compliance notice after the fact.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How long does it take to register a branch office in Greece?
A: The registration process with the General Commercial Registry (GEMI) typically takes between three and six weeks from the date all documents are submitted in correct form. Delays most commonly arise from notarisation and apostille procedures in the parent company's home jurisdiction. Allowing eight to ten weeks from the start of document preparation is a practical planning target.
Q: Does a Greek branch office need its own board of directors?
A: A branch does not require a separate board of directors. It must, however, have at least one authorised representative resident in Greece who holds a valid power of attorney from the parent company. That representative acts on behalf of the foreign entity and bears personal liability for regulatory filings.
Q: Is a branch office in Greece cheaper to set up than a subsidiary?
A: Initial registration costs for a branch are generally lower than those for a new Greek subsidiary, because there is no share capital requirement and no need to draft new articles of association. However, the parent company's full documents must be translated, notarised, and apostilled, which can be a significant cost depending on their volume and originating jurisdiction. Ongoing compliance costs are broadly comparable.
About Ferraz & Whitmore
Ferraz & Whitmore is an international law firm based in Lisbon, advising business clients across 46 jurisdictions. Our corporate law practice supports international companies establishing branches, subsidiaries, and joint ventures across the EU, including Greece. We combine Portuguese civil law expertise with English common law tradition to deliver practical, results-oriented counsel for cross-border market entry. Our team has advised on company registration processes and corporate structuring matters across both civil law and common law systems. Working with entrepreneurs, institutional investors. Additionally, in-house legal teams who require coordinated advice across multiple jurisdictions. Engaging a lawyer in Greece with genuine cross-border experience – rather than a single-jurisdiction generalist – is particularly important when parent company documents originate from non-EU systems. As an international law firm advising on Greek corporate matters, Ferraz & Whitmore provides end-to-end support from document preparation through to GEMI registration and ongoing compliance. To explore legal options for your branch office establishment in Greece, contact us at info@ferrazwhitmore.com.
Disclaimer: This publication is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information herein should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional legal counsel tailored to your specific circumstances. Ferraz & Whitmore assumes no liability for actions taken or not taken based on the contents of this material. For advice regarding your particular situation, please contact info@ferrazwhitmore.com.