The authoritative source for Greek market regulations is the Greek government. This guidance links to official Greek sources wherever possible.
Trade and services regulations in Greece
If you’re a UK business offering services in Greece, you must follow Greek regulations about:
- getting authorisations or licences to provide a service
- complying with specific local business regulations
- EEA nationality requirements which could prevent you from providing services in some sectors
The Greek e-government portal for service providers can help you to:
- learn about providing services in Greece
- understand local regulations
- complete any relevant administrative procedures online
Consider appointing an English-speaking lawyer in Greece to help you comply with specific regulations. You can also contact your local chamber of commerce for advice.
To check if EEA nationality requirements apply to you, contact the appropriate competent authority.
Trade reservations
To sell or provide services to customers in Greece, you must follow local laws. If in doubt, you should get professional advice.
Reservations are part of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. They reserve the right of each party to keep or make new laws restricting investment, or the sale of services, in ways that would otherwise breach the rules in the agreement.
Check which reservations apply to the sale of services from the UK to Greece. This includes an interactive tool to find reservations that are already in place.
VAT on sales of digital services
To use the UK’s VAT Mini One Stop Shop (MOSS) to declare sales of digital services to EU consumers, businesses need to register for MOSS in an EU member state.
Find out more about paying VAT on sales of digital services.
Ownership of companies registered in Greece
If you have a UK business, you might face restrictions on your ability to own, manage or direct a registered company in Greece or any other EEA country.
Read more about this in our guidance relating to the EEA and Switzerland.
Ownership of legal firms in Greece
If you’re a UK legal professional who has investments in law firms in Greece, contact the Greek Plenary of Bar Associations for further information on the implications for your investment.
For information about setting up and running a business in Greece, visit Enterprise Greece.
Business travel and entry requirements
UK business travellers and service providers may need a visa, work permit or other documentation. Check if you need a visa or permit for Europe.
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Greek Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (website in Greek) have more information about:
- visas including intra-corporate transfers
- work and residence permits
- supporting documentation
- other conditions
Check which actions travellers visiting Europe need to take.
Social security payments for employees
Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in Greece.
Recognition of professional qualifications
To check what you need to do in Greece, read our guidance on professional qualifications in the EEA and Switzerland.
If you need to take action to secure the recognition of your professional qualification in Greece, these sources can help you:
The UK Centre for Professional Qualifications (UK CPQ) provides practical assistance and advice to:
- professionals who qualified overseas and are interested in working in the UK
- UK professionals seeking to practise overseas
UK statutory auditors working in Greece
For UK statutory auditors, the Hellenic Accounting and Auditing Standards Oversight Board should be able to provide further information.
UK lawyers working in Greece
If you’re a UK-qualified lawyer working in Greece, either using a Greek or a UK professional title, you should contact the local Bar association in the region in which you are working or the Greek Plenary of Bar Associations for specific advice.
Data transfer and GDPR
As part of the wider UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the free flow of personal data from Greece to the UK will continue after 1 January 2021 for no longer than 6 months, until adequacy decisions come into effect.
As a sensible precaution during this 6 month period, it is recommended that you work with organisations in Greece that transfer personal data to you to put in place alternative transfer mechanisms to safeguard against any interruption to the free flow of EU to UK personal data.
Read guidance on using data in your personal business or other organisation.
