In forming Greek subsidiaries, the limited liability company (GmbH), in Greek EPE, is frequently chosen, with the foreign parent company usually acting as shareholder.
Formation today regularly takes place entirely online via the e-ΥΜΣ; where the articles of association deviate individually from the standard form, notarial certification remains required.
Drafting the Articles of Association
The minimum required content of the articles of association of a Greek EPE is laid down in Art. 6 of Law 3190/1955: the name, occupation, address and nationality of the shareholders; the company name; the registered seat and purpose of the company; its character as a GmbH; the share capital and shares, together with confirmation of payment; the object and value of any contributions in kind; and the duration of the company.
Important correction: A minimum capital no longer applies to the EPE. The threshold of €2,400 that applied until 2013 (introduced on 12 December 2012) was completely abolished by Law 4156/2013: since then, the share capital has been freely determined by the shareholders; the only statutory requirement is a minimum nominal value of one euro per share.
Preliminary Approval of the Company Name
Once the name, purpose and form of the company have been chosen, the competent chamber of commerce checks whether the name and designation have already been assigned or conflict with legal requirements (Art. 2 of Law 3190/1955); in the e-ΥΜΣ procedure, this review is carried out automatically within the system.
Formation and Publication
Unlike previously, no capital accumulation tax is any longer payable on formation (this was abolished for formation transactions as of 7 April 2014 and has since applied – at a reduced rate of 0.5% – only to later capital increases). The publication fees for the companies register remain payable, as does, where applicable, an advance payment of social security contributions for managing directors and shareholders, unless an exemption applies (e.g. because of existing insurance in another EU state). Upon publication, the company automatically receives its companies-register number and tax number.
Tax Authority
Within one month of publication of the formation, the commencement of business must be notified to the competent tax authority, and the procedure for approval of the books and tax-relevant records must be initiated – in the e-ΥΜΣ procedure, the tax number is generally already assigned automatically upon formation.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Within two months of formation, the company must be registered with the locally competent chamber of commerce and industry; in the e-ΥΜΣ procedure, this too generally takes place automatically.
FAQ
The limited liability company (GmbH), in Greek EPE, is frequently chosen. The foreign parent company usually acts as shareholder. Formation today takes place electronically, predominantly via the e-ΥΜΣ portal, optionally with the assistance of a notary established in Greece.
The main steps are:
- drafting the articles of association;
- preliminary review/approval of the company name;
- electronic formation and registration in the companies register Γ.Ε.ΜΗ.;
- notification to the tax authority;
- registration with the chamber of commerce and industry.
Under Art. 6 of the GmbH law (Law 3190/1955, as amended by Law 4541/2018), the following are required:
- the name, occupation, address and nationality of the shareholders;
- the company name (with the addition “Εταιρεία Περιορισμένης Ευθύνης” or “Ε.Π.Ε.”);
- the registered seat and purpose of the company;
- its character as a limited liability company;
- the share capital, shares and confirmation of payment;
- the object and value of contributions in kind and the names of the contributors;
- the duration of the company.
Important update: A statutory minimum capital has no longer applied since Law 4541/2018 – the shareholders freely determine the amount of capital, provided the capital contributed represents an asset of monetary value. The former minimum capital threshold of €2,400, applicable since 12 December 2012, is accordingly obsolete.
Once the name, designation, purpose and form of the new company have been determined, it is checked, at the competent chamber of commerce or electronically via the companies register, whether the name has not already been assigned to another company and complies with legal requirements.
The notary, or in the electronic procedure, arranges payment of the capital accumulation tax at a rate of 1% of the share capital. In addition, there are registration fees in the companies register Γ.Ε.ΜΗ. and an advance payment for the social security of the managing director and shareholders at e-ΕΦΚΑ (the single social security carrier responsible since 2017; an exemption may apply where EU insurance already exists).
Within the statutorily provided period from registration of the formation, the commencement of business must be notified to the competent tax authority; the corresponding tax number (AFM) is generally assigned automatically in the course of the formation procedure.
Registration with the competent chamber of commerce and industry today generally takes place automatically in the course of electronic formation via the e-ΥΜΣ portal or the companies register Γ.Ε.ΜΗ.
As of June 2026. All information on these pages is provided without guarantee or liability.