Source of Funds When Buying Greek Property: What You Must Prove

For a purchase of any size, the money should arrive through the banking system with a documented origin, because Greek banks apply EU anti-money-laundering rules and the same paper trail supports your tax position. The guides we read agree on that and differ on several details, such as whether a Greek bank account is strictly required. None of them is an official publication, so confirm the current requirements with your Greek lawyer, the notary and the bank before you transfer funds.

What evidence is usually asked for

• Bank statements for several months from the account the money leaves, showing the funds sitting there.
• Proof of how the wealth was made: a sale contract for a business or a property, tax returns, dividend or salary records, or inheritance papers.
• The transfer itself: a bank-to-bank euro transfer in your name; for non-euro transfers, the currency conversion confirmation.
• A notarised statement on the origin of the capital, which some guides mention and others do not.
• Identity and address documents: passport, Greek tax number (AFM), proof of address.

Where the guides differ

Point	What we found
Greek bank account	Some guides say it is usually needed to pay; another says you can pay without one if euro transfers are planned carefully.
The notary	One source says a notary cannot close without acceptable evidence of the source of funds. We found it in one source only and treat it as unconfirmed.
Crypto-funded closing	Discouraged: one guide says traceable bank-to-bank transfers are expected.
Timing	Banks may run enhanced checks on non-resident buyers, taking a few weeks and producing extra requests.

If you buy by power of attorney

A buyer who cannot attend signs a notarised and apostilled power of attorney. Read buying property in Greece remotely first, and keep the originals of every document you send.

How to prepare, in order

1. Map the money first. Write down where each euro of the price came from, with a document for each source.
2. Move it early. Transfer to a Greek account before the deal is close, so a bank query does not delay the signing.
3. Keep one name. The sender, the account holder and the buyer should match; a transfer from a third party raises questions.
4. Ask for the bank's list in writing, and for the notary's, rather than relying on a general list.
5. Keep copies: the same file helps at the residence permit stage; see the documents checklist.

What is not covered here

Each bank sets its own thresholds and forms, and we found no official list. Large or complex wealth, for example a trust or a company in several countries, needs a lawyer to prepare the file in advance.

Sources: Sotheby's International Realty Greece buyer advisory; You Overseas Home; Global Law Experts and Greek law-firm guides, as described. Informational, not legal advice.