Greek identity and banking for property buyers

What the AFM is — and why almost every case needs one

The AFM (Αριθμός Φορολογικού Μητρώου) is Greece's tax identification number, issued by the Greek tax authority, AADE. It is the single key that unlocks almost every administrative step in the country: buying or inheriting property, opening a Greek bank account, signing a rental contract, registering a life event, or settling an estate. Because it is a tax registration and not a residence permit, you do not need to live in Greece — or even visit — to hold one. Foreign nationals, non-residents, EU citizens and third-country nationals can all be registered, provided the correct documents and, where the applicant is abroad, valid representation are in place. Ellytic acts as an Independent Concierge: we prepare and submit the file, and we do not give legal or tax advice.

How the remote AADE process actually works

When you cannot appear at a Greek tax office in person, the application is handled by an authorised representative acting under a limited power of attorney that covers this one task and nothing more. You sign the power of attorney abroad, join a short video call so your identity can be confirmed, and provide clear copies of your passport and proof of address. Ellytic assembles the file, submits it to AADE, and returns your official AFM confirmation once it is issued. For our bundles this typically takes three business days from the moment a complete file is in hand. No residence status is created — the AFM simply registers you in the tax register.

Which certified translations Greek authorities expect

Foreign documents — birth, marriage and divorce certificates, passports, powers of attorney and court decisions — are accepted by Greek authorities only when they arrive as certified translations into Greek. Ellytic's translations are produced by sworn translators and carry a qualified electronic signature (QES), which makes them legally valid and accepted by every Greek authority without any further stamp. A standard certified translation is delivered in one business day. Where a foreign public document needs an apostille before translation, we flag it in advance so the file is not rejected on submission.

Common pitfalls that quietly delay a Greek file

Most delays come from small, avoidable mistakes: a power of attorney that is too broad or too narrow, a proof-of-address document in the wrong name, an expired passport scan, or a certificate submitted without its required apostille or certified translation. Names transliterated inconsistently between documents are another frequent cause of rejection. Because AADE reviews the file as a whole, a single missing element sends the entire application back to the start. Getting the document set right before submission is the difference between a three-day turnaround and weeks of back-and-forth.

Which Ellytic service fits your situation

If you only need the tax number itself, the Starter Bundle covers the AFM registration end to end. If you also want a Greek bank account opened and your onboarding coordinated, the Full Service Bundle adds banking to the same file. When the task is purely document-driven — a certificate, a court decision or a power of attorney — you can order certified translations on their own. Each path leads to a clear, fixed-scope service you can compare and start whenever you are ready.

Frequently asked questions