How Astons Revived EU Business Post-Brexit with Greece Residence

After the UK left the EU, many British companies encountered unexpected obstacles: European clients began requesting VAT numbers, contracts in euros, and EU-based banking details. Business was on the verge of losing market share, and re-establishing relationships proved harder than expected.

 

But there is a solution — and it’s far simpler than it seems. In this article, we explain how a UK entrepreneur was able to restore business ties by obtaining Greek residency through property investment and registering a company in the country.

Peter, an entrepreneur from Oxford, has spent over 10 years helping European B2B companies implement CRM systems and automate business processes. His core client base consists of tech companies in Germany, Austria, and Belgium. Before Brexit, everything ran smoothly — contracts signed with a UK legal entity posed no problems.

“We had no trouble signing contracts in pounds — both parties were fine with it. But from 2021, everything changed. One by one, clients started saying: ‘We need a contract with an EU-based company’, ‘Where’s your VAT?’, ‘Paying in pounds has become expensive — we need a euro account.’”

Over 60% of Peter’s income depended on these clients. And even though day-to-day cooperation remained the same, they began to withdraw due to the operational and legal complications brought about by Brexit.

Peter contacted Astons with a clear request: to restore the ability to work within the EU without relocating permanently.

Our experts suggested the ideal solution — obtaining Greek residency through investment in real estate and registering a company there to rebuild contracts.

Real estate in Greece is a profitable investment: in 2024 alone, the market saw an 8–10% rise in value. As Peter had no plans to relocate and viewed the purchase as an investment, Astons proposed ready, fully furnished properties requiring no extra work and potentially offering 4–5% rental yield. Peter chose a comfortable villa in Hanioti, Halkidiki.

Why This Villa?

• Secluded location, peace and greenery
• Spacious — 131 m², 600 m² plot
• Three floors: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, terrace and sea-view lounge
• Private pool and parking
• Price — €450,000 — fully met the programme requirements

1. Consultation and audit

Astons thoroughly analysed Peter’s situation, ran a fast-track compliance check and confirmed the possibility of obtaining residency through real estate investment in Greece and business registration.

2. Real estate investment

Once the strategy was agreed, the ideal property was selected — a three-storey villa in Hanioti (Halkidiki). Astons performed legal due diligence, prepared the documents, arranged the 10% deposit (€45,000) and supported the transaction through completion. The purchase was finalised within four weeks.

3. Residency application

After the transaction was registered and all property formalities completed, Astons submitted Peter’s residency application. Two and a half months later, he received a White Paper granting entry and stay rights. He immediately travelled to Greece to provide biometric data, completing the process.

4. Business registration in Greece

Peter’s residence card was delivered remotely via an Astons representative. Once residency was granted, Astons’ lawyers registered the company in his name and issued all supporting documents. A euro bank account was opened and an EU VAT number obtained. This enabled Peter to resume business with clients in Germany and Austria under a new EU-based legal entity.

• Property price: €450,000
• Property transfer tax (3.09%): €13,905
• Land registry fee (0.6%): €2,700
• Notary fees (1.5%): €6,750
• Immigration fees: €2,000
• Residence card printing: €16

Additional costs:

Insurance, translations, notary services

Astons’ services: calculated individually

Total: €475,371 (excluding additional costs).

Two months after registering his Greek company, Peter re-established ties with four key clients.

He now visits Greece regularly and can enjoy a peaceful holiday. The turbulent period is over: he has official status, flexibility, tax certainty, and a business running smoothly.

• Corporate income tax: 22% on net company profit. Greece offers one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the EU, making it attractive for business.
• Dividend tax: 5% when paying dividends to shareholders — enabling legal profit distribution with minimal losses.
• Capital gains tax: 15% on the sale of assets or company shares — suitable for those planning to sell business stakes or property.
• VAT: Standard rate 24% (most goods/services), reduced rates: 13% (e.g. food, dining) and 6% (medicines, healthcare). With VAT registration, Peter can work with EU clients and issue invoices compliant with EU standards.

• Residency by investment from €250,000
• Fast processing (3–6 months)
• No obligation to live in the country
• Visa-free access to the Schengen Area
• Company registration, VAT, euro bank account
• Income-generating real estate
• Potential route to EU citizenship
• Non-dom tax regime: €100,000 per year on all global income
• Access to EU banking, healthcare, and education systems

At present, Greece’s Golden Visa is one of the most affordable ways to obtain EU residency by investment. The residence permit is valid for five years and can be renewed indefinitely — with no requirement to live in Greece.

We help clients from around the world quickly and easily obtain second citizenship or residency by investment. Our experts handle all the bureaucracy and find solutions even for the most complex cases, drawing on in-depth knowledge of international and immigration law. Book a free consultation — we’ll take care of the rest.