Investors who want to start a company in Greece may need to apply for various licenses and permits, in order to have the right to conduct their business operations. It can be necessary to obtain a business license in Greece for a variety of activities, such as: construction, food, health services, etc.
Considering the variety of business activities a company can undertake, we invite businessmen to request legal assistance from our attorneys in Greece, who can guide them through the specific paperwork required for each operation. Our team can present the type of trade license in Greece that must be obtained, along with any other certificates, permits and sector-specific documents.
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Business license in Greece for tourism enterprises
The tourism industry can cover a wide range of business activities, from catering to accommodation. Investors who want to set up a business in this sector must take the necessary measures in order to apply for suitable licenses. Catering businesses of all types, along with accommodation units, can operate only if they have been issued with suitable approvals.
A business license in Greece in this industry can also refer to a construction permit, provided that investors want to build new premises from ground up. The same is available if they plan to demolish a part of a building or to renovate the respective location. In the list below, our team of lawyers in Greece have gathered basic information concerning the licensing process referring to this industry:
- those who want to build a hotel must go through a 5-stage licensing approval process (the 1st stage is the approval of the land where the building will be erected, while the 5th is issuance of the operating trade license in Greece);
- the tourism sector also includes conference centers operators, who, in order to develop their activity, must complete a licensing process containing 6 steps, the final step being the issuance of the business license in Greece;
- the above-mentioned operators have to abide by the rules of the Law 401/2011, concerning the environmental impact of the respective activity – this step is mandatory for the issuance of the license;
- the Greek law regulates the set up of tourist harbor-marinas, which can be licensed in a 3-steps procedure (3 types of such marinas are recognized by the Greek regulations, under the Law 2160/93).
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a licensing process is applicable for those who want to set up a golf course or integrated tourist centers. Each one of these sub-sectors have their own procedure for the issuance of a business license in Greece, therefore our Greek lawyers remain at your service, with in-depth legal advice on each procedure.
Foreign businessmen who want to buy land in Greece or rent land for commercial purposes related to the tourism industry must first address to the Regional Offices of Tourism. For the architectural design of the estate built on the respective land, the approval is issued by the Directorate of Tourist Facilities. Our law firm in Greece can assist in addressing these institutions.
Food vendor license in Greece
Many businessmen opt to open a food vending business. A trade license in Greece is required for all such operators, including natural persons. The same applies to itinerant food vendors, who can move around a given area by various means of movement.
This type of license is officially known as Professional Seller’s License and our lawyers in Greece can provide details on its characteristics, validity, fees and other matters of interest.
We also invite you to address us for other types of licenses. For instance, shipowners and operators of ships and other types of vessels can engage in maritime activities only if they have appropriate licenses. Contact our Greek lawyers for advice on the licenses presented in this article, as well as on any other type of business license in Greece.