The Greek government has taken a significant step to regulate the booming short-term rental market – especially platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com or Vrbo. With a new bill, it is now clarified that each individual property used for short-term rental is taxed as a “business establishment” – with corresponding financial consequences.

From the tax year 2024, this regulation will come into force as soon as it is passed by parliament. For landlords and companies working with holiday apartments in Greece, this means: an annual flat-rate operating costs allowance (Greek: “Τέλος Επιτηδεύματος”) of €600 per property – regardless of whether they are natural or legal persons.

According to Article 248 of the new draft law on the National Customs Code, which is currently in public consultation, any property used or sublet for short-term rentals will be considered a separate business establishment.

👉 As a result, each individual property is subject to the annual operating cost levy of €600. A reduced rate of €300 applies to non-profit organizations or social enterprises.

This measure is part of a broader fiscal approach to control the rapidly growing Airbnb market and aims to create tax transparency, fair competition with traditional hoteliers and urban balance in the rental housing market.

In recent years, Greece has experienced a real boom in the area of short-term rentals. Especially in cities like Athens, Thessaloniki and on popular islands like Santorini, Crete or Mykonos, many owners have listed their properties on platforms like Airbnb.

This had the following consequences:

• A drastic decline in available long-term rental apartments for locals

• Price increases on the rental market

• Tax intransparency among private landlords

• Complaints from traditional hotel businesses about distortion of competition

The new regulation is therefore an attempt to create a balance between tourist demand and housing for locals, as well as to restore tax justice.

This new flat rate affects all owners or operators who rent out properties for short-term stays – typically less than 30 days, as is common with holiday apartments.

Among those affected are:

• Private individuals who rent out apartments or houses via Airbnb

• Companies or agencies with multiple properties

• Communities of heirs or investment companies with real estate holdings

• Owners on islands, tourist centers and cities alike

The flat rate of €600 per year per property is due in addition to other tax obligations, e.g.:

• Income tax on rental income

• Solidarity surcharge (if applicable)

• Value added tax (for certain thresholds)

• City or municipal taxes depending on the region

For large portfolios, this could mean several thousand euros per year, just through the new “Τέλος Επιτηδεύματος”.

The measure is meeting with mixed reactions from the public.

🔹 Supporters (especially from the hotel industry and urban planning) see it as a necessary corrective to market regulation.

🔹 Critics – especially smaller owners – fear, however, that the new tax burden is an additional pressure that particularly affects families or people with only one second home.

Another problem is that the regulation also applies if a property is only rented out for a few weeks a year – which could be particularly critical for seasonal providers.

The new regulation on the flat-rate operating costs allowance for short-term rentals in Greece is a turning point for all Airbnb landlords and investors. Anyone who uses real estate in Greece for tourist rentals must prepare for higher fixed costs from 2024.

For existing landlords, it is therefore urgently advisable to check the profitability of their properties and, if necessary, seek tax advice.

More and more German pensioners are dreaming of spending their retirement in the sun – and Greece offers not only Mediterranean flair, but also tangible tax advantages. Since 2020, the country has been attracting foreign retirees with a flat tax rate of only 7% who relocate their residence to Greece.

In this article, I explain who can benefit from the special rule, what conditions must be met, and how the application process works – based on official sources from the Greek tax authority AADE.

Since the introduction of Law 4714/2020, a special taxation for pensioners has been included in the Greek income tax law (Art. 5B of Law 4172/2013). This allows foreign pension payments to be taxed at a flat rate of only 7% – and for a period of up to 15 years.

📌 Requirements for the 7% tax regulation (as of 2024)

1. Relocation of residence to Greece with valid registration and proof of residence.
2. Application for alternative taxation according to Article 5B to the Greek tax office for foreigners (AADE).
3. Application deadline: March 31 of the current tax year.
4. After approval: annual payment of 7% on total pension income from abroad (e.g. German pension, company pension, private pension).

The special regulation is anchored in the Greek Income Tax Act Art. 5B. The Greek tax authority AADE provides an official information document in English:

🔗 AADE – Tax Incentives: Articles 5A, 5B & 5C of Law 4172/2013 (PDF)

Yes – for many retirees, the model is highly attractive. If you receive pension income in Germany, move your tax residence to Greece and meet the deadlines, you will benefit from a greatly reduced tax burden and can enjoy your retirement under the sun – with financial advantages.

Good news for anyone planning to move to another EU country: If you obtained a driver’s license in Germany, you no longer have to automatically exchange it when moving to another EU country. The German driver’s license remains valid, even if you register your main residence in your new home country.

In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the new regulation – with official sources and practical tips.

Until now, it was common or even mandatory in many EU countries to exchange your driver’s license after moving – for example, when registering your main residence in Greece, Spain, or France. This often led to uncertainty among emigrants or long-term residents.

What has changed:
According to the official EU information platform Your Europe, you do not need to exchange your driver’s license as long as:

• The driver’s license is valid,

• You meet the legally required minimum age,

• And it has not been revoked or restricted.

Even with permanent residence in another EU country, a German driver’s license is fully recognized.

✅ When is an exchange still necessary?

There are some exceptions in which the driver’s license must be exchanged:

• If your driver’s license is lost or damaged

• In the event of an expiration date or with very old paper driver’s licenses

• If you receive a traffic violation that results in a restriction or revocation

• If you want to use a driver’s license class that is regulated differently in the new country

Even if there is no obligation: A voluntary exchange is possible at any time – e.g. to have the driver’s license in the local format or because it is easier for certain official matters.

The EU has agreed on uniform rules for the mutual recognition of driver’s licenses. The goal: to reduce bureaucracy and promote mobility. So, if you move abroad as a pensioner, digital nomad, or for professional reasons, you can rest assured:

👉 The German driver’s license is valid in all EU and EEA countries as long as it is legally valid.

The information comes from the official website of the European Union:
📌 Your Europe – Driving licence in another EU country

“If you move to another EU country, you usually do not have to exchange your driving licence. Your driving licence will remain valid there.”

(Status: 2022, updated 2024)

If you, as a German, move your residence to another EU country, you no longer have to exchange your driver’s license. The EU ensures that your driver’s license issued in Germany remains valid – unless one of the exceptional cases occurs.

Another step towards greater freedom of movement, less bureaucracy – and more security for everyone who lives and travels in the EU.