22.10.2026
Best Islands to Retire in Greece
Based on recent data of ours, almost one in three buyers (30.8%), mainly retirees, from abroad are looking for a property in Greece for a permanent residence.
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What is the National Cadastre in Greece? What documents are required? How does registration work? If you are buying a home in Greece, you may have many questions like these. In this article, we ask licensed notary and former Elxis lawyer Kostas Chatzis to explain it in plain English.
Who is Kostas?
Kostas is a licensed notary and former Elxis lawyer with deep knowledge of the National Cadastre system in Greece. Before joining Elxis, he worked with several Cadastre offices across northern Greece, helping to build what many see as the biggest improvement to the country's property system in decades. Kostas has since opened his own notary office in Thessaloniki, where he continues to share his expertise.
What is the Greek National Cadastre?
The National Cadastre (Ktimatologio) is Greece's modern digital property registry.
"The Greek government has created a unified property registry. Until a few years ago, every region of Greece had its own land registry system," Kostas says. "Now the situation has improved a lot."
"Every owner of a property in Greece, whether they have owned it for one day, a month, or 50 years, has to register with the National Cadastre once their region is eligible for registration," he adds.
What is the Difference Between the "National Cadastre" and the "Land Registry"?
You may also hear about a "Greek Land Registry". The Land Registry was the old system. Each area had a small office, the Ypothikofylakio, where you registered your property. The system was inefficient. The National Cadastre is the modern system that is replacing those local Land Registry offices. Because the change is not complete everywhere, the old offices are still involved in some areas. In others, you submit documents only to the Cadastre. This can be confusing on your own. One job of our legal team is to check the status of both systems and register your property the right way.
How Do I Read the National Cadastre Map?
This section is for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the system. You do not need it to make an application. The map shows the status of the Cadastre across Greece and is updated regularly. The colours mark the stage each area has reached:
Orange, registration: the Cadastre is collecting applications, so the area is still under registration.
Green, registration review (proanartisi): owners are asked to confirm the details of their applications.
Red, registration finalisation (anartisi): owners have confirmed their details and can still correct mistakes before the Cadastre goes live.
Dark blue, full operation: the Cadastre is fully operational here.
Yellow, outside cadastral registration: these areas are not yet covered, so you do not need to register yet.
The map changes constantly. For any questions about it, consult your lawyer.
Who Needs to Register with the Greek National Cadastre?
Greek law requires any person or legal entity with property rights of any kind to register those rights with the Cadastre. You do this by submitting the relevant statements and documents, which include an application form, the title of ownership, a land survey, and a Greek ID card or passport. Once registered, each property is assigned a 12-digit code, the KAEK, which ties it to its title and location and helps secure future ownership rights and claims.
Can I Do the Registration Process Myself?
Handled properly, the process can be quick and straightforward, but there are pitfalls to be aware of.
"The most common problem we encounter is that many owners are not aware of their obligation to declare their property to the National Cadastre. Failing to complete the process properly can eventually result in the loss of ownership after a number of years, because all 'stray' parcels are transferred to the Greek State," Kostas says. If you do this yourself, one tricky part is "locating" the property under registration. Each property has to be pinpointed on the cadastral map, and it helps to have an expert guide you through this.
What Happens in a National Cadastre Registration?
"The first thing to check is whether the property is in a region that is eligible for registration. Then we check whether the owner has already met their obligation. Where they have not, we make a registration. There are two ways to register: online or in person," Kostas says.
How Long Do I Have to Register?
When your area opens for cadastral registration, the deadline to submit your declaration is three months if you live in Greece, and six months if you live abroad. After that, the declaration is late and a fine may apply. If you have just bought a property, a separate deadline applies. You must declare the new ownership within one month of the deed being registered. The Cadastre rollout is nearing completion across the country, with most regions expected to be fully operational by 2026. The government website lists deadlines and offices by region, though it is only in Greek.
Does Elxis Help with National Cadastre Registration?
At Elxis, we have an in-house team of 10 lawyers who can handle the process and make sure it is done right from the start. If you use our legal services for your purchase, our lawyer will register your property in the National Cadastre, where this is available in your area. Our experienced, multilingual legal team has guided international property buyers to find their ideal home in Greece since 1991. If you have more questions about the National Cadastre, feel free to contact us!
