A practical legal consultation between two clients — Nour, an Egyptian national living in Greece, and Dimitris, a Greek businessman — and a lawyer specialising in Greek and Egyptian commercial law. Six real questions. Six direct answers.
I live in Greece and I want to start a company that imports Egyptian products — food, textiles, herbs — and exports Greek olive oil and cosmetics to Egypt. Should I register the company in Greece, in Egypt, or both?
You should register first in Greece, where your operations will be based. This gives you a legal entity recognised across the entire European Union — a single registration that lets you trade with any EU country and with Egypt from one base.
The best company type for your activity is the IKE (Ιδιωτική Κεφαλαιουχική Εταιρεία — Greek Private Company). It requires a minimum share capital of just €1, can be formed quickly through the Greek Business Registry (ΓΕΜΗ), and is designed precisely for small and medium trading businesses. You can be the sole founder as a non-Greek EU resident.
As for Egypt — you do not need to register a company there to import and export. However, if you plan to open a physical office or warehouse in Egypt in the future, you would register a branch through the General Authority for Investment (GAFI). For now, one Greek company is enough.
Legal basis: Greek Law 4072/2012 governs the IKE company structure. Egyptian Law 72/2017 (Investment Law) governs foreign business registration through GAFI.
I want to partner with an Egyptian businessman to build this import–export business together. What is the safest legal structure for a Greek–Egyptian partnership, and what should the contract say?
For a formal partnership between a Greek and an Egyptian national, I recommend one of two structures depending on how much capital you both plan to invest:
| IKE (Greek Private Company) | Best for small to medium scale. Both partners become shareholders. Minimal capital required. Managed by a director named in the articles of association. Regulated entirely by Greek law. |
| ΑΕ (Société Anonyme) | Better for larger capital and multiple investors. More regulatory requirements but offers stronger governance and easier access to bank financing. Minimum capital €25,000. |
Regardless of structure, your partnership agreement must clearly define: the percentage ownership of each partner, who has signing authority, what happens if one partner wants to exit, and how profits are distributed between Greece and Egypt.
What registrations and licences do I need in Egypt to be legally recognised as an exporter? I heard I need something called an “export registration.” What is that exactly?
Yes — you need two separate registrations on the Egyptian side, and both are mandatory before a single shipment can legally leave Egypt.
Commercial Registry (السجل التجاري): Any person or company that engages in trade in Egypt must register with the Egyptian Commercial Registry. This gives your activity a legal identity in Egypt. You can do this through a licensed Egyptian lawyer or representative.
Exporters Register (سجل المصدرين): Governed by the General Organisation for Export and Import Control (GOEIC), this is the specific licence that authorises you to export goods from Egypt. Without it, customs will not release your shipment. Registration requires your commercial registry number, tax card, and a statement of the products you intend to export.
Product-specific permits: Food products require a certificate from the Egyptian Food Safety Authority. Organic herbs need a phytosanitary certificate. Textiles require origin certification. Each product category has its own authority.
| Good news: As a Greek-registered company, you can appoint a licensed Egyptian export agent (وكيل شحن) who handles all Egyptian paperwork on your behalf. You do not need to be physically in Egypt for every shipment. |
Greece is part of the EU. Is there any trade agreement between the EU and Egypt that reduces the import duties I pay when Egyptian goods arrive in Greece?
Yes — and this is one of the most important financial advantages of your business. The EU–Egypt Association Agreement, which entered into force in 2004 under the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, creates preferential trade conditions between Egypt and all 27 EU member states, including Greece.
Under this agreement, many Egyptian goods enter the EU at a reduced or zero customs duty rate — but only if you can prove Egyptian origin using the correct document: the EUR.1 Movement Certificate. This certificate is issued by Egyptian customs at the time of export and must accompany every shipment claiming preferential treatment.
| Products that benefit most | Agricultural products, processed food, textiles, chemicals, and industrial goods with sufficient Egyptian origin content. |
| What you still pay in Greece | VAT at the standard Greek rate of 24% applies to all imports regardless of the association agreement. The agreement only reduces or eliminates customs duty — not VAT. |
What documents must travel with every shipment from Egypt to Greece? I don’t want a container held at Piraeus because of a missing paper.
A missing or incorrect document is the most common reason for customs delays. For every shipment from Egypt to Greece, your file must contain all of the following:
| Commercial invoice | Issued by the Egyptian exporter. Must show exact value, quantity, product description, and both parties’ details. |
| Packing list | Detailed list of the contents of every box or pallet — weights, dimensions, number of units. |
| Bill of lading / Airway bill | The transport contract issued by the shipping line or airline. Proves the goods were received for transport. |
| EUR.1 certificate | Proves Egyptian origin for preferential EU duty rates. Issued by Egyptian customs. Do not skip this — it saves you money. |
| Certificate of origin | Issued by the Egyptian Chamber of Commerce — different from the EUR.1 and required separately by Greek customs. |
| Product-specific certificates | Phytosanitary certificate for food/herbs. Health certificate for animal products. Conformity certificate for industrial goods. |
Practical tip: Always prepare two complete document sets — one goes with the shipment, one stays with you. Greek customs at Piraeus port can request originals, not just copies. Discrepancies between the invoice value and the declared customs value are flagged for inspection automatically.
What taxes and duties should I expect to pay in Greece when Egyptian goods arrive? And are there products I cannot import from Egypt at all?
When Egyptian goods arrive in Greece, you face three potential costs at customs
Customs duty: Set by the EU Common External Tariff. With an EUR.1 certificate, many Egyptian goods enter at 0% or a reduced rate. Without it, standard EU rates apply — these can range from 0% to 12% for most goods and up to 20% for some agricultural products.
VAT (ΦΠΑ): Charged at 24% on the customs value of the goods plus duty. This is a Greek domestic tax and cannot be avoided — but as a VAT-registered business, you reclaim it through your quarterly VAT return.
Excise duties: Apply only to specific goods — alcohol, tobacco, fuel. If your products fall in these categories, plan for significant additional cost.
As for prohibited goods — Egypt has its own export restrictions (some antiquities, certain chemicals), and the EU has its own import bans (certain pesticide residue levels, restricted species under CITES). Always verify your specific product category with a customs broker before your first shipment.
| Common mistake: Many importers undervalue goods on the invoice to reduce customs duty. This is customs fraud under both Greek law (Law 2960/2001) and EU regulations. The penalties — fines, seizure of goods, criminal prosecution — far exceed any duty saved. Always declare the true transaction value. |
| A note from the counsellor |
| The trade corridor between Egypt and Greece is active and growing — and the legal framework genuinely supports it. The EU–Egypt Association Agreement, Egypt’s investment reforms, and Greece’s position as a Mediterranean logistics hub all work in your favour. The businesses that run into trouble are not those who face complex laws — they are those who skip the paperwork because it seems like a formality. In import–export law, every piece of paper is a shield. Get the structure right from day one, and the business runs smoothly for years. |