Payment Gateway and Merchant Accounts in Greece

A payment gateway in Greece connects your website, booking engine, app or invoices to a merchant account, so you can accept debit and credit cards and mobile wallet payments and receive the money in euros in your business bank account. Whether you run an e-shop in Athens, a hotel on Crete, a yacht charter company in Piraeus or a SaaS business in Thessaloniki selling across the EU, the right set-up depends on what you sell, where your customers are and how much risk a provider sees in your business model.

QuadraPay is a merchant services partner for businesses in Greece and across Europe. We look at your business, your website and your expected volumes, then match you with EU acquiring and processing partners whose underwriting fits your business, including travel and high-risk industries that mainstream providers often decline. You see the full fee breakdown before you sign anything, and our partners offer support in several languages.

Payment Gateways and Merchant Accounts in Greece: What You Get

A payment gateway and a merchant account are two parts of the same set-up. Here is what each part does.

Online Payment Methods in Greece: How Customers Pay

Card payments in Greece keep growing. According to Bank of Greece data reported in May 2025, Greek cards were used for about 2.5 billion transactions worth €112 billion in 2024, up 14% in number, and 93% of those transactions were made with debit cards. Card spending reached about €120 billion in 2025. One industry report estimates that Greeks spent €29.4 billion online in 2024, with travel and accommodation the largest category.

For a business selling to Greek customers, that means:

• Debit cards come first. Most Greek cardholders pay by debit card, so make sure your checkout handles debit cards smoothly, with 3-D Secure for online payments.
• Mobile wallets are expected. Paying with a phone is growing quickly, and many Greek online shoppers also use digital wallets at checkout. Ask your provider which wallets it includes.
• IRIS instant payments are now part of daily life. IRIS is Greece’s instant account-to-account payment system, run through the interbank system DIAS. More than 8,000 businesses and online stores had integrated IRIS Commerce by mid-2025.
• Bank transfer and cash on delivery are still offered by many Greek e-shops, especially for larger orders.
• Euro pricing, euro settlement. Greece uses the euro, so there is no currency conversion on domestic sales. If you also sell to customers outside the eurozone, see multi-currency payment processing.

Card and IRIS Acceptance Rules for Greek Businesses

Greece has detailed rules on accepting electronic payments, and they affect how you choose a provider:

• Card acceptance. Since 2024, card acceptance has been compulsory for almost all retail sectors, including kiosks, taxis and market traders, and POS terminals must be connected to the business’s cash register and reported to the tax authority (AADE). Fines for businesses without a POS start at €1,500.
• IRIS acceptance. From 1 December 2025, businesses in Greece must accept IRIS payments as well as cards, with fines of €10,000 to €20,000 for businesses that don’t comply.

These rules mainly target shops with cash registers. If you sell online, or both online and in store, check with your accountant how they apply to you. IRIS acceptance is usually arranged through your bank, separately from your online card set-up.

Choosing a Payment Service Provider in Greece: What to Compare

Greek merchants can choose between the acquiring arms of Greek banks, local payment institutions and international providers licensed elsewhere in the EU and passported into Greece. Every payment service provider must be authorised by the Bank of Greece or by another EU or EEA regulator. Before you compare prices, check that the provider is authorised and that it accepts your type of business. Then compare these points:

Local providers are often the simplest choice for a low-risk Greek shop or e-shop. International providers can suit businesses that sell across Europe, need several currencies or work in an industry local providers won’t take. Because we work with multiple acquiring partners, a decline from one provider doesn’t have to be the end of the road. We can look at others that may be a better fit.

Payments for Hotels, Villas, Yacht Charters and Tour Operators

Tourism is central to the Greek economy, and travel businesses face their own payment challenges. Customers often pay deposits months before arrival, many bookings come from outside the EU, and volumes rise sharply in summer. Providers see that as risk: if a business can’t deliver, the provider may have to refund every customer who paid in advance.

• Deposits and pre-payments. Expect a provider to ask about your booking window, cancellation policy and refund terms, and to hold a reserve or delay part of the settlement for long-dated bookings.
• Phone and email bookings. A virtual terminal or payment links let you take deposits securely without storing card details yourself.
• International guests. Accepting cards issued outside the EEA, and showing prices in the guest’s currency where the provider supports it, can reduce abandoned bookings.
• Seasonal peaks. Share your monthly forecast up front so your limits cover July and August.

See travel merchant accounts, hotel credit card processing and yacht charter merchant accounts.

High-Risk Merchant Accounts in Greece

Some Greek businesses are classed as high risk because of their industry, their chargeback history or the way they sell, for example subscriptions, free trials, pre-orders or cross-border sales. Mainstream banks and payment providers often decline these businesses, or close accounts without much warning. A high-risk merchant account is set up with a provider that expects these risks and manages them with reserves, monitoring and fraud tools.

Industries that often need a high-risk set-up include:

• Forex and crypto-related businesses, which providers assess against licensing and AML requirements. See forex broker payment gateways and crypto merchant accounts.
• Adult content and dating platforms. See adult merchant accounts and dating merchant accounts.
• Nutraceuticals and supplements. See supplement merchant accounts and nutraceutical merchant accounts.
• SaaS, subscriptions and online courses. See SaaS payment processing, subscription payment processing and online course merchant accounts.
• Technical support and coaching. See tech support merchant accounts and coaching merchant accounts.
• Online gaming and betting licensed by the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP). The EEEP has blocked around 11,000 illegal gambling websites, so your licence is central to any application. See gambling merchant accounts.
• CBD and vape businesses. See CBD merchant accounts and vape merchant accounts.

Providers look at your website, refund and delivery terms, chargeback and refund ratios, processing history and any licences your industry needs. Expect a rolling reserve or volume limits at the start, which providers may review as you build a track record. If you’ve been declined by a Greek bank or provider, we may be able to help. See high-risk merchant accounts and European high-risk merchant accounts.

Integrations, Recurring Billing and Currencies

Depending on the provider, a merchant account for a Greek business can cover:

• Cards: debit and credit cards, including cards issued outside the EEA.
• Mobile wallets at checkout.
• Recurring billing for memberships and subscriptions, with retries for failed payments and card updater services where available. See recurring merchant accounts.
• Multiple currencies for customers outside the eurozone, with settlement in EUR or another currency the provider supports.

Integration options usually include plugins for common platforms, a hosted payment page and an API. We work with businesses using the main e-commerce platforms and custom builds. See high-risk payment plugins for online stores, payment gateways for open-source e-commerce platforms, high-risk gateway integration for hosted store builders and CRM payment processing for sales teams.

Documents You Need for a Greek Merchant Account

Every provider verifies your business before approving an account. For a Greek company, have these ready:

• Company registration. A recent certificate from the General Commercial Registry (GEMI) for your I.K.E., E.P.E., A.E. or partnership, and your articles of association. A sole trader needs proof of registration and their tax registration details instead.
• Tax number and VAT status. Your AFM (tax identification number) and VAT registration with the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE).
• Beneficial owners. Details of the people who own or control the company. Providers check these against the Greek Central Register of Beneficial Owners.
• ID and proof of address for directors and each significant owner.
• Business bank account in the company’s name, with an IBAN confirmation or recent statement. A Greek account is usual, though some providers settle to another EEA euro account.
• Processing statements for the last three to six months, if you already take cards. These help with pricing and show your chargeback history.
• Your website, with clear terms of use, refund, cancellation and delivery policies, a privacy policy, prices with VAT and your company details, including your GEMI number and AFM.
• Licences where your industry needs them, such as an EEEP gambling licence, a tourism licence (MHTE number) for accommodation or a financial services licence for forex.
• A business plan and volume forecast if you’re a new company with no processing history, including your seasonal peak if you work in tourism.

We help you put the application together so it’s complete before it goes to a provider. We usually reply to new enquiries within one business day. Provider underwriting typically takes a few days and varies by provider and industry.

Fraud Prevention, 3-D Secure and Chargebacks

Bank of Greece data shows card fraud is low overall, at about 0.019% of card spending in 2025. But almost all remote fraud now happens online, and its value rose by 4% in 2025 even as in-store fraud fell. For online merchants, fraud usually turns into chargebacks, and too many chargebacks put your account at risk.

• 3-D Secure 2. EU rules on strong customer authentication (SCA) under PSD2 require most online card payments to be authenticated by the customer’s bank. 3-D Secure also generally shifts liability for fraud-related chargebacks to the card issuer.
• Risk rules. Velocity limits, country and IP checks and device fingerprinting, where the provider offers them.
• Chargeback alerts. Alert services offered by the card networks notify you of a dispute so you can refund before it becomes a chargeback. See what a chargeback alert service is.
• Clear billing. A recognisable billing descriptor and easy-to-reach customer support prevent many “I don’t recognise this payment” disputes.

See also handling chargebacks in high-risk industries.

What a Payment Gateway in Greece Costs

There is no single rate. Your price depends on your industry, volumes, average transaction value, card mix and where your customers are. In the EU, interchange on consumer cards issued in the EEA is capped at 0.2% for debit and 0.3% for credit, which helps Greek merchants because most domestic payments are made with debit cards. Card scheme fees and the provider’s own margin come on top, and business cards and cards issued outside the EEA, common in tourism, cost more.

• Interchange-plus pricing shows interchange, scheme fees and the provider’s markup separately, so you can see exactly what you pay.
• Blended pricing is one rate for most cards. It’s simpler, but harder to compare.
• Other fees can include set-up, monthly, gateway, chargeback, refund and currency conversion fees.
• Travel and high-risk accounts usually have higher rates and a rolling reserve.

We give you a quote based on your business, with the full fee breakdown before you sign.

How to Get a Payment Gateway in Greece

1. Tell us about your business. What you sell, where your customers are, your website and your expected monthly volume, including any seasonal peak.
2. Get a quote. We match you with providers whose underwriting fits your business and show you the full fee breakdown.
3. Prepare your documents. We help you check your application and website before it goes to the provider. Some providers ask you to upload documents to them directly.
4. Provider review. The provider underwrites your application. Timing varies by provider and industry.
5. Integrate and go live. You receive gateway credentials, connect your checkout or booking engine and start taking payments.

Merchant Accounts in Europe and Beyond

If you also trade in other markets, see our pages for Italy, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Latvia and the UK. For businesses selling across several countries, see international merchant accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions About Payment Gateways in Greece

What is the best payment gateway for Greece?

The best one is the gateway that accepts your industry, supports the payment methods your customers use, handles your seasonal volume and has fees and terms you understand. Local providers often suit low-risk Greek shops and e-shops. International providers can suit cross-border, travel and high-risk businesses. Compare the full fee breakdown, settlement times, reserves and contract terms, not just the headline rate.

Which online payment methods are most popular in Greece?

Debit cards, increasingly paid through mobile wallets, and digital wallets at checkout. IRIS instant payments are growing fast, and many e-shops still offer bank transfer and cash on delivery.

Do I have to accept IRIS payments?

Since 1 December 2025, businesses in Greece have been required to accept IRIS alongside cards, and the rules are enforced mainly through AADE-connected POS and cash register systems. Ask your accountant how this applies to an online-only business. IRIS is usually arranged through your bank, separately from your online card set-up.

What documents do I need to open a merchant account in Greece?

Usually a GEMI certificate, your AFM and VAT details, beneficial ownership details, ID for directors and owners, a business bank account, recent processing statements if you have them, and a website with clear terms and refund policies. Licensed industries also need their licence.

Can a foreign-owned company get a payment gateway in Greece?

Often, yes. Providers look at where the company is registered, where its owners and customers are and where it banks. A Greek I.K.E. with foreign owners is common. We can’t support merchants based in India.

Can hotels and travel businesses take deposits online?

Yes. Providers that work with travel will usually ask about your booking window and cancellation policy, and may hold a reserve or delay part of the settlement until the stay or trip takes place.

Can high-risk businesses accept card payments in Greece?

Yes, through providers that work with high-risk industries. Expect more checks, higher rates and possibly a rolling reserve. Licensed activities such as gambling need the right EEEP licence first.

Do I need 3-D Secure?

For most online card payments from EEA customers, yes. Strong customer authentication rules under PSD2 require it, with some exemptions that the provider applies.

I’ve been declined before. Can you still help?

Declined elsewhere? We may be able to help. Tell us why you were declined, and we’ll look at providers whose underwriting may suit your business better.

Get a Quote for Your Greek Business

Whether you run an e-shop in Athens, a villa rental on Mykonos or a high-risk brand selling across Europe, tell us how your customers pay. We’ll match you with payment partners that may suit your business and give you every fee in writing before you sign. Request a quote or email info@quadrapay.com.