Tax-free shopping in Greece: how Israelis get the VAT back
Spent more than €50 on one receipt in Greece? You can get part of the VAT back. Every step, from the shop to the desk at Athens airport.
- Israelis can reclaim VAT on purchases over €50 per receipt.
- Get your forms stamped at customs opposite counter 61 at Athens airport, before check-in.
- In practice you get back about 10–16% of the price after the refund company's fee.
If you come to Athens to shop, keep every receipt over €50 and allow an extra half hour at the airport. It can be worth tens or even hundreds of euros.
Who gets a VAT refund?
Anyone who lives outside the EU, including Israelis, can get back part of the VAT on goods bought in Greece. What counts is where you live, not your citizenship. Show your passport in the shop.
How much do you need to spend?
- More than €50 on a single receipt, VAT included. The amount is checked per receipt, not per day.
- Greece's standard VAT is 24%. Some goods have reduced VAT (13% or 6%).
- In practice you get back less than the full VAT, because refund companies (Global Blue, Planet) take a fee. Estimate: roughly 10–16% of the price, depending on the amount and the company. They do not publish a fixed rate.
How it works, step by step
- In the shop: look for the Tax Free sign, ask for a Tax Free form (or special receipt) and show your passport.
- Keep the goods new and unused until you leave Greece, together with the receipts.
- At Athens airport, before check-in: go to the customs office opposite check-in counter 61 (public area) and get your forms stamped. This is only possible once your airline's counters are open, so arrive early. Bring the goods themselves, the receipts, the forms and your passport. If there is a problem on the spot, the airport customs office (24 hours): +30 210 3532216.
- After security: collect your money at the ONExchange desks (cash or card), on the Departures level, in both the Schengen and non-Schengen areas.
Flying home via another EU country? You get the customs stamp only in the last EU country you leave from.
Deadline
The goods must leave the EU by the end of the third month after the month of purchase. Example: bought on 10 October, you have until 31 January.
What is not refunded?
- Tobacco products.
- Goods for private cars, boats or planes.
- Services: hotels, restaurants, car hire. Only goods you take with you count.
- Goods sent by a shipping company. They must be in your own luggage.
Small tips that save money
- Checking a big suitcase? Athens customs is before bag drop. Pack your purchases where you can reach them, as customs may ask to see them.
- Shopping in several stores? Each receipt must be over €50 on its own.
- Outlet shopping: McArthurGlen near the airport offers Tax Free on purchases over €50. Our Athens shopping guide.
- Before you go shopping, check whether shops are open today: Greek holidays and shop hours.
FAQ
How much money do you get back from a VAT refund in Greece?
An estimate: about 10–16% of the purchase price, depending on the amount and the company. Standard VAT is 24%, but refund companies take a fee.
Where do I stamp the Tax Free form at Athens airport?
At the customs office opposite check-in counter 61, in the public area, before check-in. You collect the money after security at the ONExchange desks.
Do I get VAT back on hotels and restaurants?
No. The refund only covers goods you take with you, not services such as hotels, restaurants or car hire.
Based on the Greek tax authority (AADE) traveller FAQ of April 2026 and Athens International Airport's official page. Rules can change; the refund desk at the airport gives the exact amount.
