Greece is moving to ban cash-on-delivery (COD) services, requiring consumers to use electronic payment methods for all courier deliveries, regardless of the purchase amount.
The Ministry of National Economy and Finance unveiled the measure on October 7, 2026, as part of a sweeping financial reform bill designed to curb tax evasion and modernize commerce. The draft legislation is open for public consultation until October 22. The government plans to bring it to a parliamentary vote during the first week of November.
A major shift for E-commerce
For generations, cash on delivery has been a staple of Greek e-commerce, offering a sense of security to shoppers hesitant to share financial data online. Under the new proposal, that option will disappear.
When a courier arrives at a doorstep, consumers will need to pay using digital means. The ministry has clarified that the rule does not mandate upfront payments during the online checkout process; rather, it changes how payment is collected at the moment of delivery. Acceptable methods will include debit and credit cards, bank transfers, mobile payment accounts, and digital wallets.
Currently, Greece enforces a €500(~$560) threshold that mandates digital spending for high-value transactions. This new provision effectively bypasses that limit for the logistics sector. It enforces a cashless standard on courier deliveries even for minor, low-value orders. Courier Companies Would Face Financial Penalties
Strict penalties for logistics companies
The burden of compliance falls heavily on courier and logistics firms. Under Article 300 of the proposed bill, companies that continue to accept cash at the doorstep will face immediate financial penalties.
The government has established a strict fine structure: violating companies will be penalized exactly twice the amount of the cash collected. For instance, accepting cash for a €50(~$56) delivery will result in an automatic €100(~$112) fine for the courier company.
Exemptions and implementation still await decisions
The government does not intend to apply the requirement without exceptions. It recognised that certain segments of the population—such as the elderly or unbanked individuals—rely exclusively on cash. Because of that, the ministry plans to shield vulnerable groups from the mandate.
The final eligible categories will be modeled after existing tax exemptions for electronic spending, with specific details expected to be released shortly after the bill passes. It plans to draw on exemptions within Greece’s existing electronic-spending requirements for tax purposes.
Finally, parliamentary approval alone would not immediately activate the courier restrictions. According to Article 376, publication of the implementing decision would start the payment requirement and penalties.
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