Consumers in Greece will need electronic payment methods when paying couriers upon delivery, even for small purchases, under a government proposal. However, the measure still awaits parliamentary approval, and the Finance Ministry plans exemptions before implementation.
The Ministry of National Economy and Finance announced the proposal on October 7, 2026, within a broader financial reform bill. Public consultation runs until October 22, with the government targeting a parliamentary vote during November’s first week.
Electronic Payments Would Replace Cash at Delivery
Articles 299 and 300 cover consumer purchases when courier companies ship and deliver goods and collect payment upon arrival. The proposed requirement applies regardless of the purchase price, removing the cash option even for low-value orders.
Instead, customers would use cards or other electronic methods. The draft lists bank transfers, payments through payment accounts, and electronic wallets among the alternatives. Importantly, the proposal changes how customers pay upon delivery; it does not require advance payment when ordering.
Meanwhile, the bill retains Greece’s existing €500(~$561) threshold for other consumer transactions. That rule requires electronic payment for purchases of goods or services totaling €500(~$561) or more. Consequently, the courier provision would extend electronic payment requirements to qualifying purchases below that threshold.
Courier Companies Would Face Financial Penalties
The proposal also places responsibility on courier companies that accept cash contrary to the new requirement. Those companies would face financial penalties rather than simply an instruction to change their collection practices. The ministry confirms that the measure includes fines for violations.
Specifically, Article 300 sets each fine at twice the amount the company collects in cash for the transaction. For example, accepting a prohibited €50(~$56) cash payment would trigger a €100(~$112) fine under that formula.
Exemptions and Implementation Still Await Decisions
However, the government does not intend to apply the requirement without exceptions. The ministry says an implementing decision will identify categories of individuals who can retain the cash option. It plans to draw on exemptions within Greece’s existing electronic-spending requirements for tax purposes. Its announcement does not name the final eligible groups.
Furthermore, 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.
For now, the ministry’s timetable concerns consultation and its intended parliamentary vote, not a confirmed enforcement date. Consumers and courier companies still await the final exemption categories and implementation details.
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