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Notary fees in Geneva in 2026: what you need to know
When buying a property in Geneva, notary fees account for a significant part of the budget. At Millenium Properties, we help our clients understand these fees and anticipate their amount. Here is an overview of this important subject.
What do notary fees cover?
Contrary to what one might think, notary fees are not limited to the notary’s remuneration. In fact, they cover all the fees, disbursements and taxes relating to the property transaction and to any mortgage loan.
The two main notarial deeds
Generally, two deeds are drawn up by the notary when buying a property in Geneva:
- The deed of sale, which transfers ownership to the buyer
- The mortgage deed, if a loan is taken out.
This second deed concerns the mortgage certificate, a document required by the lender (bank, insurer, etc.) as security for the loan.
Breakdown of the fees for these two deeds
Several items make up the costs to plan for at the signing before the notary. The notary’s fees are the remuneration for the legal work carried out and the responsibilities assumed.
Registration duties are taxes levied by the State on property transactions.
Land registry fees are the costs of recording the property in the official register.
Finally, various disbursements may be added, such as administrative costs or specific searches.
The exact amount will depend on the value of the property.
For example, for an apartment priced at 1 million francs in Geneva, notary fees will amount to around 5% of the purchase price.
Special cases in Geneva
Features of the Geneva market
A few features specific to Geneva are worth highlighting to understand notarial fees.
For an off-plan purchase, the fees are calculated only on the value of the land, which can represent a significant saving. Many online calculators now make it possible to estimate these fees accurately before you even commit to a transaction.
Your Millenium Properties broker will guide you expertly through all these steps, helping you to anticipate your overall budget as accurately as possible.
The role of Millenium Properties
At Millenium Properties, we make it a point of honour to support our clients at every stage of their property project in Geneva. Our team of experts is here to:
- Explain notary fees to you in detail
- Help you budget for them accurately
- Direct you to the right contacts
- Answer all your questions about the purchase process
Do not hesitate to contact us to benefit from our expertise of the Geneva market and carry out your project with complete peace of mind.
