Greek  Passports

Pursuant to the new law in effect from January 1st 2006, the issuance of new passports with upgraded security features falls within the competence of the Greek Police exclusively.

Greek Consular Missions will be assisting in the following ways:

• Receiving applications and required documents
• Forwarding all these documents to the Greek Police via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Receiving the new passports from the Greek Police
• Delivering the passports to the applicant

Validity

The period of validity for the new passports is as follows:

1.     For adult (holders), 5 years

2.     For minors up to 14 years of age, 2 years

3.     For minors over the age of 14, passports will be issued until they reach their 18th year of age.

The new passports are not renewable. Six months prior to the expiring date, holders may submit an application for the issuance of a new passport. The law also stipulates specific procedures for replacing a lost or stolen valid passport.

Fees:

Fees for issuance, replacement or renewal of passports is as follows:

•          Passports for applicants over 18 years of age (5 year validity): €84,40*

•          Passports for applicants less than 14 years of age (3 years validity): €73,60*

*Please note:

Prices mentioned above are in Euros but passport fees are paid in Australian dollars and only in cash. The exchange rate changes once a month and is valid throughout the month.

Required Supporting Documents

The required supporting documents must be submitted by the applicant in person and they are the following:

1. Printed application form provided by our Office

2. A recent colour digital photograph, 40mm X 60mm printed on colour photographic paper (no use of ink-jet or laser printing). More technical specifications can be found at the Ministry of Public Order website www.ydt.gr

3. A photocopy of both sides of the applicant's Police Identity Card. If the applicant does not have a Police Identity Card, he/she must submit a birth certificate or a family status certificate issued by the competent municipality in Greece. For children under 12 years of age, a certificate of municipal registration must be presented, on which a recently taken colour photo is attached as well as a certificate of having an alias issued by the municipality where the minor is registered. In the above mentioned certificate, one parent of the child, or the legal guardian, may certify the alias. In this case, the parent's or guardian's signature must be certified by a competent authority.

4. An Affidavit (according to Law 1599/86) provided by our Office stating the following: (a) whether the applicant has been convicted or has been prosecuted with a criminal offence, and (b) whether the applicant has evaded his mandatory military obligations or has deserted from his military duties or has an outstanding ban to exit the country. In the same affidavit, the applicant must include his residence address. Also, for the period that the old passports are still valid, the applicant must state that he/she is a holder of such a passport, (issued by a Prefecture or Consulates General / Consulates), and he/she wishes to replace it with a new one.

5. A permanent resident abroad who has evaded his mandatory military obligations must submit a certificate from the competent Military Office in Greece which will certify his military service status.

Minor applicants have to be accompanied by their legal guardian when they submit the required application documents.

For Greeks living abroad, the procedures for the issuance of passports will now be inevitably lengthier in time, due to the fact that the required application and all the supporting documents have to be forwarded to the Greek Police and then the new passports have to be sent to our Office. Alternatively, Greek citizens living abroad, when visiting Greece, always have the option to apply directly to the competent authorities in Greece for the issuance of their passports.

FAQ:

What happens if my new passport is not collected in time?

Passports not collected within six months after the day they were issued, are returned to the National Passport Center for cancellation.

What information is included in the passport?

The holders personal details (surname, name, father’s name, citizenship, date/place of birth, sex and height.

1.             Date of publication and expiry date.

2.             Authority of publication

3.             Holder’s signature

What is the duration of a new passport?

For adults and minors over 14 years old: 5  years from the day of issuance.

For minors younger than 14 years old: 3 years from the day of issuance.

For exceptionally granted passports: 13 months from the day of issuance: these passports must be delivered for cancellation before the date of expiration, provided the cause of their publication has seized to exist.

What is the process following deposit of supporting documents?

Documentation is processed further and then forwarded to the Police Headquarters in Athens, by diplomatic mail. There documentation is checked, new passports are issued and forwarded to the General Consulate of Greece by diplomatic mail.

Can travel agencies, relatives or others submit supporting documents instead of me?

No. Applicants themselves must submit supporting documents, even in the case of minors and infants. If there are serious health reasons, confirmed via a testimonial issued from a governmental/public hospital, a consular employee visits the applicant to collect the supporting documents.

What happens if my new passport is lost or stolen?

In case of theft or loss of a Greek passport, immediately report the incident to the local police authority and submit this report to the General Consulate so that the Hellenic Police Headquarters is informed and the lost/stolen passport is invalidated.

Please note : Following loss/theft of a European/Greek passport, a new passport is not granted before the period of 3 months, provided the local police authorities certify that i twas never found.

What happens to a passport if a decision of prohibition of egress from the country is issued ?

Your passport is dispatched to the National Passport Center until the end of prohibition.

If I want to renew or replace my passport what are the supporting documents ?

Same documents as for issuance of new passports.

How long before the expiry date can I apply for a new passport ?

You can apply eight (8) months before the passport expires but please be informed that as soon as the new passport is issued, the old one will be invalidated immediately.

What conditions justify replacement of a passport ?

1.             There are no more blank pages.

2.             There are important changes to your personal details, such as name.

3.             The passport photo or the whole passport is destroyed.

Please note : The expiry date on the new passport will match the expiry date on the passport being replaced. 

What happens to the passport when the passport holder has died?

Passports that belong to deceased holders, should be delivered under the care of relatives or legal heirs, to qualified police and consular authorities in order to be returned back to the National Passport Center for cancellation. According to the law the owner of the passport in the Hellenic Republic and the holder of the passport is entitled to hold it for the duration of its validity.