Regulations

Researchers must examine the regulations and declare by signing the application that they accept to comply therewith before being granted permit to conduct research in the premises of the Historical Archive.

1. To conduct research at the Service of Diplomatic and Historical Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the interested candidate must submit an application form provided by, and submitted to the administrative staff of the Service. The permission is issued following ministerial approval and in accordance to a ministerial resolution from the designated Commission of the Ministry.
2. The Reading Room is open to researchers who have been granted permission to conduct research and supplied with the respective pass, from 09:30 to 15:30 during the working days. The Reading Room remains closed during the months of November and August as well as during the official National and religious holidays.
3. Only files that have been recorded and classified may be studied in the Reading Room.
4. Researchers shall fill in special forms with the details of the files they are interested in viewing one day in advance. Researchers can apply for up to three files per day. Each file is given to the researchers separately and only after they have completed studying the particular file, are they allowed to begin with the second one. The files and documents should be placed flat on the work table while no small objects may be placed on the documents or files.
5. The use of ink pens or fountain pens is prohibited. Lead pencils are only allowed in the Reading Room, while every researcher is accountable for the safe maintenance and return of the archival material. Laptop computers are also allowed for note taking in the reading room.
6. Any alteration of the documents' integrity or any notes thereon or additions thereto are strictly prohibited. Also forbidden is any alteration in the classification of the documents and the files.
7. Photocopies of documents is limited to 50 copies per research topic. Researchers must to provide their own paper. photocopies are free of charge. Photocopies may be produced only by the Ministry's employee in charge of the Reading Room. Documents preceding the 20th century cannot be photocopied, nor can documents that are in bad condition.
8. The reproduction of part or the entirety of the documents is forbidden without prior permission from the Historical Archive
9. Researchers are prohibited from consuming food, coffee and beverages in the Reading Room. Smoking is also prohibited in the premises.
10. Researchers are obliged to leave their overcoats, raincoats and bags outside the entrance of the Reading Room. Researchers are allowed to carry with them paper or a working notebook. All material are prone to a security check upon departure from the Reading Room. In order to accommodate lap-top computer users, the Service has electrical plugs for some of the work stations available.
11. Researchers are obligated to sign-in as well as sign-out during their visits and use of the Reading Room of the Historical Archive.