Passport issuance – replacement – renewal
The application - solemn declaration is completed electronically by the competent official at the Point of Receipt of Supporting Documents, and after it has been printed, it is reviewed and signed by the applicant.
Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
To not have been convicted of forgery, forgery of certificates, misappropriation of documents, unsworn false testimony or false declaration, in so far as the above are related to the issuance, use, loss or theft of passports, of slave trade, human trafficking, child abduction, involuntary abduction, sex trade, or trafficking of illegal immigrants. The ban applies for 5 years from the issuance of the conviction if it took place for an arrestable offence and for 10 years from the issuance of a conviction if it took place for an indictable office, and in both cases provided that the sentence has been served.
3. To not have had criminal proceedings brought against them for an indictable offence or for forgery, forgery of certificates, misappropriation of documents, unsworn false testimony or false declaration, in so far as the above are related to the issuance, use, loss or theft of passports, for slave trade, human trafficking, child abduction, involuntary abduction, sex trade, or trafficking of illegal immigrants, for as long as the pendency of proceedings lasts.
To not be subject to a measure prohibiting them from leaving the country.
To not have been declared a draft evader or deserter.
To not be serving a custodial sentence or a provisional arrest pending trial.
Conditions for non-commission of criminal offenses
This process refers to the issuance or renewal or replacement of a Greek passport and is aimed at Greek citizens who fulfill the appropriate conditions.
Initial issuance – renewal – issuance due to theft/loss (for applicants who are 14 years of age and older).
Initial issuance – renewal – issuance due to theft/loss (for applicants who are up to 14 years of age).
Replacement of passport (due to wear and tear, completion of pages, change of data).
Exclusively for passports valid for 13 months which are issued exceptionally, in accordance with Article 1(3) of Presidential Decree 25/2004 and Article 4(3) of P.D. 25/2004 as replaced by Article 3 of P.D. 135/2007.
Only for cases where fingerprints cannot be taken temporarily, a passport valid for 8 months is issued.
Exclusively for passports issued in accordance with Article 1(4)(b) of P.D. 25/2004, as replaced by Article 1(4) of P.D. 30/2010 (transfer of prisoner). A passport valid for 3 months is issued.
Refers to the resubmission of a request – courier costs due to the rejection of the original request.
Recent (taken within the last month) colour photograph, with dimensions 4x6 cm, printed on analogue photographic paper, without the use of inkjet or laser technology, of specific technical specifications, pursuant to ICAO recommendations.
A certificate issued by the competent Greek police, port or fire authority of the area where the incident (loss or theft) took place, which will certify the declaration of loss or theft, as well as the result of the investigation conducted.
Solemn declaration – parental consent in writing
Decision appointing a curator or legal guardian
Medical certificate or report by a doctor of a corresponding speciality with the condition being certified
9. Any existing documentary evidence attesting to the necessity of an exceptional issuance of a passport in order to travel abroad, even if the prohibitive reasons for issuance of Article 1(2) of P.D. 25/2004 apply for the applicant, in cases where the prohibition to leave the country is temporarily suspended by a court decision or an order of the public prosecutor, as well as in cases of hospitalisation for serious health reasons, death or severe illness of a relative.
Medical certificate from a hospital or a medical report signed by a doctor of a corresponding speciality with the condition being certified, as well as a certificate by a foreign medical institution, duly translated and verified, certifying the necessity for admission and hospitalisation abroad.
Certificate of status of draft evader residing abroad
Medical certificate or report signed by a doctor of a corresponding speciality with the condition being certified, stating that it is not possible for fingerprints to be taken, as well as whether this is temporary or permanent. In the event of permanent disability of the hands, a simple certificate of registration in the disability registries of the relevant department is also to be submitted, which shall certify the applicant’s condition, without an additional medical report.
Court decision determining temporary or permanent custody assignment.
In addition to presenting the original identity card, submission of a photocopy of both sides of the card, on the same page, is also required.
Submitted instead of an identity card exclusively for minors under the age of twelve (12) or residents abroad who do not possess an identity card.
In the case of visually impaired persons, when the technical specifications set for photographs are not entirely met (e.g. lack of focus, closed years, distortion of facial characteristics, etc.), either a simple certificate of registration in the blind people’s register of the relevant department, certifying the relevant condition, also has to be submitted, or a medical certificate – report.
Issued by the competent Greek authority (police or consular) where the theft or loss of the passport was declared. Submitted in cases of issuance of a passport to replace a previous one which was stolen or lost.
Submitted in the event of issuance of a passport for a minor, when custody is exercised by both parents and only one is present when submitting the supporting documents.
Submitted in cases of issuance of a passport for a person who is under curatorship or legal guardianship.
Submitted in cases where there are particularly serious health reasons that make it impossible or substantially difficult for the interested party to travel to the passport office to submit a passport issuance request.
Submitted if the applicant wishes the prioritised issuance of a passport within one (1) day from the receipt of the application - solemn declaration by the National Passports and Security Documents Centre / Hellenic Police Headquarters (H.P.H).
Issued by the military office and submitted for cases of draft evaders who reside abroad and who are exceptionally allowed to be issued a passport.
Only submitted in the event of permanent or temporary inability of having fingerprints taken.
Submitted in the event that custody of a minor is assigned to one of the two parents or a third person by a court decision.
Submitted in the event that custody of a minor is assigned to one of the two parents or a third person by a court decision, in order to verify that the court decision remains valid.
National passports and Security Documents Centre / H.P.H.
The estimated time-frame corresponds to the time-period required for applications submitted to passport offices throughout Greece to be processed.
Issuance of passport by the Hellenic Police and other provisions.
Establishment of National Passport Centre and other provisions.
Requirements for the issuance of passports, validity, replacement, loss and cancellation thereof
Supporting documents and issuance process, type and content of passport particulars
European Regulation No 2252/2004 on standards for security features and biometrics in passports and travel documents issued by Member States
Amendment of Council Regulation (EC) 2252/2004 on standards for security features and biometrics in passports and travel documents issued by Member States
In order to submit the application for issuance of a passport, the applicant is required to appear in person at the competent passport office of their place of residency, for applications within Greece, or the competent consular authority, for applications abroad.
The competent official checks the applicant’s identity by comparing the information on the identity document (identity card) they hold against that on databases of the Hellenic Police. In the cases of minors under the age of 12 or residents abroad who do not have an Identity Card, their identity is checked through the Citizens’ register, by printing the relevant certificate (of birth or marital status). The Greek passport register is then searched in order to check for any previous issuance of a passport for the same person and its status. Finally, through other applications of the Hellenic Police, it is checked whether the legal requirements for the issuance of a Greek passport are met.
The competent official of the Point of Receipt of Supporting Documents completes electronically the application - solemn declaration, based on the identity information and other supporting documents provided by the applicant. Then, they take and encrypt fingerprints of the index fingers of both hands of the passport applicant, unless it is for minor under the age of 12, who are exempt from this obligation.
After having checked the correct submission of the e-administrative fee, as applicable, the competent employee places a hold on it and prints the relevant receipt.
The citizen submits the applicable supporting documents, the completeness of which is checked by the competent official and the supervisor of the Point of Receipt of Supporting Documents.
The competent official prints the application - solemn declaration and after having checked it in detail, the applicant signs it, thereby verifying its content. The application - solemn declaration to which the applicant’s photograph is affixed, is also checked – signed by the official responsible for receiving the supporting documents.
The competent official prints and gives the citizen a receipt of submission of an application for the issuance of a passport, to which a barcode is affixed, through which the citizen may monitor the progress of the application through a special application that can be found on the website of the National Passports and Security Documents Centre / H.P.H. (www.passport.gov.gr).
The application - solemn declaration and security documents are sent to the National Passports and Security Documents Centre of the Hellenic Police Headquarters through secure courier services.
The National Passports and Security Documents Centre receives all the applications for the issuance of passports which are submitted to the relevant Points of Receipt of Supporting Documents, whether in Greece or abroad, enters them into its computerised system and checks the completeness of the supporting documents and that the legal requirements for the issuance of a Greek passport are met.
Provided that the legal conditions are met and the supporting documents submitted are complete, the passport is then visually and electronically personalised. All printed passports are then examined by competent operators who check them one by one (visually and mechanically) in order to verify the quality of the printing, the accuracy of the information they contain, compliance with the specifications of the document, to certify the mechanical readability of the document, and to certify the readability – functionality of the electronic chip.
If the legal requirements are not met or the supporting documents submitted are not complete, a letter of rejection is printed which notifies the applicant of the reason(s) of rejection of their request.
The printed passport or letter of rejection is sent by secure courier services to the passport office where the citizen submitted the application and the supporting documents required, as applicable. At the same time, the Greek Citizens’ passport register is updated with the information of the passport issued.
The competent official hands over the passport or letter of rejection issued to the applicant or a citizen duly authorised for this purpose, who signs a relevant proof of receipt.
If the applicant is a minor, for the submission of the supporting documents the presence of the custodian is also required. Where custody is exercised by both parents, it is sufficient for one of the two to be present and for the other to provide their consent in writing, while the handwritten signature of the latter has to be verified by any competent administrative authority. Where the parents are unable to attend for reasons of force majeure, any relative of the minor can do so after having been duly authorised by one parent and while submitting the written consent of the other, whose handwritten signature has to have been verified.
In the event of permanent or temporary inability to obtain the fingerprint of the index, then the fingerprint of the thumb or the middle finger or the ring finger of the same hand is taken, in that order, while in the event of a one handed person, a fingerprint of a second finger from the existing hand is taken, in the same order as above. A permanent or temporary inability to have fingerprints taken is proved by a certificate, which is signed by a doctor of a corresponding speciality with the condition being certified.
Where the citizen appears before the competent consular authorities, no hold is placed on an e-administrative fee, but consular fees are issued instead which are paid by the citizen to the consular authority.
In the event of issuance of a passport for a minor, the application - solemn declaration is signed by the custodian(s) and by the minor if they are over 12 years old. In the event that custody is exercised by both parents and only one is present when submitting the supporting documents, written consent is required by the parent not present for a passport to be issued to the minor.
The application - solemn declaration and the supporting documents are sent by the competent consular authorities to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by diplomatic mail and then to the National Passports and Security Documents Centre of the Hellenic Police Headquarters via secure courier services. The time-frame required for processing depends on the frequency with which diplomatic correspondence is handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In order to reach the competent consular authorities, the passport or letter of rejection is initially sent by secure courier services to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by diplomatic mail to the authority where the application was submitted. The time-frame required for processing depends on the frequency with which diplomatic correspondence is handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In person appearance at the passport office / consular authority
Check of identity and fulfilment of legal requirements
Electronic completion of the application - solemn declaration and having fingerprints taken
Placing a hold on the e-administrative fee
Printing the application - solemn declaration, verification of information and signing
Printing and providing a receipt of submission of application
Sending the application / supporting documents to the National Passports and Security Documents Centre / H.P.H.
Receipt of the application - solemn declaration and other supporting documents by the National Passports and Security Documents Centre / H.P.H.
Sending a passport or letter of rejection to the passport office
Delivery of a passport or letter of rejection