Each person immigrating, regardless of age, needs a separate visa. You must pay the required fee in cash, either in U.S. dollars or the equivalent in local currency.

Document translations: Documents submitted to the U.S. Embassy in Athens may be in English or Greek and do not need to be translated, except for Greek court or legal documents. These must be accompanied by an official English translation from the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. To find certified translators, visit Πιστοποιημένοι Μεταφραστές | GOV.GR. For cases processed in Athens, documents in any other languages must include an official English translation.

Birth Certificates

Available

Fees: Fees may apply.

Document Name: “Lixiarchiki Praxi Geniseos” (Ληξιαρχική Πράξη Γέννησης)

Issuing Authority: Registrar’s office (“Lixiarhio” Ληξιαρχείο)

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: Original documents have a round wet seal illustrating the Greek Coat of Arms, the signature of the certifying official, and their wet seal showing their name and official title. Digitally issued documents include a QR Code for public verification and an Alphanumeric security feature for internal use.

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: There is no issuing authority personnel title.

Registration Criteria: A certified document of Birth issued by the hospital is presented at the Registrar’s office (Lixiarchio or Ληξιαρχείο) of the region where the relevant Registry act is drawn up.

Procedure for Obtaining: You can request these records at the local Registrar’s office (Lixiarchio or Ληξιαρχείο) where the birth took place, through a Government Citizenship Service Storefront (called “KEP”), or digitally through the Government of Greece’s government portal.

Certified Copies: Certified copies are available.

Alternate Documents: In very rare cases, vital records may be destroyed by natural or intentional causes. If this happens, you should get a statement from the civil registrar's office confirming the loss of the records. Then, you need to provide secondary evidence of your birth. You can submit a baptismal certificate if it includes the birth date, birthplace, and parent information, as long as the baptism happened soon after your birth. If you cannot get a baptismal certificate, a close relative, preferably your mother, should write a notarized statement. The statement should include the place and date of your birth, the names of both parents, and your mother’s maiden name. Your relative must sign the statement in front of an official authorized to administer oaths. In these situations, bring any other evidence you have about your birth.

Exceptions: There are no exceptions.

Death / Burial Certificates

Available

Fees: Fees may apply

Document Name: “Lixiarchiki Praxi Thanátou” (Ληξιαρχική Πράξη Θανάτου)

Issuing Authority: Registrar’s office (“Lixiarhio” Ληξιαρχείο) or local city hall (“Dimarxhio” Δημαρχειο)

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: Original documents have a round wet seal illustrating the Greek Coat of Arms, the signature of the certifying official, and their wet seal showing their name and official title. Digitally issued documents include a QR Code for public verification and an Alphanumeric security feature for internal use.

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: There is no issuing authority personnel title.

Registration Criteria: Physician examiner’s or Hospital’s certificate of death is presented at the Registrar’s office where the deceased vital records are maintained.

Procedure for Obtaining: Relatives or authorized parties may appear in-person at the Registrar’s office where the deceased vital records are maintained.

Certified Copies: Certified copies are available.

Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents.

Exceptions: There are no exceptions.

Police Records

Available

Fees: There are no fees

Document Name: Penal Record for Judicial Use (Ποινικό Μητρώο για Δικαστική Χρήση, or Piniko Mitro yia Dikastiki Xhrisi)

Issuing Authority: Ministry of Justice, Department of Criminal Records

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: Bears a round seal of the Greek State and a signature.

• Note: As of January 2019, penal records submitted electronically to the U.S. Embassy from the Greek Ministry of Justice Office in Athens do not bear a signature.

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: There is no issuing authority personnel title.

Registration Criteria: Apply for a Penal Record for Judicial Use at the Bureau of Penal.

Procedure for Obtaining: The Greek authorities do not give Penal Record for Judicial Use directly to applicants. Instead, they send the police certificate to the U.S. Embassy in Athens. To apply for a Penal Record for Judicial Use, you must include the following information in your application:

• Type of Copy: Check the box for Judicial Use.
• Reason for Issue: Write “Request for a Visa”
• Description: Write “Request for a Visa from the U.S. Embassy, Athens”

Greeks born and/or residing in Athens can apply for a Penal Record for Judicial Use at the Bureau of Penal Records (Υπηρεσία Ποινικού Μητρώου - Ipiresia Pinikou Mitroou) of the Ministry of Justice, located at Leoforos Alexandras & Degleri 2, Athens or through KEP (Center of Citizen Information Service). Greeks born and living in areas outside of Athens should apply at the Public Prosecutor’s Office (Εισαγγελία - Isangelia) in their local district.

Greek citizens living outside of Greece can contact the Greek Embassy in their country of residence. However, in some cases, the Greek Embassy abroad may not be required to accept the request. If this happens, the Greek- citizen must apply directly in their hometown jurisdiction or authorize a representative to apply for them.

Non-Greek applicants residing in Greece and foreign-born Greek applicants should apply in-person at the Bureau of Penal Records for Foreigners (Υπηρεσία Ποινικού Μητρώου Αλλοδαπών - Ipiresia Pinikou Mitroou Allodapon), located at Mesogion 96, 101 79 Athens, Greece.

Non-Greek citizens living abroad cannot apply for a Penal Record at a Greek embassy or consulate overseas. Instead, they must authorize a representative to apply for them. Authorizations must be notarized at a Greek embassy or consulate overseas. Representatives for non-Greek citizens living abroad can apply in-person at the Bureau of Penal Records for Foreigners (Υπηρεσία Ποινικού Μητρώου Αλλοδαπών - Ipiresia Pinikou Mitroou Allodapon), located at Mesogion 96, 101 79.

Certified Copies: Certified copies are not available.

Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents.

Exceptions: There are no exceptions.

Comments: Police certificates are valid for 12 months from the date of issuance.

Court Records

Available

Fees: There are no fees.

Document Name: Δικαστική απόφαση

Issuing Authority: Court records are available from the Convicting Court and can be sent directly to the applicants.

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: Bears a round wet seal of the Greek State, affixed square stamp and signatures.

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: The Presiding Judge

Registration Criteria: There are no registration criteria.

Procedure for Obtaining: Applicants should provide the court with the case number shown in the penal record.

Certified Copies: Certified copies are available.

Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents.

Exceptions: There are no exceptions.

Comments: All Greek court/prison documents must be accompanied by an official English translation from the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs at this location: Arionos 10, Psiri, 105 54 Athens. Applicants must request a full court transcript with detailed information (praktika dikis).

Available

Fees: There are no fees.

Document Name: Greek males who are eighteen years of age or older who have completed their military service can get a military record type "A" (Pistopiitiko Stratologikis Katastaseos Typou "A" or Πιστοποιητικό Στρατολογικής Καταστάσεως Τύπου "A"). Those who are exempt from service or have had their military duty deferred can get the Type "B" (Typou B') (Pistopiitiko Stratologikis Katastaseos or Πιστοποιητικό Στρατολογικής Καταστάσεως Τύπου "B"), which explains the reason for their exemption or deferral.

Issuing Authority: The recruiting office (Stratologiko Grafio or Στρατολογικό Γραφείο) where they are registered.

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: Bears a round wet seal of the Greek State, the issuing authority and issuing personnel signatures.

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: The head of Personnel Recruitment Center

Registration Criteria: All males at age 18 were registered at the Recruitment Center.

Procedure for Obtaining: Applicants must apply at the recruiting office (Stratologiko Grafio or Στρατολογικό Γραφείο ) where they are registered. They can find their recruiting office through the local Town Council Registry Office (Mitroa Arrenon tou Dimou or Μητρώα Αρρένων του Δήμου). For more information, contact “Citizen Information Services" (Tilefono exipiretiseos tou Politi or Τηλέφωνο εξυπηρετήσεως του Πολίτη ) by calling the four-digit telephone number 1502. For general inquiries, call 1564 (Citizen Information Services of the Ministry of Interior).

Certified Copies: Certified copies are available.

Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents.

Exceptions: There are no exceptions.

Types Available: Regular, Diplomatic, Service, Aliens Travel Document, ‘’Travel Document (Convention of July 28, 1951)’’.

Fees: 68 Euro administrative fees paid via the government’s online portal. 

Document Name: Διαβατήριο (Passport) / Ταξιδιωτικό Έγγραφο (Travel Document)

Issuing Government Authority: Ministry of Citizen Protection.

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: Bears a gold Coat of Arms of the Greek State on the front cover. Color is dependent on the passport type.

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: Hellenic Police Passport and Secure Documents Division.

Registration Criteria: The applicant must fill out an application form, and the Passport Office staff will electronically register the details.

Procedure for Obtaining: For Passports: Applicants must book an online appointment at the police passport application office closest to their residence. The applicant must appear in-person for an interview with a trained police officer, who will also perform online identification and criminal record checks. A senior officer reviews the application, which is then sent in batches to the central processing passport directorate. Additional vetting and quality checks are done before the passport is issued. The new passport is sent back to the office where the application was submitted and can be picked up by the applicant about ten days after filing.

For Travel Documents: The applicant must book an online appointment at the police passport application office closest to their residence. The applicant must appear in-person for an interview with a trained police officer, who will also perform national Identification and online criminal record checks. The interviewing officer reviews the application, which is then sent to the central processing passport directorate. Additional vetting and quality checks are done before the document is issued. The new Travel Document is sent to the Regional Asylum Office where the application was submitted and can be picked up by the applicant about 3 to 6 weeks after filing.

Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents.

Exceptions: There are no exceptions.

Comments: Since September 2022, Greek passports now have a maximum validity of ten years, instead of the previous five years. However, Greek Travel Documents (i.e. the ‘Aliens Travel Document’ and the ‘Travel Document of the Convention of July 28, 1951’) still have a maximum validity of five years.

Greek passports allow more than one Latin spelling of the holder’s Greek Surname and Given name, with the word “OR” separating the spellings. For example, a surname might appear as “FRAGKOU OR FRANGOU”, and a Given name as, “AIKATERINI OR EKATERINI.” The first spelling follows Greek government naming conventions, while the second spelling reflects the applicant’s preferred choice. Applicants must provide a valid reason for including the second spelling, such as matching the name spelling on foreign documents for dual nationals.

For minors, a Greek passport may list “Avaptisto” (meaning “not baptized”) as the given name if the child is 12 months old or younger and does not have another given name. If the child is older than 12 months or has been baptized, a new passport must be issued with a proper given name instead of “Avaptisto”.

Other Documents Available: There are no other documents available.

Not applicable.

Post Title: Athens (Embassy)

Mailing Address:

Department of State
Immigrant Visa Unit
7100 Athens, Place
Washington, DC 20521-7100

Address:

Vasilissis Sophias 91
101 60 Athens, Greece

Phone Number: (30) (210) 7212-951-8

E-mail: athensconsul@state.gov

Fax: 2310-242927

All categories for all of Greece.