Greek passport

Greek passport Ελληνικό διαβατήριο
The front cover of a contemporary Greek biometric passport
The data page of a contemporary Greek biometric passport
Type	Passport
Issued by	Greece
First issued	26 August 2006 (first biometric version) 18 December 2023 (new generation version)
Purpose	Identification
Eligibility	Greek citizenship
Expiration	3 years after issuance for individuals up to the age of 14; 10 years for adults (since 1st of September 2022)
Cost	€84.40 (adults) / €73.60 (children)

Greek passports (Greek: Ελληνικό διαβατήριο) are issued to Greek citizens for the purpose of international travel. Biometric passports have been issued since 26 August 2006, with old-style passports being declared invalid as of 1 January 2007. Since June 2009, the passport's RFID chip includes two index fingerprints as well as a high-resolution JPEG image of the passport holder. From 18 December 2023 the issuance of new generation of Greek passports started by selected authorities and after 9 January 2024, only the new generation of passports are issued. Every Greek citizen is also a citizen of the European Union. The passport, along with the national identity card allows for free rights of movement and residence in any of the states of the European Union, European Economic Area, and Switzerland.

Passport appearance

The data page of a contemporary Greek biometric passport (first biometric version)

The Greek passport follows the standard European Union passport design, with a burgundy red cover and the national emblem emblazoned on the centre of the front cover. The word ΔΙΑΒΑΤΗΡΙΟ (IPA: [ðʝavaˈtiri.o], Greek for "passport") is inscribed below the coat of arms, while ΕΥΡΩΠΑΪΚΗ ΕΝΩΣΗ (IPA: [evropaiˈci ˈenosi], "European Union") and ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ (IPA: [eliniˈci ðimokraˈti.a], "Hellenic Republic") appear above. A Greek diplomatic passport has the same size and design as the standard one, but it features a black cover and the text ΔΙΠΛΩΜΑΤΙΚΟ ΔΙΑΒΑΤΗΡΙΟ (IPA: [ðiplomatiˈko ðʝavaˈtiri.o], "diplomatic passport") inscribed below the coat of arms. Greek passports contain 32 pages and are currently valid for up to 10 years. Previously, the passports were only valid for up to 5 years; this was changed on the 1 September 2022, when the new law was implemented.

All fields on the bearer's page are indicated in Greek and in English, with the translation in the other EU-languages elsewhere in the passport. The main information of the bearer (name and place of birth) are transcribed from the Greek to the Latin script, according to ELOT 743 scheme. The following fields are shown:

• Type (P for Passport)
• Passport number
• Country [ΕΛΛ/GRC]
• Surname [Greek/Latin script)
• Name [Greek/Latin script)
• Nationality [ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ/Hellenic]
• Date of Birth [Latin script]
• Place of birth [Greek/Latin script]
• Sex [M/F]
• Issue Date [Latin script]
• Expiry Date [Latin script]
• Issuing Office [Greek/Latin script]
• Height

The bearer's page contains a machine readable strip starting with P<GRC.

Security features

The Greek passport, including the previous biometric version, meets international standards as defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The personal data page of the new generation passport is made of high strength polycarbonate material and has cutting-edge security features such as transparent DOVID and multi laser image (MLI). Laser engraving is used to print the personal data, including the color photo; rendering any forgery attempts impossible.

Some of the features of the previous version include holographic lamination (O.V.D.), color-shifting ink (O.V.I.), see-through register, pages with intricate designs, microtext, watermarks, security threads, images visible only with ultraviolet light, raised (intaglio) printing, and a chip. The data stored on the chip are protected by using advanced digital encryption techniques.

Under the UV light, the hidden portrait appears (AH series)

Greek citizenship

Main article: Greek nationality law

According to the Passport Index, in 2023 the Greek passport is on the fourth place in the world ranking, sharing this position with Japanese, Canadian and Australian passports. It gives its owners visa-free entry to 126 countries.

Greece only offers passports to its current citizens. Applicants must prove their Greek origin.

Exams for Greek citizenship

In 2021, the Greek government launched a special exam for all those who want to acquire Greek citizenship through naturalization. It consists of 20 questions in the Greek language, history, economy, culture and geography. To pass this exam, an individual needs to obtain a minimum score of 80%. It costs 150 euros.

Issuing process

Greek passports are issued by the National Passport Centre ("Διεύθυνση Διαβατηρίων/Αρχηγείο Ελληνικής Αστυνομίας"). Applicants have to apply in person at the local police department or at a Greek Consulate Authority. Children under 14 must be accompanied by a parent. Upon submitting all the required documents (passport photo, issuing request, and fee), the police department begins the issuing procedure. All passports are manufactured centrally at the N.P.C main building in Athens. Depending on the circumstances, passports are issued in 3 to 9 business days and must be picked up at the police department in which the issuing request was made. For this, an applicant must carry with them a special receipt they received after applying. Standard passports are valid for a period of 10 years for people 14 years old and older, and 3 years for children under 14 (after the official edition of the 135th Presidential decree in 2007).

Greek passports cannot be extended. A holder has to make a request for a new one if their passport expires within the next six months of the request and they plan to use it after the expiry date.

The issuing of a standard adult passport costs €84.40, while that of a child costs €73.60. Reissuance of an existing and still-valid passport with no blank pages is possible with a validity date equal to the previous passport and a cost of €53.

Visa free travel

Visa requirements for Greek citizens

  Greece

  Freedom of movement

  Visa free

  Visa issued upon arrival

  eVisa

  Visa available both on arrival or online

  Visa required prior to arrival

Main article: Visa requirements for Greek citizens

Visa requirements for Greek citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Greece. As of 19 June 2023, Greek citizens had visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 186 countries and territories, ranking the Greek passport 8th in the world according to the Visa Restrictions Index (tied with the Hungarian, Camnadian and Polish passports). Additionally, Arton Capital's Passport Index ranked the Greek passport 4th in the world in terms of travel freedom, with a visa-free score of 172 (tied with Czech, Lithuanian, Canadian, Hungarian, Japanese and US and Australian passports), as of 19 June 2023.

Gallery of passports

• 
  in 1932
  Second Hellenic Republic
• 
  in 1970
  Kingdom of Greece
• 
  in 1973 (first phoenix version)
  Junta-led Republic
• 
  in 1973 (second phoenix version)
  Junta-led Republic
• 
  in 1980
  Third Hellenic Republic
• 
  in 2006
  Third Hellenic Republic
• 
  2007–present
  Third Hellenic Republic
• 
  2007–present
  diplomatic version

See also

• Greek identity card
• Visa requirements for Greek citizens
• Visa policy of the Schengen Area
• Greek nationality law
• Passports of the European Union

External links

• Greek passport on PRADO
• Video presentations of the new Greek biometric passport
• Information from the Greek Foreign Ministry