Greek passport

Greek passport

The front cover of a contemporary Greek biometric passport

The data page of a contemporary Greek biometric passport
Date first issued 26 August 2006[1] (current biometric version)
Issued by  Greece
Type of document Passport
Purpose Identification
Eligibility requirements Greek citizenship
Expiration 2 years after issuance for individuals up to the age of 14; 5 years for adults
Cost €84.40 (adults) / €73.60 (children)

Greek passports are issued exclusively 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. 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 and European Economic Area.

Passport appearance

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: [ðʝavaˈtirio], Greek for "passport") is inscribed below the coat of arms, while ΕΥΡΩΠΑΪΚΗ ΕΝΩΣΗ (IPA: [evropaiˈci ˈenosi], "European Union") and ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ (IPA: [eliniˈci ðimokraˈtia], "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 ðʝavaˈtirio], "diplomatic passport") inscribed below the coat of arms. Greek passports contain 32 pages and are valid for 5 years.

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 info of the bearer (name and place of birth) are transcription from the Greek to the Latin script. The following fields are shown:

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

Security features

The new Greek passport meets international standards as defined by the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation). It has many new security features. Features such pages with intricate designs/representations, images visible only with UV light (picture of the owner etc.) watermarks and chip.[2][3] The stored data on the chip, are protected by using advanced digital encryption techniques.[4]

Issuing process

Greek passports are issued by the National Passport Centre ("Διεύθυνση Διαβατηρίων/Αρχηγείο Ελληνικής Αστυνομίας"). Applicants have to apply in person – in case of a child under 14, accompanied by a parent – at the local police department or at a Greek Consulate Authority. Upon submitting all the requirements (special portrait 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 her/him a special receipt they received after applying. Standard passports are valid for a period of 5 years for adults and teenagers above 14 years 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 his/her passport expires within the next six months of the request and he/she plans 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
  Freedom of movement
  Visa-free
  Visa on arrival

Visa requirements for Greek citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Greece. In 2016, Greek citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 171 countries and territories, ranking the Greek passport 7th in the world according to the Visa Restricitions Index.

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Video: Greek Passport – 1st and 2nd Level Of Security features
  3. ↑ Official Video by Greek Police – UV security: 2:21
  4. ↑ Official Greek e-Pass website

See also

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