KEP (Citizen Service Centers) announced that new terminals would be available from Monday, June 18, 2007 at all Greek consulates and embassies worldwide to complete transactions with the Foreign Ministry of Greece.

Greeks living abroad can access birth certificates, marriage certificates and military documents, instead of coming to Greece, asking a relative to assist them or calling the appropriate municipality to send them one from their oikogeneiaki merida.

Greeks abroad have informed me that most locations do not have KEP services available. Therefore, I advise calling in advance to make sure the terminals are indeed installed and working before appearing in person. Click List of Greek Consulates Worldwide for a location nearest you.

* This article will be expanded after first hand experience can be gathered regarding the cost, convenience and full range of services.
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KEP logo from the KEP Web site, which has improved but is unfortunately inaccurate in the majority of cases

Article last updated May 16, 2008

An apostille is a seal applied to a certified document to signify its legal authenticity for international use under the terms of the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents.

It must be obtained from the location in which the event took place and a record created. So if you were born in Sweden, married in California and divorced in Florida, you need to get a certified birth certificate and apostille from Sweden; a certified marriage certificate and apostille in California; and an official divorce decree and apostille from Florida. It does not matter where you live now.

If you are an American in Greece looking to get an apostille for your New York birth certificate, you must obtain your apostille from New York; apostilles are not available at the American Embassy or KEP. The only apostilles issued in Greece are apostilles for documents originating in Greece.

One apostille per document is required — it is unacceptable to secure one apostille for an entire lot, even if the birth certificates, divorce decree and death certificate are from the same location. i.e. If you have two birth certificates, you need one apostille each.

In America:

All documents need to be certified by a clerk within the last 5 years or a new document must be issued before requesting an apostille. Apostilles are obtained from the Secretary of State in the state it was executed. See the above example for clarification.

Most Secretary of State regional offices require that you or a family member appear in person to request an apostille, though some may accept requests by mail. Fees range from $2-35 per document, depending on the state and type of service, and must be paid with a check, money order or credit card (no cash). Go to the U.S. State Department’s website to find specific information for each American state.

Please note that the Secretary of State regional office refers to the local state and representative, not United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who is in the national office.

In Australia:

An apostille may be obtained from a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade state or territory office. See their website for details and locations.

In China:
Apostille Service Office, High Court Registry
LG115, High Court Building
38 Queensway
Hong Kong
(852) 2825 4226

In Greece:

Apostilles for documents originating in Greece are issued at KEP (Citizen Service Centres). Call ‘1564′ or appear in person at any of their locations throughout the mainland and islands. For those abroad seeking apostilles for documents originating in Greece, inquire at the Greek Consulate in your homeland.

In the Netherlands:
Staatscommissie voor het Internationaal Privaatrecht
Scheveningseweg 6
2517 KT Den Haag
+31 70 363 3303

In South Africa:
Legalisation Section
Eikendal Building
Tulbagh Park
1234 Church Street
Colbyn, Pretoria
(012) 351 1268

In Sweden:
Ministry of Justice
Division for Family and Business Law (L2)
103 33 Stockholm
+46 (8 ) 405 1000

In the UK:
The Legalisation Office
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Old Admiralty Bldg
The Mall
London SW1A 2LG

If your country is not listed, please check with appropriate justice, registry or legalization authorities in your homeland.

Related posts

“Translation of documents to Greek“
“Certify a photocopy or other document in Greece“
“How to get a health certificate for your Greek permit“

Article updated February 15, 2008
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Example is from education-1.net and shows an apostille from California. The apostille from another state or country will look different.

Living in Greece is synonymous with bureaucracy, and at some point everyone will need to certify a dilosi (statement of facts), photocopy or other document.

Dilosis can easily be purchased at a kiosk (periptero). If the name in your passport is in Latin letters, you fill out your name in Latin letters on the dilosi; if the name in your passport is in Greek letters, fill out the dilosi accordingly. Essentially, they must match or the police will turn you away to fill out another. Everything else must be in Greek. Leave the signature blank until the officer or official instructs you to sign in his/her presence.

If you are certifying a photocopy, you must bring the original document from which the photocopy was made for inspection.

1) At the Police Station

* Find a police station by looking in your map book from the periptero (kiosk) or call ‘11888′ to find the location nearest you.

* Arriving at the police station, there will normally be an officer in a booth inquiring about the nature of your business. If you don’t speak much Greek, you can just show him the document and make a stamping motion with your hand, and he’ll give you directions to the office.

* Show the dilosi, document or photocopy to the police officer. He/she will read it, perhaps ask a question (or not).

* You will be asked for identification, which will be a Greek ID for citizens and a passport for non-citizens; sometimes non-EU citizens are asked for their residence/work permit, but it is NOT a requirement. If everything is in order, your transaction will be recorded in a register, stamps will be affixed to the document, ink stamped a few times and signed by the officer.

* For this service, you could be charged anywhere between .10 cents to 1 euro.
I’ve had the same document stamped at the same police station by the same officer and been charged very different prices. Sometimes I’m allowed a freebie for unknown reasons.

Note: Some police stations will not certify photocopies of foreign birth certificates or anything else they can’t read and try to point you to the Foreign Ministry’s translation office even if you don’t need a translation. If the photocopy is of a birth certificate for translation, they should certify and accept it as long as you have the original to show. If they won’t do it or give you trouble for whatever reason, certify the photocopy on the 3rd floor of the Foreign Ministry’s Translation Office at 10 Arionos, Psyrri/Monastiraki.

2) At a public sector office

Any municipality office (nomarxeia, dimos, eforia, etc.) that requests a photocopy or dilosi can also certify it (for free) as long as you bring the original unless the instructions state that you must have it done by a police station.

3) At Kentro Enimerosis Politon (KEP)

The Citizen Services Office (KEP) is also authorized to certify dilosis, photocopies and other documents by bringing them and your ID to any location. Call ‘1564′ for the one nearest you.

4) Lawyers

Lawyers are able to certify a dilosi, photocopy or other document for a fee much higher than that of a police station.

Related posts

“How to get an apostille“
“Translation of documents into Greek“

Article updated March 12, 2008
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For those who have been living here awhile, including me, this knowledge is integrated in our way of life and perhaps taken for granted. I posted this info in response to inquiries from those who wanted and needed to know.

Foreigners in Greece, Greeks abroad or Greek citizens seeking to go abroad to university or for immigration purposes may be requested to have documents translated into Greek or another language during a process involving bureaucracy. i.e. Getting married, converting a driver’s license, applying for a residence/work permit, applying for citizenship, applying at a foreign university, immigration and so on.

Two options are regarded as acceptable by Greek authorities:

1) In Greece:

The Translation Department at the Foreign Ministry
10 Arionos Street
Monastiraki/Psyrri
(210) 328-5713
Open from 9:00-13:00 (go early)

1st floor - From/to Albanian, Bulgarian, Georgian, Croatian, Moldovan, Ukrainian, Uzbek, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovakian and Czech to/from Greek.

2nd floor - From/to English to/from Greek.

3rd floor - From/to Arabic, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish and Finnish to/from Greek. A window offering to certify photocopies is also available.

* Bring the original document or a certified copy, a pen and cash, should you need 2-day expedited service (a pricelist can be found *here*). The one-week service is otherwise free. Some sources say you can pay when you pick up the document, but it’s easier and faster to pay up front since the person accepting your documents for translation can also take your money and issue a cashier’s receipt without you going to a second window and waiting in line again.

* Fill out one form per document in Greek or English. (i.e. If the birth certificate has an apostille with letter attached, you would need two forms even though they are attached; they are considered to be different types of documents not a fusion of the same. If the birth certificate itself spanned two pages, then it is one document requiring one form).

* Submit your documents and forms, pay for expedited service at the same window and keep your protocol number and cashier’s receipt (if applicable).

* Pick up the documents on or after the date given. You must have the protocol receipt, cashier’s receipt (if you paid for expedited service) and ID, no exceptions.

Note: It is not necessary to submit originals with apostilles for translation if you need them for another reason. You can make copies of these documents, have them certified at the police station and use these (see my article “How to certify a photocopy at the police station“). I found there were no objections. Just carry the originals for inspection by anyone wanting to see them.

2) Outside Greece

The Greek Consulate in your homeland should provide translation services, but call or write to inquire since appointments are sometimes required.

Another option

Translation by a lawyer is permitted in some but not all cases. However, interpretations can vary between lawyers, which is the reason Greek authorities will sometimes not allow this as an option. In addition, you will pay a fee, and prices vary according to lawyer. i.e. 75 euros for a birth certificate, 20 euros for a passport.

Article last updated on March 12, 2008
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Photo from istockphotos.com