National Service

National Service Information

I. Permanent residents abroad Greece

All male Greek citizens, aged between 19 and 45, are required to serve in the Armed Forces. Greek citizens living permanently outside of Greece have the right to postpone their conscription. They are permanently exempted from their military obligations when they reach the age of 45 years old. The postponement is granted with the certificate of permanent resident abroad for military use, issued only by the Greek Consular Authorities. The supporting documents are filed only once and not every year.

The Consular Authority to which you should apply for the issuance of the certificate is dependent on the State / Territory where you last resided (https://www.mfa.gr/australia/en/about-us.html ). In case you have lived in other countries in the past, you should first contact the corresponding Greek Consular Authority to confirm the years spent in these areas.

The certificate of permanent residence abroad is officially sent to the competent Conscription Service. For the results of your postponement request, you can consult the website https://www.stratologia.gr/el/anavoli by inserting your personal information (in Greek).

Categories of permanent residents abroad Greece:

- Permanents residents abroad Greece: Birth and entire lifespan abroad Greece

You fall under this category in case you were born abroad Greece, and till then you have been living permanently abroad Greece, in one or more countries. In case of stay in Greece for more than six (6) months within a calendar year, then that specific period cannot be counted as residence abroad Greece and you lose the right to qualify for this category.

The main difference between this category and the next two categories of permanent residents abroad Greece lies in case you ever want to serve for the Greek Armed Forces and discharge after serving for three (3) months. Otherwise, you have the same advantages/benefits with the next two categories.

- Permanent residents abroad Greece: At least eleven (11) years of living abroad Greece immediately prior

You fall under this category in case you have been living permanently abroad Greece for at least eleven (11) years immediately prior in one or more countries. In case of stay in Greece for more than six (6) months within a calendar year, then that specific period cannot be counted as residence abroad Greece and the required years of stay abroad Greece are counted from the beginning. Ιn case you ever want to serve for the Greek Armed Forces, you will be discharged after serving for six (6) months.

- Permanent residents abroad Greece: At least seven (7) years of continuous working for a living and living abroad Greece

You fall under this category in case you have been working systematically for a living and have been living permanently abroad Greece for at least seven (7) consecutive years in one or more countries. In case of stay in Greece for more than six (6) months within a calendar year, or in case of not working for more than six (6) months within a calendar year, then that specific period cannot be counted as residence/working abroad Greece and the required years of stay/work abroad Greece are counted from the beginning. Ιn case you ever want to serve for the Greek Armed Forces, you will be discharged after serving for six (6) months.

Scholarships, fellowships, or salary gained through your (undergraduate, graduate, or PhD) studies, or your medical specialty training cannot be counted as income, since they refer to services that are necessary for the conclusion of your studies or specialty.

II. Draft evaders living abroad Greece: Certificate of stay for military use

In case you are between 19 and 45 years old, you live abroad Greece, and you do not meet the criteria for a certificate of permanent resident abroad Greece, nor for a military exemption or postponement, you can apply for a certificate of stay for military use, in order to fall under the category of draft evaders living abroad Greece.

The certificate of stay is a necessary supporting document for the issuance of the certificate of draft evader abroad Greece. With the certificate of draft evader abroad Greece, you can:

a. travel to Greece for a period which does not exceed thirty (30) days totally within a calendar year
b. if used within six months of its issuance date, issue/renew your Greek passport

Prerequisites: You should live abroad Greece the last six (6) months at least. Your request can be submitted only after the elapse of the enlistment day indicated on your conscription note.

The certificate of stay is issued by the competent Consular Authority and it is sent officially to the competent Conscription Service that issues the certificate of draft evader abroad Greece. You will receive the certificate of draft evader abroad Greece electronically.

FAQs – Useful Links – Contact Information

For other conscription issues, you can consult the virtual assistant tool of the competent Consular Authority found on the bottom right of their homepage.

For more information on conscription issues and relevant legislation (in Greek only), you can consult the link: www.stratologia.gr

For FAQs (in Greek only), you can consult the link: https://www.stratologia.gr/el/faq

For telephone numbers and email addresses of the Greek Consular Authorities in Australia, please consult the link: https://www.mfa.gr/australia/en/about-us.html

For telephone numbers and email addresses of the Greek Consular Authorities worldwide, please consult the link: https://www.mfa.gr/en/appendix/greece-bilateral-relations/a.html

For telephone numbers and email addresses of the Greek Conscription Services (in Greek), please consult the link: https://www.stratologia.gr/el/epikoinwnia