Expired / lost / stolen passports / identity cards / ETD's
Greece abides by the Schengen zone Borders Code (Regulation (EU) 2016/399, as amended and in force, and the Presidential Decree 106/2007). During intra/extra-Schengen travels to and from the territory of Greece, a valid travel document (identity card or passport) is necessary, for both Greek and European citizens.
According to the Migration and Social Inclusion Code (Article 4(6) of Law 4251/2014), entry to Greece may not be refused to persons who are proved to be Greek nationals or nationals of an EU member state, even if not in possession of a passport or other travel documents.
Please note that if a Greek citizen residing in another EU member state loses a travel document, or if it gets stolen, the nearest Consular Authority must be notified, and the incident has to be reported to the nearest Foreign Police Authority. The citizen will thus obtain a relevant certificate, which will be presented to the Consular Authority. Usually, a Declaration of Law 1599/1986 has to be submitted regarding the circumstances of the loss or theft of the passport. The authority conducts an investigation, that can last up to three (3) months. During the investigation, the applicant cannot issue a new passport, unless it is deemed necessary for him/her to travel abroad for hospitalization, in case of death or serious illness of him/her, or the husband/wife, or blood or in-law relative up to the second degree.
The procedure is completed with the issuance of an Emergency Travel Document, which allows repatriation to Greece, in order for the citizen to request the issuance of a new passport from the local Police Department of the permanent address in Greece.
The same rules apply in cases of lost ID cards abroad.
In case of lost ID card or passport within Greece, the competent authority is the Hellenic Police’s National Passport and Secure Document Center (8 Chiou St., Kaisariani, P.C. 16121, Attica, Tel: 2107298000, E-mail: contact@passport.gov.gr ).
EMERGENCY TRAVEL DOCUMENTS (E.T.D.)
Emergency Travel Documents are issued by the Greek Consular Authorities for Greek Citizens (L. 2968/2001) that do not hold a passport or ID card, due to loss or theft, in order for them to be able to return to Greece. These documents are valid for a bit longer than the time needed for the return trip to Greece, including the time needed for the necessary overnight stays or correspondence flights.
The National Emergency Travel Documents, are issued free of charge (regarding European Emergency Travel Document, the charge according to P.D. 16/2014, is 50 Euros) and the necessary supporting documents in order for the required identification to be completed by the Consular Officer, are two (2) colored pictures, the ID card if available, or certificate of registration in the Municipality.
According to Article 7, L.4566/2018 which incorporated the Directive 2015/637 of the Council of the EU, at the 20th April of 2015 “On coordination and cooperation measures to facilitate consular protection for unrepresented citizens of the Union in third countries and the repeal of the Decision 95/553 EC” (Article 9 of the Directive), issuance of ETD is included in the Consular Protection.