Military Service for Greek Citizens

BASIC MILITARY INFORMATION FOR GREEK PERMANENT RESIDENTS ABROAD FOLLOWING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LAW 3421/2005

According to law 3421/2005, which was implemented on 1.1.2006, changes have occurred, among others, in relation to the legal status of Greek permanent residents abroad, both concerning the conditions of the acquisition of the status as well as concerning the duration of their military service.

STATUS – RIGHTS OF PERMANENT RESIDENTS

Permanent residents abroad are entitled to a postponement of their enrollment to the Military Forces, which is of an indefinite period and is interrupted only following an application or the loss of the status of a permanent resident abroad. If they wish, they can be transferred to the category of those who serve limited military service for a period of six months. Those who have completed their 35th year of age can pay off the rest, after serving armed military service for at least 45 days.
Those who have been or are «ανυπότακτοι εξωτερικού» (have been called to serve but did not present themselves because they live abroad), by fulfilling the criteria of Law 3421/2005 (postponement of their military service as permanent residents abroad) are exempted from the call or the calls for which they have been declared “ανυπότακτοι εξωτερικού”, and all the penalties are lifted.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF THE CERTIFICATE OF PERMANENT RESIDENT ABROAD

According to artIcle 25 of Law 3421/2005, the status of a Greek resident abroad can be acquired by those who have already acquired the certificate of the Permanent Resident Abroad, issued by the relevant Consular Authorities (within the jurisdiction where the applicant has his last and permanent residence) and who fulfill one of the following conditions (the above applies to applicants who are over 18 years old):

A.     Those who were born abroad and have resided since their birth until the present day abroad in one or several countries.
The supporting documents (originals and copies) required for the issuance of the Certificate of Permanent Resident Abroad are the following:
•    Application to the Consular Office
•    Passport or National ID card.
•    A certificate of registration in a Municipality in Greece (military records or ‘mitroa arenon’ registration number).
•    Certificate (personbevis) issued by the Swedish Tax office indicating the date of your residence to Sweden.
•    University, College, Schools etc certificates, employers’ certificates, pay slips, bank statements (monthly), all other documents proving continuous residence in Sweden.
•    Please note that, for the period that the applicant was minor (under 18 years old), he must prove that both his parents or the one who had the exclusive parental responsibility was residing in Sweden (in that case the relevant supporting documents for the parents should also be submitted e.g. certificate (personbevis) issued by the Swedish Tax Office indicating the date of their residence to Sweden).

B.     Those who have resided permanently abroad for at least eleven consecutive years.
The supporting documents required for the issuance of the Certificate of Permanent Resident Abroad are the following:
•    Application to the Consular Office
•    Passport or National ID card.
•    A certificate of registration in a Municipality in Greece (military records or ‘mitroa arenon’ registration number).  
•    Certificate (personbevis) issued by the Swedish Tax office indicating the date of your residence to Sweden.
•    University, College, Schools etc certificates, employers’ certificates, pay slips, bank statements (monthly), all other documents proving that the applicant has been a resident abroad for these eleven consecutive years.
Please note that, for the period that the applicant was minor (under 18 years old), he must prove that both his parents or the one who had the exclusive parental responsibility was residing abroad (in that case the relevant supporting documents for the parents should also be submitted e.g. bank statements etc.).

C.     Those who have resided abroad and worked as fully employed (covering their living expenses)   in one or several countries for at least seven years
The supporting documents required for the issuance of the Certificate of Permanent Resident Abroad are the following:
•    Application to the Consular Office
•    Passport or National ID card.
•    A certificate of registration in a Municipality in Greece (military records or ‘mitroa arenon’ registration number).
•    Certificate (personbevis) issued by the Swedish Tax Office indicating the date of the applicants residence in Sweden.
•    Employers’ certificates, pay slips, bank statements (monthly), all other documents proving that the applicant has been employed abroad (covering his living expenses) for these seven consecutive years.

Please note that, for the period that the applicant was minor (under 18 years old), he must prove that both his parents or the one who had the exclusive parental responsibility was residing abroad (in that case the relevant supporting documents for the parents should also be submitted e.g, certificate (personbevis) issued by the Swedish Tax Office indicating the date of their residence in Sweden.

Provided that all documents are submitted, the certificate is issued within 5 to 7 working days.

The cost of the certificate is 50 Euro, paid in SEK.  
•    The certificate has a six months validity period.
•    If the applicants were also resident in other countries (other than Sweden) during the above periods, they should submit certificates of permanent residency in these countries, issued by the relevant Greek Consular Authorities.   
•    Government employees serving abroad are not entitled to a certificate of permanent resident abroad.
•    Please note that the "Certificate of Permanent Foreign Resident" for military use is aimed exclusively at the above purposes in accordance to Law 3421/2005 “Conscription of Greek Males and other provisions” and may not be confused with the "Certificate of Permanent Foreign Resident" aimed at other purposes.
•    The "Certificate of Permanent Foreign Resident" allows the beholders to visit Greece with their Greek or Swedish passports for up to 180 days per calendar year, until the age of 45, without creating an obligation to serve in the Hellenic Armed Forces.