Registration of civil status events for Greek citizens abroad made easier

The process for registering civil status events involving Greek citizens that occurred abroad is being simplified through the use of the Special Registry Office’s digital pre-approval platform.

A joint decision signed by Interior Minister Theodoros Livanios and Deputy Interior Minister Vassilis Spanakis sets out the procedure for submitting applications to register civil status events, including births, marriages and deaths, involving Greek citizens abroad.

Under the decision, following the positive pre-approval of the documents required to register civil status events through the Special Registry Office's digital platform, citizens authenticated through their Taxisnet credentials, as well as authorised lawyers authenticated through the online services of the Plenary of the Greek Bar Associations, can now apply digitally to register the civil status events concerned.

Applicants can send the original documents, or exact copies of the originals certified by a Greek lawyer, by registered courier, or submit them in person to the competent Directorate of Civil and Municipal Status at the Ministry of the Interior.

Once the documents submitted are confirmed to fully match those approved through the platform, the applicant will receive an electronic notification to proceed with the application to register the civil status event.

Deputy Interior Minister Vassilis Spanakis said: "Given that more than 8,000 registrations are made each year - 3,500 new registrations of events that occurred abroad, including marriages, births and deaths, and more than 4,500 corrections to events abroad, such as divorces and changes to personal details - the aim is for the Special Registry Office to become more citizen-friendly and adapt, reliably and accurately, to the demands of modern life."

AMNA