The service time for citizens, especially those residing abroad, is significantly reduced, while at the same time passport security is enhanced.
The Ministry of Citizen Protection and the Hellenic Police Headquarters proceeded to modernize the process of collecting supporting documents for the issuance of passports, with the aim of improving service to citizens, reducing bureaucracy and enhancing the security of the process.
In particular, after the signing of the relevant Joint Ministerial Decision, a new application for the electronic transfer of the required supporting documents from the Services receiving requests to the Passports and Security Documents Directorate of the Hellenic Police Headquarters was put into operation.
The new application was designed and implemented without any burden on the state budget, while respecting the conditions for ensuring the process and protecting citizens' data, in accordance with personal data legislation.
In this way, significant benefits arise for the citizen and the involved Services, as follows:
- The time required to process requests is reduced by one to two days, as the time spent handling paper documents through postal services is eliminated.
- The time required to receive requests from the competent operators is reduced, as well as the number of rejected requests due to incorrect data entry, as they are automatically pre-filled, through the application's interoperability with other information systems.
- A series of supporting documents that were required to be submitted with each passport request (digital copy of identity card, copy of proof of electronic payment commitment, certificate of the result of investigations regarding the circumstances of the theft or loss of a passport) are being abolished.
- Expenses for covering courier costs are significantly reduced.
- Passport security is further enhanced, as facial photographs are now collected in digital format with increased image quality.
In a first stage, the application is used by all Passport Offices/Document Collection Points in the country, while, within 2026, its use is planned to be extended to the competent Greek Consular Authorities abroad, which is expected to speed up the passport issuance process for Greek citizens abroad by up to thirty (30) days, a time that was previously required for the handling of the relevant correspondence.
The new application was put into operation on December 31, 2025. However, for the smooth transition to the new procedure and the seamless service of citizens who have already obtained a facial photograph in printed form, the circulation of printed supporting documents may be implemented in parallel with the new procedure until January 31, 2026, following a relevant Certifying Act of the Ministry of Citizen Protection.
It is noted that, from August 3, 2026 onwards, possession of a new type of identity card will be mandatory for the issuance of a Greek passport, further enhancing the security of the process.
Details regarding the procedure and supporting documents required for the issuance of a passport are available in detail on the website of the Directorate of Passports and Security Documents at www.passport.gov.gr
The Ministry of Citizen Protection and the Hellenic Police will consistently continue the continuous modernization of procedures and the upgrading of information systems, aiming at faster and higher quality service provision and the continuous improvement of the citizen's daily contact with the public sector.
photo jackmac34, https://pixabay.com
