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Greek passports are issued exclusively to Greek citizens by the Greek Police for the purpose of international travel. Greek citizens can use their ID card instead for travel within the European Union and a number of other European countries. Biometric passports have been issued since 26 August 2006, with old-style passports being declared invalid as of 1 January 2007. From July 2009, the passport's RFID chip will also include fingerprint and iris recognition. Currently, it stores only the personal data and a high resolution JPEG image of the passport holder.
Passport appearance The Greek passport follows the standard European Union passport design, with a burgundy red cover and the national emblem emblazoned on the centre of the front cover. The word ΔΙΑΒΑΤΗΡΙΟ (Greek for "passport") is inscribed below the coat of arms, while ΕΥΡΩΠΑΪΚΗ ΕΝΩΣΗ ("European Union") and ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ ("Hellenic Republic") appear above. A Greek diplomatic passport has the same size and design as the standard one, but it features a black cover and the text ΔΙΠΛΩΜΑΤΙΚΟ ΔΙΑΒΑΤΗΡΙΟ ("diplomatic passport") inscribed below the coat of arms. Greek passports contain 32 pages. Issuing process Greek passports are issued by the National Passport Centre ("Διεύθυνση Διαβατηρίων/Αρχηγείο Ελληνικής Αστυνομίας"). Applicants have to apply in person - in case of a child under 14, accompanied by a parent - at the local police department. Upon submitting all the requirements (special portrait photo, issuing request and fee), the police department begins the issuing procedure. All passports are manufactured centrally at the N.P.C main building in Athens. Depending on the circumstances, passports are issued in 3 to 9 business days and must be picked up by the police department in which the issuing request was made. For this, an applicant must carry with him a special receipt he/she received after applying. Standard passports are valid for a period of 5 years for adults and 2 years for children under 14. If one person is between 14 and 17 years old, then the issued passport is valid until that person becomes 18 years old, at which time he/she must request an adult one. Greek passports cannot be renewed. A holder has to make a request for a new one, if his/her passport expires within the next six months of the request and he/she plans to use it after the expiry date. The issuing of a standard adult passport costs €82, while that of a child passport costs €42. Reissuance of an existing and still valid passport whose no blank pages exist is possible, the end validity date will remain the one of the previous passport and the cost will be €50. Visa-free and Visa-on-arrival travel Europe * European Union unlimited access * ‡ – can also enter with a valid ID card Africa * Botswana Americas * Anguilla Asia * Armenia (visa issued on arrival)[4] Oceania * Australia (ETA or eVisitor required)[37][38]
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